The Western Oklahoma Historical Society Strives to Perpetuate the History, Study, and Appreciation of Western Oklahoma.
About Us
Learn about our organization and how you too can participate to promote and preserve western Oklahoma history.
Historic Places
Explore the rich history of western Oklahoma by learning about and visiting all its historic places.
Visit the National Route 66 and Old Town Museum Complex
The Elk City Route 66 and Old Town Museum Complex allows you to take a nostalgic journey down the Mother Road, Route 66, and immerse yourself in western Oklahoma’s rich pioneer history.
Preserving and Promoting Western Oklahoma History
As a nonprofit organization, the Western Oklahoma Historical Society concentrates its efforts on preserving artifacts related to western Oklahoma and promoting interest in the study and research of the area. The organization concentrates on all of western Oklahoma but specifically on Beckham and Roger Mills Counties. The National Route 66 Museum and Old Town Museum complex is the largest history museum in western Oklahoma, and as such, much of the Society’s work focuses on that. Over the years, the Western Oklahoma Historical Society has helped to fund several additions to the museum including the Farm and Ranch Museum, the Blacksmith Shop, the General Store, and the Education Building.
In addition, WOHS hosts an annual flea market in Ackley Park the first weekend of October and an ongoing art show in the Education Building featuring western Oklahoma artists. Each year, the Society also honors individuals from western Oklahoma who have made significant contributions to the area by inducting them into the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
The Latest News and Events
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One Hundred Years Ago: September 1925
In the September 10, 1925, edition of the Elk City News-Democrat, the Beckham County Fair was the big news. A new parking lot had been created to accommodate the expected crowds. In addition to the fair exhibits, a variety of entertainment was on the schedule. Bands, animal acts, and acrobats were just a few of… Read More »One Hundred Years Ago: September 1925
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Book Review: Dust Bowl Girls
by Doug Haught Dust Bowl Girls, Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill by Lydia Reeder. 292 pages This book is about the 1932 girls’ basketball team for Oklahoma Presbyterian College. We have forgotten that during the 1930’s, girls faced unbelievable obstacles just to play basketball. The obstacles were national and personal. President Hoover and… Read More »Book Review: Dust Bowl Girls
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Flea Market 2025
The Western Oklahoma Historical Society stage its first flea market in 1972 on the lawn of the Old Town Museum. Since that time, the annual flea market has become the Historical Society’s main fundraiser. Held the first weekend of October every year except the pandemic year of 2020, the flea market has grown and now… Read More »Flea Market 2025
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Hall of Fame 2025
Since 1973 the Western Oklahoma Historical Society has honored outstanding citizens from Western Oklahoma by inducting them into the Western Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Those individuals were honored for bringing attention to, preserving the heritage of, or providing a more prosperous future to Western Oklahoma. The inductees are recognized at a banquet and receive a… Read More »Hall of Fame 2025
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One Hundred Years Ago
Beckham County residents were well informed in August 1925. While television and the internet were a long way in the future, newspapers filled the need for information. Beckham County had six newspapers including The Elk City News-Democrat, The Southwestern Elk City Press, The Sayre Journal, The Beckham County Democrat, The Carter Express, and The Texola… Read More »One Hundred Years Ago
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Memories of Delhi, Oklahoma
by Judy Haught Like many once-thriving communities in Western Oklahoma, Delhi displays the remnants of rural history. Sitting quietly along County Road E. 1270, Delhi, consisting of a vast cemetery, the remains of a beautiful school, and a handful of houses and other structures, bears witness to a vibrant way of life that no longer… Read More »Memories of Delhi, Oklahoma
