Learn the History of Oklahoma With OkieLore

Think the history of Oklahoma is boring? Think again and welcome to Okielore.com! I'm Sue Merriam, and I'm all about stories from Oklahoma's past. Oklahoma has just as much fascinating history as it does beautiful scenery. We're the amazing state nobody knows about. I love my home state, and I'm convinced you will too once you give it a try.

A Land of Native Americans

group of indians resized

Indians have lived here since prehistoric times. Tragically, many tribes were forced to relocate here during the Infamous Trail of Tears, and the Five Civilized Tribes reside here. As more immigrants moved out west, forts were established to maintain the peace, including Fort Sill near Lawton, Oklahoma.

There were many tribes with many different cultures. Some tribes were agrarian and wanted to raise crops and live in peace. Other tribes were nomadic and hunted buffalo. Still other tribes warred with neighboring tribes. When settlers came from the East seeking land and a new life, war between the Native Americans and the settlers was inevitable, and forts were built to help maintain the peace.

A Land of Soldiers

Civil War Soldiers on Horses

By the way, Fort Sill has a fascinating history. General Sherman came through to personally see if the Indian problem was real. He came into a close call with a group of more than 100 Indians. Colonel Benjamin Grierson established Fort Sill. He was a former band leader and gifted violinist who would entertain officers by playing the violin. The first African American graduate from West Point was stationed at Fort Sill and made advances to prevent the spread of malaria.

A Land of Cowboys

Cowboy With Rope

Our fascinating history of Oklahoma wouldn't be complete without stories of the cowboys who came through, bringing their cattle to the railroads. Missionaries came here as well, bringing the gospel message to the lost and hopeless. Many people have heard about Oklahoma's famous land runs that enabled people from all over the world to come and settle in our state.

A Land of Oil

Oil and plenty of it were discovered in our state, leading to the oil boom and enabling some people to become rich. The oil and gas industry still provides jobs for many in Oklahoma today. There are sad aspects to our history of Oklahoma as well, including the Tulsa race riots. During the Great Depression, some Okies fled the state, hoping for a better life out west, but enough people stayed and endured the Dust Bowl Times.

Oil well in 1920s

A Land of Challenges

World War II brought its own unique challenges. The city of Chickasha was host to a German concentration camp, and soldiers trained for artillery shelling at Fort Sill. The Oklahoma City Bombing was a traumatic time for many in our state, but Oklahomans continue to not only endure these difficult times but to eventually thrive.

Oklahoma Is a Great Place to Visit

Lake in Oklahoma

While the history of Oklahoma is fascinating, the beauty of Oklahoma is what will steal your heart away. Just ask the Vikings. They are believed to have once sailed up the Mississippi River and made it all the way to northeastern Oklahoma and even left ruins that may declare their claim on this land.

We have salt dunes near the Oklahoma panhandle and beautiful forests and lakes in the eastern portion of Oklahoma. Robbers Cave State Park has a cave where--you guessed it--robbers once hid out.

While the mountains in Oklahoma might not be as majestic as the Rockies, they have their own beauty. We also have plenty of historic towns and fun museums where you can learn about the history of Oklahoma and have a great time doing it. There are plenty of amazing facts about Oklahoma.

The History of Oklahoma Doesn't Have to be Dull

One of the main reasons I started this website was because I was so frustrated trying to find curriculum to teach my own children about the history of Oklahoma. The history books I found were dull and focused on dates rather than people. While a timeline is helpful, it's more important to understand the people who lived in Oklahoma and the impact they had on history. The lore people from our past have to tell should never be forgotten.

In the future, I plan on creating a curriculum on Oklahoma History as well as writing several tween books about famous figures in Oklahoma history. I am also writing historical romances that are clean and fun to read.

I Also Have a YouTube Channel

I plan on creating YouTube videos about Oklahoma history on a regular basis. On my videos, I will talk about different interesting facts about Oklahoma's history as well as interesting people and places to travel in Oklahoma.

I mentioned earlier that there are many beautiful places to visit in Oklahoma, but seeing is more powerful than believing. That's why I started my OkieLore channel. Here's an example of one of those videos on the right.

I hope you enjoy this website as much as I have enjoyed researching and writing it.

Sue Merriam