Museum of the Western Prairie

09/12/2026

09/09/2026

Today is Teddy Bear Day!
All children have that one comfort toy from their childhood that was loved above all others, the most recognizable one being the teddy bear, other times it is a doll or another stuffed animal.
While we do not have any teddy bears, we do have plenty of photos of once loved toys. We hope you enjoy these photographs and tell us about your most loved toy from your childhood!
The first photograph is of a handmade doll braided yarn hair and embroidered facial features wearing a linen dress, it was once loved by Virginia Hudson Larimer.
The second photograph, circa 1890, shows Algie Hughes and Nina Hughes Stallings with a doll sitting between them.
The third photograph, circa 1890, is of Erah Cearley posing beside two dolls inside a doll buggy.
The fourth photograph, 1890, shows Ruth Walcott standing with a doll buggy holding one of her dolls.
The fifth photograph is of a handmade doll, circa 1920, with yarn hair and a dress that seems to be made from upholstery cloth, once loved by Leslie Ann Austin.
The sixth photograph shows a stuffed cat toy, circa 1920, with embroidered facial features that were then colored in, loved by Sabra Ware.
The seventh photograph, circa 1926, is of Paul Mock holding onto a stuffed rabbit toy.
The eighth photograph shows a doll, circa 1940, with bisque head, arms, and legs. She is wearing a light-colored dress with a floral pattern and white shoes, loved by Betty Reirden.
The ninth photograph is of a doll, circa 1940, that represents a Scandinavian woman, wearing a jacket, hat, and m**f, loved by Ann Austin Walker.
The last photograph shows 8 women at the Daughters of the American Revolution State Convention of 1966. All women are holding dolls dressed in pioneer costumes. The 3rd woman in the front row is Ardie Wright, wife of George C. Wright, at the age of 94.

09/05/2026

Today is Beard Day!
Enjoy these photographs of early Southwest Oklahoma men and their beards!
The first photograph, circa 1860, is of a bearded J. W. McAskill.
The second photograph, circa 1870, shows a tintype of Robert L. Clinkscales, father of Kate McAskill, with a short beard.
The third photograph, circa 1880, is of early settlers of Headrick, Vida and a scruffy bearded Henry Hickman, with their kids.
The fourth photograph, circa 1895, shows Rev. Willim Ezra Banks, with a cropped beard, from Hess, Oklahoma.
The fifth photograph, circa 1896, is of John Marion Waldroop, with a fanned-out beard, and his wife, Martha Dial Waldroop.
The sixth photograph, circa 1898, shows Dr. R. W. Eddleman, with a distinguished beard, and his infant granddaughter, Alva Mae.
The seventh photograph, circa 1900, is of long bearded John McClearen, his daughter, Jennie McClearen Holt, his granddaughter, Winnie Marvin Holt Morris, and his great grandson, Joseph Marvin Morris.
The eighth photograph, circa 1915, shows Dr. C. G. Spears with a trimmed beard.
The ninth photograph, circa 1945, is of a short-bearded Frank Harris and his son, Guy Harris.
The last photograph, circa 1880, shows Joseph S. “Buckskin Joe” dressed for the stage as an old man, complete with a fake beard.

09/04/2026

We had a full house on Tuesday night for George Getschow's talk on all things Lonesome Dove!

The Lonesome Dove exhibition is on display at the Museum through October, so be sure to come and see it before it's gone!