Oklahoma Territorial Museum is also located in Guthrie. Together with the adjacent Carnegie Library the museum tells the story of the determined people who laid the foundation for the state of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Territory was formed in 1890 existed for only 17 years. During that short time, the land was transformed to an area of prosperous farms and growing cities.
In 1889 Congress opened nearly 2 million acres of land for settlement in central Oklahoma. Known as the Unassigned Lands, the area was formerly held by the Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole Nations before the Civil War.
At noon on April 22, 1889, the day of the opening, thousands of hopeful land-seekers rushed in to stake a claim. This land rush was a significant event in U.S. history, marking the opening of two million acres of land for settlement. At the end of that first day, laws were being established in the cities of Guthrie, Stillwater, Norman, and Oklahoma City.
The term “Sooners” refers to individuals who participated in the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 by entering the Unassigned Lands before the official start time. The term “Sooners” has also come to represent residents of Oklahoma and is associated with the University of Oklahoma’s athletic teams.
A homesteader’s first task was the construction of a suitable home. The typical post-run farm dwelling was usually a “soddy,” constructed from bricks of prairie sod, or a dugout built into the side of a hill. The homesteader next turned his attention to the planting of crops. The run occurred too late in the season for a cash crop to be planted, so the new arrivals grew vegetables that they hoped would last through the winter. The following seasons brought only hard times in the form of drought and depression. It was not until 1897 that good crops brought territorial farmers a degree of prosperity.
Not everyone came to the area in search of farmland. Many came to establish businesses or ply trades in the towns that sprang into existence. Along with the merchants, tradesmen, and professionals came saloon keepers, gamblers, and prostitutes, lending a colorful element to the era. In 1890 most of western Oklahoma, including the Unassigned Lands, were accorded territorial status. Guthrie was named the territorial capital.
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