This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Opening of Oklahoma's unassigned lands sparked a mass homesteading rush
On April 22, 1889, over 100000 homeseekers from many states surged into Oklahoma's unassigned lands. The opening, led by Captain David L. Payne and later William L. Couch, transformed a frontier into towns like Guthrie and Oklahoma City. Railways guided the rush while settlers battled for claims, some returning home, many helping build the new state.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Union
Santa Fe
David L. Payne
Southern Plains
Payne
Oklahoma City
Uncle Sam
Wellington
Kan
William L. Couch
Couch
Washington
Bill
Oklahoma
House
Senate
Fadia
Harrison
Tion
Guthrie
Kingfisher
Carl Coke Rister
University of Oklahoma Press
Lexington
Purcell
Commonwealth of Oklahoma