Exploring Oklahoma History

Black Mesa - Some more fun with Google Earth. This is Black...

blogoklahoma — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:51:12 -0500

Black Mesa - Some more fun with Google Earth.

This is Black Mesa the highest point in Oklahoma near Kenton in the far northwest corner of the panhandle. The green arrow on the right is the location of the dinosaur tracks. The green arrow on the left is the location of the Black Mesa highest point monument. The grey line on the lower far left is the New Mexico / Oklahoma border.

place: http://blogoklahoma.us/place.asp?id=791
map: http://g.co/maps/4q7jw

Don’t forget to add Exploring Oklahoma History to your...

blogoklahoma — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:23:02 -0500

Don’t forget to add Exploring Oklahoma History to your Google+ circles. Also did you see the new Google+ iPhone app? Very nice. gplus.to/eoh

Google Map views of the Dinosaur Quarry and Dinosaur Tracks near...

blogoklahoma — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:39:00 -0500

Dinosaur Quarry

Dinosaur Tracks

Google Map views of the Dinosaur Quarry and Dinosaur Tracks near Kenton, Oklahoma.

At the top of the white ridge in the first picture you’ll see the shadow of the dinosaur bone statue at the quarry. In the second picture below the geo-tag are the dinosaur tracks fossil (look for the dots in a line).

I found it very easy to upload .mobi books from Archive.org on...

blogoklahoma — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:15:00 -0500

I found it very easy to upload .mobi books from Archive.org on to my Kindle Fire.

Reference: A 1916 Look At Oklahoma History http://blogoklahoma.us/blog.asp?id=595

Book Club On Hiatus Due to lack of activity, we’ll be...

blogoklahoma — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:04:00 -0500

Book Club On Hiatus

Due to lack of activity, we’ll be putting the book club portion of the GoodReads book group on hiatus. We’re not going to end the book group completely. Look for new books to be added to the group’s bookshelf from time to time. If things pick back up we’ll relaunch the book club part of the group.

A very big thank you to everyone who participated.

Remember you can always get to this GoodReads Book Group by using the shortcut http://blogoklahoma.us/goodreads.

* Picture of Mark of Heritage by Muriel H. Wright

Texola Old City Jail Old City Jail 1908 - 1910 This is a...

blogoklahoma — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:45:13 -0500

Texola Old City Jail

Old City Jail
1908 - 1910

This is a nice place to visit, but you don’t want to stay here (especially in the winter, its cold).

This jail was used to house local miscreants, usually drunk and disorderly. Many time it held multiple guests. It usually had one chair, one bed, and some blankets.

Construction is of old style cinder blocks, plastered over with cement. The foundation extends several feet below ground to discourage premature release.

It is not believed any of the famous outlaws stayed here, although a few were known to be in the area, Bonnie and Clyde, among others.

We’re working on making this a great little museum. Donations of knowledge of this area, artifacts, etc. will be appreciated. In the meantime, cowboy hats only $7 across the street.

Updated Look

blogoklahoma — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 11:19:32 -0500

Thought it was time to update our Tumblr blog a bit. So we’ve switched to a newer teamplate desgin. Enjoy :-)

Initial Point of Oklahoma Initial point is the name given to a...

blogoklahoma — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:38:24 -0500

Initial Point of Oklahoma Monument

Initial Point of Oklahoma Monument

Initial Point of Oklahoma Monument

Initial Point of Oklahoma Monument

Initial Point of Oklahoma Monument

Initial Point of Oklahoma Monument

Initial Point of Oklahoma

Initial point is the name given to a 54 inch stone monument that marks the spot where all land in Oklahoma, except for the panhandle, Kansas, and Nebraska were surveyed to open lands to white settlement. This point made it possible to number townships east and west of the Indian Meridian, and to number ranges north and south from the Base Line. This point is still used, either directly or indirectly, to describe real estate transactions in the state. Listed in the national register 10/6/1970

Image Credit: The Oklahoma Society of Land Surveyors.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Kettle Wikipedia:...

blogoklahoma — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:45:01 -0500

Chief Black Kettle

George Armstrong Custer

Wood engraving from Harper's Weekly 1868

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Kettle
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Armstrong_Custer
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Washita_River

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site Washita Battlefield...

blogoklahoma — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:39:00 -0500

Monument at Washita Battlefield National

Sign to Washita Battlefield National His

Historic Marker in Cheyenne, OK

Visitor Center

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site protects and interprets the site of the Southern Cheyenne village of Peace Chief Black Kettle that was attacked by the 7th U.S. Cavalry under Lt. Col. George A. Custer just before dawn on November 27, 1868. The controversial strike was hailed at the time by the military and many civilians as a significant victory aimed at reducing Indian raids on frontier settlements. Washita remains controversial because many Indians and whites labeled Custer’s attack a massacre. Black Kettle is still honored as a prominent leader who never ceased striving for peace even though it cost him his life.

Located 2 miles west of Cheyenne, Oklahoma on SH-47A. Follow the National Historic Site signs to site.

place: http://blogoklahoma.us/place.asp?id=21
map: http://g.co/maps/6df7q

Quanah Parker Dam. One of the many little dams at the Wichita...

programwitch — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:16:00 -0600

Quanah Parker Dam. One of the many little dams at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton, Oklahoma. (2005)

Cavanal Hill, Poteau, Oklahoma DSC03709 by okroads on Flickr...

programwitch — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:43:00 -0600

Cavanal Hill, Poteau, Oklahoma

DSC03709 by okroads on Flickr
Cavanal “World’s Highest Hill” monument at the top of the hill. It is called the world’s highest hill because technically, a mountain has an elevation of 2,000 feet and higher, and Cavanal is 1,999 feet tall.

Cavanal Hill (officially Cavanal Mountain according to the US Geological Survey) located at Poteau, Oklahoma is billed as the tallest hill in the world at 1,999 feet (609 meters), based on the idea that it would be classified as a mountain if it were 2,000 feet or higher.

Located West on Witteville Dr., Poteau, Oklahoma

Place: http://blogoklahoma.us/place.asp?id=552
Map: http://g.co/maps/sgzqe
Wikipeida: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavanal_Hill

Kingfisher Oklahoma Ice Storm of 2002 A powerful winter storm...

blogoklahoma — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:56:29 -0600

Kingfisher Oklahoma Ice Storm of 2002

A powerful winter storm produced rain, freezing rain, sleet, and snow over parts of western and Kingfisher Oklahoma on January 29-31, 2002. The NWS office in Norman has received reports of tree damage, downed power lines and telephone lines, and power outages in some towns and cities. At one point after the storm, approximately 250,000 customers were left without power. throughout the state.

(via YouTube/tim7neal)

Ben Kiehn Memorial Erected by the Oklahoma state bankers...

blogoklahoma — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:46:05 -0600

Ben Kiehn Memorial

Erected by the Oklahoma state bankers association as an expression of their regard for their fellow member as a man of honor and integrity. On Jan 24, 1928 he gave his life to the cause of law and order, in defending that which was intrusted to his care against armed bandits.

http://blogoklahoma.us/place.asp?id=392

Chapter 22 - Beesie's Heroic Banker

blogoklahoma — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:42:53 -0600

One local newspaper reported: “Ben Kiehn is Washita County’s hero. He was show down by bandits while attempting to perform what he considered his duty in protecting the property that had been placed in his trust. In the same unselfish manner in which he risked his life before the enemy’s guns in World Ward I he faced the bank robbers in a gunfight that lead to his death. Hed did what few other bankers would have done.”

Great Backyard Bird Count February 17-20, 2012...

programwitch — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:51:15 -0600

Great Backyard Bird Count February 17-20, 2012 http://www.birdcount.org

Don’t forget about our Google Currents Edition. Just...

blogoklahoma — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:09:47 -0600

Don’t forget about our Google Currents Edition. Just install the Google Currents app on your iPhone or Android device, then in your mobile web browser go to the shortcut blogoklahoma.us/currents to install the edition. Or from the app, click on the Add More button, click the blue Library button, click Search, type in Exploring Oklahoma History. You’ll find us listed.

Fort Washita Civil War Weekend A history event sponsored by the...

blogoklahoma — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:23:56 -0600

Fort Washita Civil War Weekend

A history event sponsored by the State of Oklahoma at Fort Washita. Sept. 25~27 2009

Working on a Google Currents edition of Exploring Oklahoma...

programwitch — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:01:04 -0600

Working on a Google Currents edition of Exploring Oklahoma History (Details)

If you visit Elk City, Oklahoma, for the holidays, be sure to...

blogoklahoma — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:48:14 -0600

If you visit Elk City, Oklahoma, for the holidays, be sure to head down to Ackley Park and walk through the city’s Christmas in the Park display. The park is on the corner of 3rd and Pioneer (on historic Route 66). Also just across the street from Ackley Park is the Old Town Museum and Route 66 Museum complex.