At 12:00 noon on April 22nd. 1889 the cannon boomed signaling the opening of the unassigned lands of Indian Territory. Literally thousands of people rushed in to claim their quarter section, 160 acres of free land!
Using every means of transportation from buckboads, race horses, surreys, horse drawn carts, walking and running, and even bicycles, they came!
Paul Moore, a fifth generation Oklahoman, was the sculpter and designer of this fourty-seven piece Centennial Land Run Monument. His great great grandfather participated in the run. The man driving this wagon is a self image he created of himself to commemorate the crossing of a river that ocurred in the land rush!
Located at the South Turnaround for the water taxis, here is two landrunners, one with his stake in hand, racing to claim their 160 acre parcel of free land!
By nightfall of that day of the run, it was said and reported, there were 10,000 people living in Oklahoma City, and the original town lots were already laid out!
must have been a feverish day. i feel sorry for the 'unclaimed' native american families...
ReplyDeleteYes Tex, I understand your feelings for the 'unclaimed'. I have family on both sides of the sentiments. There were allowances made, but I still yet wonder how governments can take away what was not theirs (by treaty), and then parcel back what was not theirs to begin with? Another dark time of our History!
ReplyDeleteOH! Forgot to say. Paul Moore, the sculpter, is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are great sculptures.
ReplyDelete47 pieces of sculpture, wow that's quite the commission and undertaking! This must have taken years to complete.
ReplyDeleteI recall seeing a movie many years ago to do with this Land Run.
Great pictures and story Parker. I didn't even know those statues existed. OKC has done a lot of "new" things.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the history part of this series. You also captured these statues beautifully. You put me back in time. It's amazing how much has changed. =) OKC has some cool history!
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