We all know that Rome wasn’t built in a day, but Oklahoma City sure was. On April 22, 1889, more than 50,000 hopefuls were lined up on the edge the unauthorized lands of Indian Territory to stake their claim on some cheap land—and a new life. Overnight, a tent-town of 10,000 people had formed the city that we now call home. Here are a few more facts that you may not know about Land Run Day:
- The Land Run was authorized by President Benjamin Harrison, and it opened up a 1.9-million-acre tract of land for eager citizens to settle.
- Cannons and pistols fired at precisely high noon on April 22, giving the go ahead for people to stake their claim on a tract of land. Those that participated in the mad dash were called “Boomers,” since they waited for the boom of the cannon to charge into the new territory.
- Soldiers were tasked with keeping the rowdy crowd in line, but a few sneaky citizens slipped through and crossed into Indian Territory before the sound of the gun. These people were labeled “Sooners,” which is the source of Oklahoma’s nickname “The Sooner State.”
- Oklahoma has an official Land Run Song called The Oklahoma Run. It was written by an area professor to commemorate the explosive start to our upstart state. We dare you to give it a listen and not have the tune stuck in your head. Many people who grew up in Oklahoma learned this song in elementary school.
Ready to celebrate this festive day? Stake your claim for fun and head to the annual 89ers Days Celebration in Guthrie or the Land Run Festival in Choctaw to experience Western-style food, old-fashioned games, concerts, parades and carnivals. Or head over to Myriad Gardens with your friends and some picnic supplies and host your own modern-day version.
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