Today, we know Oklahoma City as a thriving, vibrant city full of fun things to do, great places to shop and world-class restaurants. You might be surprised that our city has a storied history. Born at the sound of a gunshot, Oklahoma City was settled by a historic land run involving 10,000 homesteaders on April 22, 1889. By 1900, the population had more than doubled and on November 16, 1907, Oklahoma became the 46th state.
A fun fact for all you history buffs – Oklahoma City was not always the capitol of Oklahoma; nearby Guthrie takes the distinction of being the first. On June 11, 1910, voters decided to move the capitol from Guthrie to Oklahoma City. In fact, the Secretary of State brought the state seal by order of Gov. Haskell to the Huckins Hotel, making the hotel the State Capitol of Oklahoma. Despite the hotel being demolished in 1971, its colorful history lives on. You can read a full account of the state capitol move here. The current Oklahoma State Capitol was built in 1919 at N.E. 23rd Street and Lincoln Boulevard.
These are just a few of the fun facts that you can discover on a self-guided tour of the Oklahoma History Center. Why not check it out and find out about the state’s history for yourself?
Located just northeast of downtown near the Oklahoma State Capitol, the Oklahoma History Center is a great place to explore. Check out the Smithsonian-quality exhibits and more than 2,000 artifacts which reflect the inspiring and adventurous spirit of our state. More information on museum hours and admission prices is available here.
The Oklahoma Museum of History is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society, the keeper of the state’s history. That website is filled to the brim with information that could fill out any school history report or satisfy your curiosity about all things history Oklahoma. Explore photographs, news accounts, oral histories, records and more. It’s definitely our go-to resource for all history questions.
While you’re here, don’t miss the Red River Journey -- a walking tour of the Red River Valley. In addition to land forms, vegetation and important historical locations, the grounds also include an outdoor oilfield exhibit complete with drilling derricks, a portable derrick and machinery associated with Oklahoma oil explorations.
And an extra fun fact – The street where the Oklahoma History Center is located is named after another well-known and respected immigrant, Dr. Nazih Zuhdi, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and performed Oklahoma’s first heart transplant and was a pioneer surgeon in many other ways. Read more about him here and here.
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