Vol. 47, No. 1 Published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 January 2016 “Find Your Park” at an Oklahoma National Historic Landmark In 2016 the National Park Service (NPS) turns one hundred They built this house four miles south of Tahlequah in 1845. years old. To celebrate its centennial, the NPS wants to connect It is a two-story, weather-boarded, Federal-style house with a with and create the next generation of park visitors, supporters, native limestone foundation. The Murrell Home is nationally and advocates. A key piece of this effort is the “Find Your Park” significant as an example of the style of houses built by Cherokee public awareness campaign. The National Park Service invites leaders during the postremoval period of Indian Territory. you to find your park as they redefine what the word “park” Honey Springs Battlefield, means to all of us. It could be a place, a feeling, or even a state located at 101601 South 4232 of mind. And it does not have to be in the grand parks of the Road in Checotah, McIntosh West—it could be in your own community. This is where National and Muskogee Counties, was Historic Landmarks (NHLs) play an important role in the NPS designated a National Historic Centennial. There are twenty-two National Historic Landmarks Landmark in 2013. The Battle in Oklahoma, and most of them are accessible to the public. of Honey Springs on July 17, For information about the NHL designation and a complete list, 1863, occurred within the con- consult Tomorrow’s Legacy: Oklahoma’s Statewide Preservation text of the American Civil War. Plan at www.okhistory.org/shpo/stateplan.htm or the NPS It was the climax of a devastating concurrent civil war within website at www.nps.gov/nhl. the Cherokee and Muscogee (Creek) Nations, which was rooted The Oklahoma Historical Society owns five National Historic in their pasts and key to the futures of all five of the Indian na- Landmarks that are all open to the public. We invite you to tions removed from the southeastern United States to Indian “Find Your Park” at these Oklahoma NHLs: Territory. The battle was by far the largest Civil War engagement Fort Gibson, located at fought in Indian Territory, and Indian men fought as members 907 North Garrison in Fort of national regiments, both Union and Confederate. Also, it was Gibson, Muskogee County, was the largest and among the first engagements in which black designated a National Historic troops served as Union soldiers. Landmark in 1960. Established Sequoyah’s Cabin, located in 1824 under the command of at 470288 Highway 101 in General Matthew Arbuckle, the Sallisaw, Sequoyah County, post was named for Commissary was designated a National General George Gibson. The Historic Landmark in 1965. War Department abandoned Located eleven miles northeast the fort in 1890. In 1938 the Works Progress Administration of present-day Sallisaw, the reconstructed the stockade buildings. The fort is of national one-room log cabin was built significance because it served as the end of the Trail of Tears circa 1829. In 1936 a stone traveled by the Five Civilized Tribes removed from the southern cover building was constructed over the cabin to protect it. It is United States during the 1830s and 1840s, and as the hub for nationally significant as the home of Sequoyah, also known as both military and civilian administrative programs implemented George Guess or Gist, the inventor of the eighty-five character by the federal government on the Great Plains frontier. Cherokee syllabary. Fort Washita, located at 3348 Visit a National Historic Landmark then connect with the State Road 199 in Durant, National Park Service Centennial. Let the world know about Bryan County, was designated Oklahoma’s National Historic Landmarks by using social media a National Historic Landmark with these hashtags: #FindYourPark, #EncuentraTuParque, in 1965. General Zachary #FindYourHeritage, and #NationalHistoricLandmark. You Taylor established Fort Washita can share your story at www.findyourpark.com/share and in 1842. The fort is nationally encourage others to do the same. Using the #FindYourPark significant as the post that hashtag on Twitter and Instagram also will automatically provided protection for the share your story on www.findyourpark.com. Get inspired by Chickasaws and Choctaws against the nomadic Comanche the “Find Your Park” YouTube channel, where you can view and Apache tribes, and as a way station for travelers along the short, inspirational videos explaining what the NPS Centennial southern route of the Butterfield Overland Trail. is celebrating and what “Find Your Park” means. You also can George M. Murrell Home, watch messages from Centennial Ambassadors. Visit www. located at 19479 East youtube.com and type “Find Your Park” in the search bar. Murrell Home Road in Park For more information please contact NPS Historical Architect Hill, Cherokee County, was Tom Keohan at 303-969-2897 or [email protected], or the designated a National Historic Intermountain Region’s Centennial Coordinator Katie Dahle at Landmark in 1974. Virginian 303-987-6701 or [email protected]. George M. Murrell married If you have questions about National Historic Landmarks Cherokee Principal Chief John in Oklahoma, please call 405-521-6249 or email mheisch@ Ross’s niece Minerva in 1834. okhistory.org. and outreach. When talking about the ef- New Members, November 2015 fectiveness of the deputy director, I often use the metaphor of keeping the wheels *Indicates renewed memberships at a on a car speeding around a track. higher level That critical role has been ably filled for the past eight years by my deputy director Associate *David and Dianne Hunter, Edmond Tim Zwink. He is the model of consis- *Gordon Williams, Norman Director’s tency, thoroughness, and patience. Much column of the credit all of us at the OHS receive Friend is due to the efficiency and personal Merrill Burruss, Geary Randy Buttram, Oklahoma City leadership of Tim. Jim and Carolyn Clark, Oklahoma City It is with a mixture of sadness and *Josephine Decker, Muldrow gratitude that I am announcing his *Dallas Ferguson, Tulsa *Pat Ferry and Betta Carney, Little Rock, AR retirement at the end of January. Bill and Carolyn Hines, Oklahoma City Tim has been a true partner in all I do. Philip Hixon, Owasso We meet first thing every morning before *Craig Margo, Oklahoma City *Emma Rose Moore, Vinita 8 a.m., punctuated by our ritualized for- *Norma Noble, Oklahoma City By Dr. Bob L. Blackburn mal address of “Hello, Dr. Zwink,” followed *Stephen Parker, Oklahoma City Dale and Phyllis Regier, Yukon Executive Director by “Hello, Dr. Blackburn.” Throughout *Carl and Debby Rubenstein, Oklahoma City the day he keeps lists of the issues we I often write about the power of part- need to discuss, whether in person or Family nerships, usually in the context of other on the telephone if I am out across the William and Jane Adrian, Bartlesville Steve Allen, Nashville, TN organizations that share our mission for state. We pull others into the conversa- Michael Anduss, Yukon collecting, preserving, and sharing Okla- tion when needed, walk through various Lou Antonio, Burbank, CA homa history. scenarios, and make decisions about the Andy and Marilyn Artus, Oklahoma City Ford Austin, Sherman Oaks, CA The power of partnerships also applies next steps to be taken. It is a perfect ex- Isaac Baker, Tulsa to the operational side of what we do at ample of collaboration and a blending of Charles Barnett, Tyler, TX skill sets. Trafton Barney, Oklahoma City the Oklahoma Historical Society. I have K. K. Barrett, Los Angeles, CA been fortunate to work with many gifted Tim will not sever his association with Bryan and Coco Beasley, Los Angeles, CA partners over the years, including board the OHS. He has offered to come in when Rob Beckley, Broken Arrow Marshall Bell, Los Angeles, CA members, colleagues on the staff, and needed, especially when a new deputy Trent Bell, Norman volunteers. director steps into his office, and he will Byron Berline, Guthrie One partnership that is crucial to the continue to participate in historical proj- Charles Blackwell, Tulsa Scott Booker, Edmond efficient operation of the organization is ects and programs. Still, it will not be the David Box, Oklahoma City the working relationship between the ex- same when he is gone. Colin Bray, Oklahoma City Yes, I often write about the power of Keith Brewer, Oklahoma City ecutive director and the deputy director. Michael Brewer, Powersite, MO On a daily basis there are count- partnerships, but my partnership with Kelli Haney-Brady, Norman less problems to be solved, details to be Tim has been special. Here is a tip of my Andy Brown, Oklahoma City Derek and Rachel Brown, Oklahoma City checked, and processes to push down the hat to a man who has been a dedicated Shaun Brown, Oklahoma City track. The deputy director sifts through leader, a trusted advisor, and a good R. C. Bullock, Moore those details, recommends action, and friend. Crosley Burns, Oklahoma City Charles and Barbara Burton, Oklahoma City gives the executive director time to focus Ann Calhoun, Nashville, TN on goals, friend-making, communication, Larry Cannon, Franklin, TN Carla Cannon-Shelby, Hollis cont’d. on p. 7 Development News Oklahoma Historical Society By Larry O’Dell Membership Office: Alma Moore 405-522-5242 [email protected] A new year has arrived and the future of Mistletoe Leaves (USPS 018-315) is published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73105- the Oklahoma Historical Society looks bright. 7917. Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK. (ISSN 1932-0108) There are concerns about budget shortfalls and a tightening state budget, but we continue POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mistletoe Leaves, 800 Nazih fulfilling our mission of collecting, preserving, and sharing the state’s history in new and Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-7917.