Name: Medicine Park
Brand: David C. Lott
SKU: 9780738577456
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Medicine Park

9780738577456

$24.99

The historic cobblestone community of Medicine Park was founded on July 4, 1908, as Oklahoma's first planned resort. It is located in southwest Oklahoma at the entry to the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, the second most visited wildlife refuge in the country, hosting 1.5 million annual visitors. Through the political connections of founder Sen. Elmer Thomas, the resort enjoyed a great deal of early success. Tourists flocked to the area to enjoy mountains, wildlife, swimming, fishing, food, and lodging. From its founding through the 1930s, it became a getaway to relax, chum-around, gamble, and even partake in some illegal bootleg whisky. Medicine Park became known as the jewel of the Southwest. There was a spa, dance hall, bathhouse, general store, school, hydroelectric plant, and cafe, along with creek swimming and tennis courts. Following World War II, the resort was subject to economic struggles that lasted more than four decades. Today much of the resort town of 400 has been restored and revitalized, and there is renewed excitement about its future.

Classic Restaurants of Oklahoma City

9781467119214

$24.99

Some of Oklahoma City's earliest famous restaurants included a side of gambling, bootlegging and mayhem. Cattlemen's Café changed hands by a roll of the dice one Christmas. In more recent years, establishments like O'Mealey's and Adair's positioned the city's identity as a unique, groundbreaking culinary hub. The city became known as the Cafeteria Capital thanks to the revolutionary approach of a diminutive Kansas woman named Anna Maude Smith. Beverly's Chicken-in-the-Rough became a national fried-chicken franchise two decades before Harland Sanders sold his first drumstick. And world-renowned chef Rick Bayless first learned to cook at his parents' barbecue restaurant in south Oklahoma City. Join author Dave Cathey as he dishes on these delectable stories and more.

Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District

9781467111287

$23.99

In the early 1900s, an indomitable entrepreneurial spirit brought national renown to Tulsa's historic African American community, the Greenwood District.

This "Negro Wall Street" bustled with commercial activity. In 1921, jealously, land lust, and racism swelled in sectors of white Tulsa, and white rioters seized upon what some derogated as "Little Africa," leaving death and destruction in their wake. In an astounding resurrection, the community rose from the ashes of what was dubbed the Tulsa Race Riot with renewed vitality and splendor, peaking in the 1940s. In the succeeding decades, changed social and economic conditions sparked a prodigious downward spiral. Today's Greenwood District bears little resemblance to the black business mecca of yore. Instead, it has become part of something larger: an anchor to a rejuvenated arts, entertainment, educational, and cultural hub abutting downtown Tulsa.

The Tulsa experience is, in many ways, emblematic of others throughout the country. Through context-setting text and scores of captioned photographs, Images of America: Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District provides a basic foundation for those interested in the history of Tulsa, its African American community, and race relations in the modern era. Particularly for students, the book can be an entry point into what is a fascinating piece of American history and a gateway to discoveries about race, interpersonal relations, and shared humanity.

Oklahoma City Zoo

9780738540498

$24.99

The Oklahoma City Zoo began when a single deer was donated to a neighborhood park. Because deer were rare in 1902, crowds flocked to see the creature. Soon other people in Oklahoma Territory began donating native animals such as bears, golden eagles, and wolves. By 1903, the little menagerie became known as Wheeler Park Zoo, the first zoo in the Southwest. During its next 50 years, the zoo endured flooding, relocation, and tough economic slumps brought on by wars and the Dust Bowl. The zoo survived, however, because it provided a fun, relaxing place where people could go to escape from daily life. The community, in turn, rallied to help the zoo by donating precious pocket change to buy food and purchase new animals. Children, especially, were responsible for bringing some of the zoo's most memorable animals to Oklahoma City, especially Judy the Elephant. Here lies the story of how a zoo grew up along with its city, largely told with photographs of the animal "personalities" that attracted
visitors in the first place.

Lost Restaurants of Tulsa

9781625859105

$21.99

In the early twentieth century, Tulsa was the Oil Capital of the World. The rush of roughnecks and oil barons built a culinary foundation that not only provided traditional food and diner fare but also inspired upper-class experiences and international cuisine. Tulsans could reserve a candlelit dinner at the Louisiane or cruise along the Restless Ribbon with a pit stop at Pennington's. Generations of regulars depended on family-owned establishments such as Villa Venice, The Golden Drumstick and St. Michael's Alley. Join author Rhys Martin on a gastronomic journey through time, from the Great Depression to the days of Liquor by the Wink and the Oil Bust of the 1980s.

Cover image for Lost Restaurants of Tulsa, isbn: 9781625859105

Campus Ghosts of Norman, Oklahoma

9781626192126

$21.99

Since Norman's inception more than 120 years ago as a college town, it has gathered a shadowy history and more than a few residents who refuse to leave. Ghostly organ music and sinister whispers fill school buildings in the night. Patients walk the surgical suites of the old infirmary, which was once a quarantine ward for polio victims. Long-deceased sisters still occupy their sororities--one even requiring an exorcism--and dorms are notorious for poltergeists and unexplainable sounds. Professor Jeff Provine sheds light on some of the darker corners of this historic campus and the secrets that reside there.

Cover image for Campus Ghosts of Norman, Oklahoma, isbn: 9781626192126

Oklahoma City’s Mid-Century Modern Architecture

9781467127417

$24.99

From its very first land run days in 1889, Oklahoma City has been a mecca for daring men and women intent on transforming the flat, grassy prairie into a thoroughly modern metropolis. This risk-taking ethic came to beautiful fruition after World War II when several enterprising young architects, many of whom were students of the mighty Bruce Goff at the University of Oklahoma, rejected traditional styles and approaches and enthusiastically embraced more modern forms in their sleek, ambitious building designs. The result is a vast collection of bold mid-century modern structures that span every function and budget, from the giant egg-shaped First Christian Church to the modest but equally dramatic Neptune Subs building to homes like the spiral-shaped Zuhdi House. This book celebrates Oklahoma City's unique built landscape and the minds behind our best architectural treasures.

Oklahoma City’s Mid-Century Modern Architecture

Ardmore

9780738560854

$24.99

Although part of the Chickasaw Nation, virgin soil lured pioneers into Indian Territory, and by 1900, intruders outnumbered Native Americans 10 to 1, building communities throughout Native American lands. In 1887, on a grassy prairie where buffalo had roamed, men gathered where the Santa Fe Railroad planned to build a station. By 1898, Ardmore was a thriving city with businesses, churches, electricity, and telephones. Under a new federal law in late 1898, Ardmore became an incorporated city. Several disasters including a massive explosion and two major fires almost destroyed the town, but the people who built Ardmore came from sturdy stock. After each disaster, they rebuilt, and Ardmore continued to prosper.

Haunted Bartlesville, Oklahoma

9781609495060

$21.99

Spirits and specters linger, haunt and taunt locals and strangers alike throughout Bartlesville. Some of the city's hottest tourist spots are host to chilling tales of otherworldly visitors. A fair share of the more than twelve thousand souls buried in White Rose Cemetery refuse to rest in peace. Gentleman diners may be distracted at Frank and Lola's by the chilling shadow of Estelle, a ghostly holdover from the building's brothel legacy. Jake Bartles gave his name to the town, and some say he left his soul for posterity as well, haunting the halls of the old Dewey Hotel. Oil tycoon Frank Phillips, loath to leave his riches, haunts Woolaroc Ranch and his mansion on Cherokee Avenue. It seems even those who have passed over do not pass on from this cosmopolitan gem.

Cover image for Haunted Bartlesville, Oklahoma, isbn: 9781609495060

Oklahoma City Rediscovered

9780738551494

$24.99

Oklahoma City has a fascinating history. By 1907, when Oklahoma became a state, the diversity of business, entertainment, industry, manufacturing, and transportation was experiencing rapid development. Contained within Oklahoma City Rediscovered is the story of four aspects of that development: Deep Deuce with the rise of blues and jazz music, town site development with the goal of establishing a seat of government with the founding of Capitol Hill, manufacturing that led to the warehouse district that evolved into the premier entertainment area known as Bricktown, and transportation with the love affair of the automobile along a major thoroughfare downtown that was devoted to showcasing the latest models of cars to capture the fancy of the public.

Chickasha

9780738591797

$24.99

In 1892, the depot of Chickasha came to life when the Rock Island Railroad halted construction and set up temporary headquarters. Within a short time a tent city developed, and when the railroad moved on Chickasha remained. Chickasha continued as an important transportation stop, first for the railroads and then for the several highways that crisscross Oklahoma. With its access to transportation and open land, Chickasha became a thriving city after 1900, boasting a larger population than Tulsa and having all the modern amenities of a major city. Because of its strategic location, the city was chosen to house the Oklahoma College for Women in 1908, one of only five of its kind nationally. Now called the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO ), it is Oklahoma's only public liberal arts institution. Today, Chickasha is also known for its Christmas celebration, the Festival of Light, which draws more than 250,000 visitors annually.

Cover image for Chickasha, isbn: 9780738591797

Tulsa

9780738507811

$24.99

Tulsa, Oklahoma, "the oil capital of the world," has a long and varied history. Evidence of a possible Norse presence dates to 1000 AD. An ancient people known as the Mound Builders populated the area, then disappeared just prior to the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the 1540s. Osage Indians, as well as other members of the Five Tribes, called this part of Oklahoma home. French trappers made a brief appearance. Finally, outlaws like "Pretty Boy" Floyd and "Machine Gun" Kelly cooled their heels in Tulsa while running from the law in the 1930s. What Tulsa is really known for, however, is oil. The discovery of oil fields in Tulsa at the turn of the century caused an economic and social revolution. The formerly small town became a center of power, and fortunes worth millions of dollars were gained and lost. J. Paul Getty got his start in Tulsa along with his father, who was one of the first to ride Tulsa's tsunami-like oil wave. The town boomed through the 20s and 30s, and oil money built the town of Tulsa into the city it is today. Tulsa currently hosts a population of 380,000 people, and, in honor of its oil legacy, is home to one of the most prominent petroleum schools in the world.

Guthrie and Logan County

9780738583594

$24.99

Guthrie and Logan County lie at the geographical center of Oklahoma, just north of Oklahoma City. The bulk of Logan County was opened by the Land Run of April 22, 1889, with the eastern portion opened by the run of September 6, 1891, that opened the Iowa, Sac and Fox, and Potawatomi reservations. The town of Guthrie was the political and cultural center of first the territory of Oklahoma from 1890 to 1907, then the state of Oklahoma until 1910. Guthrie attracted architects who built impressive buildings, businessmen and farmers who hoped to make a new life, and a variety of other characters wanting to make a new home. While Guthrie was the most important town, others thrived as well: Marshall (home of Angie Debo, an important Oklahoma historian), Langston (home of Oklahoma's first black university), Mullhall, Orlando, Crescent, Meridian, and Coyle, as well as many towns that did not survive.

Tulsa

9780738590523

$24.99

Still reeling from the hungry days of the Great Depression, America was ill-equipped when the nation entered the Second World War. Referred to as the "sleeping giant" by the Japanese, the United States awoke from its slumber with a vengeance and soon began creating a veritable tidal wave of production that turned the country into the "Arsenal of Democracy." Tulsa, Oklahoma, was one of the cities at the forefront of this massive wartime buildup. From bomber plants to aviation training schools, to civil defense and the construction of military bases, to the thousands who served in uniform across Europe and the Pacific, Tulsa gave everything it had and then some. This was a different breed of people that nonetheless stood firm in the face of adversity and came together as a community. Tulsa: The War Years takes the reader back to the time when people did without for the greater benefit of all and sometimes sacrificed everything for the sake of victory.

Springlake Amusement Park

9780738561790

$24.99

From 1924 through 1981, Springlake was Oklahoma City's premier place for fun for everyone around the state. Park enthusiast Carla Williams Noffsinger mirrors the comments of so many of the park's patrons when she says, "I grew up in Moore. We spent many a happy hour at Springlake. We always heard bad stories about the Big Dipper, but that was the first ride we would hit. I remember my cousin wetting her pants once on the Tilt-A-Whirl; we laugh about that to this day. As far as my family was concerned, it was just good, clean old-fashioned fun. My cousins would come up in the summer from southeast Oklahoma, and Springlake was at the top of the list of places to go." For all its goodness, Springlake was flawed, remaining segregated longer than many other businesses during the tumultuous civil rights era. Forced to integrate by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Springlake adapted poorly--instead of opening its huge pool to all swimmers and sunbathers, the pool became an aquarium. Racial tensions culminated on Easter 1971 with a small but important racially based riot from which the park never fully recovered.

Okmulgee

9781467115513

$24.99

In 1868, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation confirmed its constitution and established Okmulgee, which means "bubbling waters," as its capital. After a grueling journey on the Trail of Tears, they settled in the Okmulgee area. Many brought their slaves, who would later join the tribe as freedmen after the Civil War and form the beginnings of a thriving African American community. As Okmulgee grew, white traders and settlers arrived in the burgeoning town. A post office was established, and in 1900 the Frisco Railroad line was built. By 1907, statehood loomed and oil fields dotted the landscape. This boom would continue until the Great Depression. World War II brought the construction of the Glennan Military Hospital, which cared for American service members and German prisoners of war from Oklahoma prison camps. Okmulgee's interesting cultural history continues to be preserved today.

Broken Arrow

9780738520148

$24.99

Broken Arrow was established in 1902 as a railroad terminal on the Missouri, Kansas, & Texas Railroad. It became a trade center for cattle, cotton and corn. In the early days, roses were planted in homes and along streets, and the use of a local spring for city water gave Broken Arrow the title of "City of Roses and Pure Water." The population was stable until 1950, when the rapid growth of the city made it the fifth largest in Oklahoma. Broken Arrow: City of Roses and Pure Water is a collection of vintage images that illustrates the development of the town from an agricultural trade center to a prosperous city of diversified, light industry and a center of education. Featured in this book are the busy streets, parades and festivals, softball tournaments, tourist attractions, and recent civic improvements that make Broken Arrow unique. Historic photographs of downtown stores and residential homes depict the earliest growth patterns of the city and show the development of Broken Arrow as a community.

Stillwater

9781467113106

$24.99

Stillwater has been known across the nation as the place "where Oklahoma began." From the boomer camps to the Land Run of 1889, the city has a rich, vibrant history. The tenacity of its residents, though, is the reason Stillwater survived. While towns like Guthrie and Oklahoma City--which had railroads--recorded between 10,000 and 15,000 new residents on the first day of the Land Run, Stillwater could only muster a handful. Although it lacked amenities, Stillwater flourished in grit, hard work, and perseverance. After hard-fought battles to retain the Payne County seat and Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, Stillwater was here to stay. It may have once been proclaimed "where Oklahoma began," but it now has earned its place as "Stillwater, where Oklahoma's future belongs."

Wagoner

9781467114271

$24.99

Wagoner, the first city incorporated in Indian Territory, was established in 1896 on the dividing line of the Cherokee and Creek Nations and at the intersection of the Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railway and the Kansas & Arkansas Railway. For the first half of the 20th century, Wagoner's economy was driven by agriculture, and it became known as the Queen City of the Prairies. In the 1950s, when the Grand Neosho River was turned into Fort Gibson Lake, the door opened for the establishment of a number of resort enterprises. Wagoner has thrived as a visitors' destination ever since. Today, the only remaining evidence of the earliest civilization is the Norman Site—a small island slightly north of Highway 51 and east of Wagoner at Taylor Ferry—which is home to some of Oklahoma's most prominent Indian mounds.

Oklahoma City

9780738503141

$24.99

The first session of the 59th Congress introduced the
consideration of the statehood bill, providing for the admission of two states: one to be composed of the Indian and Oklahoma Territories, and the other formed by uniting Arizona and New Mexico Territories. The Omnibus Statehood Bill became law on June 14, 1906. On the morning of November 16, 1907, more than 10,000 residents from Oklahoma City
traveled to Guthrie to celebrate their recently won statehood. Using over 200 images combined with well-documented facts from city directories, newspapers, and first-hand accounts, this book chronicles Oklahoma City''s unique history from its beginnings in the early 20th century as Packingtown to the
Depression Era. Also featured are many glimpses into the city''s everyday past'--scenes of residents enjoying a day at Belle Isle, the State Fair, and on the streets of downtown'--and a section on Henry Samuel Overholser, the Father of Oklahoma City.

Tulsa's Haunted Memories

9780738583877

$24.99

Welcome to a window into the past. Tulsa's Haunted Memories explores the forgotten history and lost folklore of "America's Most Beautiful City." Tulsa's haunting history will captivate the reader with the secrets it holds from its intriguing past. Mystery and mystique follow Tulsa's urban legends and prove that truth can be stranger than fiction. Once known as the oil capital of the world, its streets were not only lined in "Black Gold," but also tales of a time when ruthlessness and lawlessness ruled the city. Discover these places and stories that have left their ghostly impressions on Tulsa.

The Oklahoma State Capitol

9781467108270

$23.99

The story of the Oklahoma State Capitol is as wild and unpredictable as the story of Oklahoma itself. The on-again, off-again effort to construct the statehouse lasted five years as Oklahoma City and Guthrie jockeyed back and forth, each laying claim to the capital city. Finally, seven years after statehood, ground was broken on the capitol. Oklahoma's third governor, Robert Williams, seeking to keep costs low, put himself in charge of the Oklahoma State Capitol Building Commission and made the following controversial decision that would be debated for decades afterwards: he would forgo the structure's planned ornamental dome. It would not be added until 85 years later. Dome or no dome, the capitol has served as the People's House, a place for Oklahomans to let their voices be heard throughout the generations.

Muskogee

9780738590509

$24.99

On New Year's Day in 1872, a Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy) track crew reached a point just a few miles south of the confluence of the Arkansas, Grand, and Verdigris Rivers in Indian Territory and established a depot it called Muscogee Station. A ragtag settlement quickly developed nearby, and the name was eventually changed to Muskogee. By the turn of the century, Muskogee became the center of political and commercial activity in the territory. Nicknamed the "Queen City of the Southwest," Muskogee was a boomtown, and expectations were high that the city would develop into a large metropolitan area. However, by the 1920s, after the oil boom in nearby Tulsa, Muskogee's growth waned, and it became a working-class Oklahoma town. The city was thrust into the national limelight in the 1960s by country music star Merle Haggard and his song "Okie from Muskogee," which described Muskogee "as a place where even squares can have a ball." An ethnically diverse community, Muskogee has a rich history of developing artists, musicians, politicians, and entrepreneurs.

The Oklahoma Panhandle

9780738582955

$24.99

The Panhandle is Oklahoma's best-kept secret and possesses a unique landscape, the highest point in Oklahoma. It bears a fascinating history and tenacious residents, from Folsom Man to contemporary cowboys. The Panhandle even once tried to become its own US territory. With photographs of the "Land That Time Forgot," readers will discover tales of outlaws, college students, settlers, ranchers, native peoples, dust storms, immigrants, ghost towns, cattle, dinosaurs, lawmen, soldiers, and traders. The Panhandle has never been a mecca for settlement, but through the years, many heading for better days and other destinations have traveled across it. Mother Nature makes Panhandle residents work for their survival even today. She isn't too free with her moisture but does like to hear the wind blow and see snow on the ground. "Panhandlers" pride themselves on their independence, resiliency, and friendliness. Once folks move in and get comfortable, they won't be leaving soon.

Pittsburg County

9780738551821

$24.99

North of the thick pine and oak forests of the Ouachitas Mountains, in the foothills beyond the Kiamichi and the Winding Stair Mountains, two trails crossed in the rolling valley nestled between the Shawnee Hills and the Sans Bois Mountains. In the early 1800s, that valley became the home of the Mississippi Choctaw tribe, part of the U.S.-designated Indian Territory. When the railroad boom of the late 1800s occurred, the tracks followed the same cattle trails and pioneer roads, creating a transportation hub at the point where rail lines intersected, a place that later became the county seat of Pittsburg County.

Oklahoma Black Cherokees

9781625859952

$21.99

Over the generations, Cherokee citizens became a conglomerate people. Early in the nineteenth century, tribal leaders adapted their government to mirror the new American model. While accommodating institutional slavery of black people, they abandoned the Cherokee matrilineal clan structure that once determined their citizenship. The 1851 census revealed a total population nearing 18,000, which included 1,844 slaves and 64 free blacks. What it means to be Cherokee has continued to evolve over the past century, yet the histories assembled here by Ty Wilson, Karen Coody Cooper and other contributing authors reveal a meaningful story of identity and survival.

Oklahoma Cherokee Baskets

9781467119825

$21.99

The forced relocation of fifteen thousand Cherokee to Oklahoma nearly two centuries ago left them in a foreign landscape. Coping with loss and new economic challenges, the Cherokee united under a new constitution and exploited the Victorian affinity for decorative crafts. Cherokee women had always created patterned baskets for everyday use and trade, and soon their practical work became lucrative items of beauty. Adapting the tradition to the new land, the industrious weavers transformed Oklahoma's vast natural resources into art that aided their survival. The Civil War found the Cherokee again in jeopardy, but resilient, they persevered and still thrive today. Author and Cherokee citizen Karen Coody Cooper presents the story of this beautiful legacy.

Oklahoma Beer

9781467142229

$21.99

Notoriously known as a "flyover state'? in regards to alcohol, Oklahoma has a unique brewing history. Entering the Union as a dry state, Oklahoma struggled with bootleggers and the choc beer brewers of Indian Territory. Prohibition wasn't fully repealed in Oklahoma until 1959, when liquor sales were permitted, but a few pioneers navigated a web of restrictions to produce quality local beers. Brewpubs opened a new chapter in 1992 as a generation thirsty for handcrafted beers led to a resurgence in the industry. Author and proprietor of BeerisOK.com Brian Welzbacher unravels the stories behind the passionate breweries that stood up to tyranny and paved a path from Dust Bowl to full glass.

Golden Hurricane Basketball at The University of Tulsa

9780738533469

$24.99

When Kendall College fielded its first basketball team in 1907, no one could predict what great sports moments were in store for the city of Tulsa. All-American caliber athletes such as Bob Patterson, Jim King, Bobby "Bingo" Smith and Willie Biles laid the foundation under the direction of groundbreaking coaches like Clarence Iba, Joe Swank and Ken Hayes. The past 25 years have arguably seen some of the best court action in The University of Tulsa's history. Paul Pressey, Steve Harris, Tracy Moore, Shea Seals, Michael Ruffin and Kevin Johnson are just a few of the marquis players that have donned the Blue and Gold. They have been led into battle by a "who's who" of big time coaches including Nolan Richardson, Tubby Smith and Bill Self.

Golden Hurricane Basketball at The University of Tulsa

Woodward County

9780738561158

$24.99

The first settlement in what would become Woodward County was Camp Supply, a military post that had been established in 1868 during the Indian Wars on the American frontier. In 1887, a provisioning point for the post on the Southern Kansas Railway was created and named Woodward. It was not until six years later that the area known as the Cherokee Outlet would be opened to nonnative settlement. At high noon on September 16, 1893, thousands of hopeful settlers rushed into the territory to stake their claims in this new land. On a sunny day in 1907, William Jennings Bryan spoke to a crowd of 20,000 people in the county seat, urging the ratification of the new Oklahoma Constitution. During the late 20th century, Woodward County's extensive deposits of oil led to a booming economy. In Woodward County, the lives of cowboys, lawyers, gunfighters, brothel madams, and everyday farmers intersect as a civilization rises from the open prairie.

Oklahoma's Bennie Owen:

9781626199491

$24.99

Before Bob and Barry, even before Bud, there was Bennie, and he might have been the best of them all. He was certainly the most innovative. Best remembered as the mentor of the University of Oklahoma's football team from 1905 through 1926, Bennie Owen also coached baseball and basketball and served as the director of athletics. He retired as intramural director at the age of seventy-five. A visionary and a builder, he exerted the driving force that created the university's Memorial Stadium, one field house, Memorial Union building, men's swimming pool, baseball field and bleachers, concrete tennis courts, nine-hole golf course and intramural playing fields. A true man of all seasons, he laid the foundation for a Sooner tradition of excellence--in football and beyond.

The Jefferson Highway in Oklahoma: The Historic Osage Trace

9781467136334

$21.99

Oklahoma's central location makes it a natural crossroads, and the trails of yesterday became the superhighways of today. Perhaps the best example is Route 69, also known as the Jefferson Highway. The paved highway was begun in 1915, but its course was heavily traveled for centuries before that. Engineers could map no better path than the generations who cut it through the wilderness out of necessity. Author Jonita Mullins leads a journey along this ancient way that recalls some of Oklahoma's most important history and celebrates some of its most fascinating characters.

The Jefferson Highway in Oklahoma: The Historic Osage Trace

Pryor Creek

9781467114875

$24.99

Pryor Creek, originally named Coo-y-yah (Cherokee for "huckleberry"), incorporated as a city in 1894. Also known as Pryor by the US Postal Service, it is located in northeastern Oklahoma and is the seat of Mayes County. The community is rich with history that dates back to its early days as Indian Territory, where many early residents settled after suffering a grueling journey on the Trail of Tears from the old Cherokee Nation. After starting as a rural farming community, with the addition of the railroad in 1870 Pryor Creek grew to become a major industrial economic force in the region following World War II. During the war, the area was home to a massive ammunition ordnance plant, which eventually became the largest industrial park in Oklahoma. In 1942, Pryor Creek's downtown business district was destroyed by the fifth-deadliest tornado in Oklahoma history. Pryor Creek is also a "gateway" known for its regional lakes and recreational areas.

Norman's Navy Years

9781467115643

$24.99

In 1944, A.L. Simon, a sailor at the Norman Naval Air Station, illustrated a booklet, "On the Beach," about Navy life in Norman, Oklahoma. The title he chose reflected the irony of the US Navy establishing two bases in a landlocked prairie town in 1942. The initial activation of the Navy bases (from 1942 to 1945) and their reactivation (from 1952 to 1959) greatly increased the employment rate and economy in Norman, offering locals a much-needed boost after the Great Depression of the 1930s. The men who influenced the Navy to choose Norman as the location for Navy installations were T. Jack Foster, of the Norman Chamber of Commerce; Joseph Brandt, president of the University of Oklahoma; and Savoie Lottinville, director of the University of Oklahoma Press.

Legendary Locals of Edmond

9781467101233

$24.99

Edmond was settled in 1889 when pioneers claimed the land during the first Oklahoma land run. Located in the heart of America, Edmond is an ever-growing city with more than 80,000 residents. It is found just north of Oklahoma City on historic Route 66. Through the first 125 years, a diverse and interesting batch of people have made Edmond their home. From early leaders such as Milton "Kicking Bird" Reynolds, founding editor of the Edmond Sun, and Anton Classen, a civic leader and businessman, to present-day business leaders, celebrities, and sports stars, Edmond has had a wealth of remarkable characters. Doctors, ministers, beauty queens, lawmen, firefighters, a former governor, and many other everyday citizens have made Edmond the town it is today. Former mayor Saundra Naifeh once said, "Edmond has always been held to a high standard by the people and businesses who call it home." Residents are proud of its heritage and small-town character and values.