The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) is a museum in Enid, Oklahoma, that focuses on the history of the Cherokee Outlet and the Land Run of September 16, 1893. Previously named the Museum of the Cherokee Strip, the museum has undergone renovations expanding the museum space to 24,000 square feet.[1] The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is home to permanent and temporary exhibit galleries, a research center, and the Humphrey Heritage Village.[2]
 | |
  Location within Oklahoma | |
Former name | Museum of the Cherokee Strip |
|---|---|
| Established | April 1, 2011 |
| Location | 507 S. 4th St., Enid, Oklahoma |
| Type | History Museum |
| Website | www.csrhc.org |
History
editTalk of a museum in Enid featuring artifacts from the 1893 Land Run began in the 1940s.[3] In 1951 Harry H. McKeever, chairman of the Cherokee Strip Historical Association, began collecting historical artifacts and interviews with residents who had participated in the Land Run.[4] The museum was housed in the basement of the courthouse and opened on September 14, 1951 during the annual Cherokee Strip Land Run anniversary celebration.[5] In August 1953 it moved to the basement of the Enid Carnegie Library,[6] and in 1957 it moved to the basement of an old post office building.[7] The post office building was razed to make room for the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County, and the museum was moved to Convention Hall.[8] In 1962 Phillips University and the Sons and Daughters of the Cherokee Strip decided to combine their museums.[9] The museum opened in November 1966[10] and was located at the University's former library building which was constructed in 1914.[11]
The Museum of the Cherokee Strip was officially opened at its current location at 507 S. 4th St. on September 13, 1975.[12] The Garfield County Historical Society, Sons and Daughters of the Cherokee Strip Pioneers, and Cherokee Strip Historical Society preserved and collected historical artifacts from Cherokee Outlet which are displayed at the museum.[13]
In 2005, through a partnership between the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Sons and Daughters of the Cherokee Strip, and the Phillips Legacy Foundation, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Inc. was formed to build a new facility. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center was opened to the public on April 1, 2011.[14]
The Heritage Center is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Galleries and Exhibits
edit
Permanent exhibits tell the story of early settlement of the region after the Land Run of 1893, the development of agriculture, the discovery of oil, and the early rail industry in the region. Additional exhibits focus on Phillips University and Enid, Oklahoma history.[15]
The Heritage Center has a temporary exhibit gallery that houses traveling exhibitions.[16] At a gala on September 16, 2010, the museums featuring David Fitzgerald's "Cherokee Nation: Portrait of a People" photography exhibit. It was the museum's first exhibit in its temporary exhibit hall, which predated the opening of the rest of the permanent exhibits.[17]
Research Center
editThe Heritage Center houses a research center with an archival collection that includes photographs, oral histories, newspapers, genealogical information, and a reference library. A full-time archivist is on staff to help visitors with research requests.[18]
Humphrey Heritage Village
edit
The Humphrey Heritage Village is a living history village on the grounds of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. The village includes historic buildings from northwestern Oklahoma, such as Enid's U.S. Land Office from the Land Run of 1893. Other buildings include the Glidewell house, Enid's first Episcopal church, and the Turkey Creek School House.[19]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ About Us at http://www.csrhc.org/ Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center Website] (accessed April 26, 2010)
- ^ "Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center | Oklahoma Historical Society". www.okhistory.org. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ "Relics of old strip days on exhibit in Enid". The Enid Morning News. 15 September 1946. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "New Museum is planned for city". The Enid Events. 21 June 1951. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Strip relics being assembled include historic saw, maps". The Enid Morning News. 9 September 1951. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Museum for county in new place". The Enid Daily Eagle. 26 August 1953. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Cherokee Strip museum to open for celebration". 28 August 1957. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Old library to be museum". The Haymaker. 7 February 1964. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Mrs Phillips gift to go to museum". The Haymaker. 6 November 1964. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Phillips Museum dedication set". The Daily Oklahoman. 1 November 1966. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "The 50 year old library". The Hartshorne Sun. 19 November 1964. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ "Dedication set Saturday at museum". The Daily Oklahoman. 12 September 1975. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ Rockwell, Stella, ed., Garfield County, Oklahoma, 1907-1982, Vol. I, Garfield Historical Society, Josten's Publishing Company, Topeka, Kansas. 1982., pgs 3-4
- ^ Eagle, Cindy Allen, Managing EditorEnid News and. "Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will officially open to public Friday morning". Enidnews.com. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ csrhc. "Exhibits". Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ "Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center | Oklahoma Historical Society". www.okhistory.org. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ Nash, Bridget, "Gala provides glimpse of new heritage center", Enid News & Eagle, September 17, 2010
- ^ Friesen, Kevin. "Research Center". Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
- ^ Friesen, Kevin. "Humphrey Heritage Village". Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
External links
edit- Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center - Official website
- Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center - Oklahoma Historical Society, Museums and Historic Sites website