GLCEventSpanish ExplorationsCNoteThere were two Spanish exploring expeditions in the United States: one, under De Soto, the other under Coronado. Some authorities believe that De Soto's expedition crossed the border of Oklahoma in the valley of the Arkansas River, in the eastern part of the state. That Coronado entered Oklahoma seems reasonably certain, for the records of his journey are much more complete than those of the De Soto expedition. However, neither of them led to the establishment of settlements or colonies.Yhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~oknowata/FrSPEX.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.French ExplorersyThe leader of the first French exploring party in Oklahoma was Bernard de La Harpe. His expedition came up the Red River as far as the mouth of the Kiamitia, in 1719, and explored the southeastern part of the state. In 1721, La Harpe returned to Oklahoma, ascending the Arkansas River and exploring the eastern part of the state. Soon after the first French explorers visited Oklahoma, French fur traders and trappers began to visit the various portions of the state which could be reached by canoe navigation. The French explorers left their marks upon the map of Oklahoma in the form of the French names which are still borne by rivers, streams and moutains - such as the Poteau, Illinois, Grand and Verdigris rivers, Sans Bois, Cache and Salaison (Sallisaw) creeks and Mount Cavanal. Yhttp://www.rootsweb.com/~oknowata/FrSPEX.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.&Osage First Nations Settle in OklahomaVlAfter the Osage settled here, the area became US property as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The Osage were forced to cede the rest of their lands to the United States in 1825. They then moved to Kansas Territory, but it was soon opened to white settlement. In 1870, Congress sold the rest of the Osage lands, turned the money over to the tribe and opened a reservation for them which later became Osage County. Before long, oil was struck on this land and the Osage became the wealthiest people per capita in the United States. chttp://www.state.ok.us/osfdocs/stinfo2.html#BEGINNINGS Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.The Louisiana PurchaseQv_The land that would eventually be known as Oklahoma was part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. bhttp://www.otrd.state.ok.us/StudentGuide/history.html Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.First Fort in OklahomaHPThe first fort within the Territory was Fort Gibson, formed in eastern Oklahoma.jhttp://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/OKearlyhist/OKhistindex.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.The Cheroke StripMWithin the treaties of 1828 and 1835, the Federal Government granted seven million acres of land to the Cherokee Nation. In addition to this gift of land, the United States guaranteed to the Cherokee Nation a perpetual outlet west. This outlet was to measure 58 miles wide and extend 220 miles along the northern border of the future state.This land was intended for use as a tribal hunting ground. After the Civil War, the US Government used the fact of divided loyalty by the Cheroke during the war to void the treaties and reclaim the land. Eventually, the land was given to settlers. dhttp://www.harvestcomm.net/personal/bjsbytes/outlet.htm Taken from the Internet, February 21, 2002.Creation of Indian TerritorydBy an Act of Congress, territory was set aside for Indian occupation, called Indian Territory. ]http://www.rootsweb.com/~okgrant/historygcx.html Taken from the Internet, February 21, 2002.Discovery of Oil7 Grand SalineIn the summer of 1859 oil was discovered in Oklahoma by Lewis Ross. He was salt mining at the Grand Saline on the Grand River and decided to sink a deep well for greater production. The well found a vein of oil that produced about ten barrels a day for nearly a year. _http://www.drillinginfo.com/Wonderings20011101.htm Taken from the Internet, February 27, 2002.American Civil WarlkIndian Territory played an important role in the Civil War, because present day Oklahoma was the buffer zone between the northern forces in Kansas and the Southern forces in Texas. Thus, both the Union and the Confederacy were working hard to develop treaties with the Five Civilized Tribes. Most of the tribes sided with the Confederacy. Several Civil War battles were fought in the Territory, largest of which were the Battles of Honey Springs and Round Mountain. African Americans fought alongside whites during the Battle of Honey Springs, an engagement fought on July 17, 1863, on a small battlefield outside present-day Muskogee.African American troops held the Union's center line in that battle, breaking the Confederate's center and giving the Union a critical win that secured both the Arkansas River and the Texas Road (the region's major transportation routes).http://www.us-civilwar.com/ Taken from the Internet July 3, 2001 and http://www.state.ok.us/osfdocs/stinfo2.html#BEGINNINGS and http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/OKearlyhist/Civilwar.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.First HomesteadersnA cannon blast started the first Land Run. Settlers ran, rode on horseback or traveled in wagons to stake their land claims. By the end of the day, nearly 10,000 people had settled in Oklahoma City. The Sac and Fox, Pottowatomie-Shawnee Lands, located just east of the original run site, were opened on September 21, 1891. This event was followed by a run for the Cheyenne and Arapaho lands in western Oklahoma on April 19, 1892. The largest and most dramatic run was the Cherokee Outlet, occurring on September 19, 1893. On May 23, 1895, the Kickapoo Land Run in central Oklahoma took place. This was the last land run to happen in Oklahoma. Yhttp://www.okccvb.org/history/ok_history.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.Territory of Oklahoma FormedThe federal government created the Territory of Oklahoma. This was the southern part of the region and the western portion of the Indian Territory, plus the Panhandle.Yhttp://www.okccvb.org/history/ok_history.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.The Curtis ActThis Act sought to abolish [and did] the governments of the so-called Five Civilized Tribes-The Cherokees, Creek [Muskogee], Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole. The Governments were stripped of their functions, tribal courts were abolished, and the Tribes' schools were merged into the Non-Indians' public school system. Most devastating, land was divided into parcels with individual ownership, termed allotments. What the Federal Government called "excess land" after this division was taken from the Indians, Without Just Compensation! hhttp://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Prairie/5918/parker.html Taken from the Internet, February 27, 2002.Becomes a State= WThe Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory joined, and Oklahoma became the 46th state.Yhttp://www.okccvb.org/history/ok_history.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.Oil in Oklahoma CityF) Oklahoma CityyOil was discovered on the corner of SE 59th and Bryant. In the 27 days before the great gusher could be capped, it spewed 110,496 barrels of oil. The Oklahoma City Field had been discovered, creating the city's most important financial source and making Oklahoma City the world's newest boom town. Oil continues to be one the most important players in this city's economy. Zhttp://www.okccvb.org/history/okc_history.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.The Great Depression*`The nation plunged into the Great Depression at the Stock Market Crash of October 29, 1929. Actually, the Depression had existed in Oklahoma before that fateful day. The state had been in an agricultural depression since World War I ended. Farmers had geared up to produce food for the Armies and people of Europe continued to produce even after the war ended. However, European countries were unable to buy much imported produce. Prices fell and farmers were unable to pay debts incurred during the wartime years. Some turned to subsistence farming; others moved into cities to seek industrial jobs. shttp://title3.sde.state.ok.us/history_and_culture/great_depression.htm Taken from the Internet, February 26, 2002.%World's First Installed Parking Meter2 Oklahoma CityCarl C. Magee is generally credited with originating the parking meter. He filed for a patent for a "coin controlled parking meter" on May 13, 1935. Shttp://www.50states.com/facts/okla.htm Taken from the Internet, February 21, 2002.First Electric Guitar2BeggsGBob Dunn a musician from Beggs invented the first electric guitar. Shttp://www.50states.com/facts/okla.htm Taken from the Internet, February 21, 2002."An African American Life of FirstsL^Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange's accomplishments are a parade of "firsts." She was the first African-American to serve as a law clerk for a federal district judge in South Texas and the first African-American woman elected to the Oklahoma Senate. She was also the first African-American United States Attorney in the State of Oklahoma, and among the first African-American female U.S. Attorneys in the nation. With her appointment to the federal bench in 1994, Judge Miles-LaGrange has most recently become the first African-American federal district judge in the six states which make up the Tenth Circuit. chttp://www.jtbf.org/article_iii_judges/lagrange_vm.htm Taken from the Internet, February 27, 2002.