Tulsa - Muskogee - Tahliequah - Oklahoma

June 25 - 28, 2023:

      

It’s an easy 50 mile drive from Tulsa to Muskogee making no stops along the way, very unusual.  As I approach Muskogee, I see a sign for the Five Tribes Museum and take the exit and drive to it, it’s not open as expected on a Sunday, but it’s in an interesting old stone building, I’ll try again on Monday.  I’m getting a motel room tonight, a nice big bed and especially a good shower is much needed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskogee,_Oklahoma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Forks_(Oklahoma)

I do a tour through Muskogee, there is a great old train depot turned into the Three River  Museum and across the street another old building now housin g the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.  They both appear to be Museums i'd like to visit but closed from Sunday - Tuesday.

Beautiful mural

Once upon a time, this was a big railroad town

Now the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame

The old Muskogee Hotel is in decay

We do smoke marijuana in Muskogee

I go to the Five Civilized Tribes Museum, it is open and I find more information of these civilized tribes.  They were the Chickasaw, Cherokee, Choctaw, Seminole and Muskogee tribes.  It seems that these tribes took on some of the new settlers ways and had more advanced social structures, they farmed, they developed schools and the Cherokees even developed a written language. They sort of take offense to being called the civilized tribes by whites, they thought they were as civilized before white influence.

This building is one of the oldest in town as the Indian agency meeting place

I then head back to downtown Muskogee, which has a very nice downtown, I find numerous interesting buildings and building details.  I stop at the Roxy Theater to take a photo, a man comes out, looking like a maintenance man, but starts telling me the history of the theater and all sorts of interesting facts about the town.  He is sounding like a pretty smart guy and we are having a good conversation.  Eventually I ask him, What is your position here, are you the Manager ? and of course he was.

The Court House and Post Office

This store was beautiful inside and out

Street art, not always socially acceptable, but still my favorite

It's labeled The Parisian on the front and the Buck'N" Bull Saloon on the side

One of several local dispensaries

The Roxy holds many film festivals and Hall of Fame events

The Roxy Theater facade

Roxy interior the photo doesn't do it justice, it was dark

 

It took me a while to find, but eventually I found the Three Forks Harbor where they have built a marina and a cultural center with other things in the planning stage to develop a riverside recreational park on the Arkansas River.  They refer to this area as “Three Rivers”, a little misleading, as the rivers, the Arkansas, the Verdigris and the Grand don’t actually merge together in one spot. I also find another park area near historic Fort Gibson where you get a way better natural view of the river and it and a nature hiking trail.

They have facilities to move large boats in or out of the river 

View from the parking lot

The other direction

There is something strange going on in Oklahoma, It was even more obvious in Tulsa, there are massage parlors everywhere in Oklahoma, lots and lots of them.  I am wondering if this is a regional thing, like everyone here suffers from muscle or joint pain or stress and needs frequent massages ?  I’ve never had a massage in my life, am I missing something ?  I checked online and found that the number of applications to open a massage business in Oklahoma was increased dramatically in the last few years.  My erotic perverted mind is telling me that there is some shady business going on here and I’m tempted to investigate ?    

I leave Muskogee for a day to visit the nearby town of Tahiequah which is the capital city of the Cherokee Nation.  I go to the Cherokee National Historical Museum which covers their existence from emergence story to the present time.  They were the tribe that conformed to white European customs more than any other tribe, became good farmers, were industrious, built schools, had a good governing system and even developed a written language.  However since they were located in the southeast they were caught up in the slavery issue with the tribe members being split.  As a result, they suffered greatly during the civil war from both sides.

Then when the tribal removal act was passed, they argued against it in court, but lost.  There was much political debate about this, but in the end they were forcibly removed from their homeland and force marched to Oklahoma in what is known as the “Trail of Tears”. If it's any consolation, they probably faired better than most other tribes as at least they were relocated to an area with fertile land with plenty of water, trees and a mostly temperate climate.  

Also while many tribes are struggling to maintain their original language the Cherokee use it and keep in viable, their street signs are in both English and Cherokee.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahlequah,_Oklahoma

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_Nation

The Cherokee National Historic Museum

John Ross was the most beloved chief during most turbulent times

Notice the Cherokee at the top of the page, the signs were done in both languages

The Cherokee tribe played the game

A very attractive College 

A statue of Sequoyah who developed their written language

An interesting statue on the college grounds

Interesting building in town, looks like it was converted into a Irish pub ?

My last day back in Muskogee, I visit the Three Rivers Historical Museum and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.  The Hall of Fame is mostly a radio station and a performance venue for special events and a room dedicated to country musicians and bands who have been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. 

 

The three rivers, this area started as a French fur trade outpost

The girl scouts and the cookies started here in Muskogee

Muskogee had a very vibrant economy 

Alive Roberson was an amazing woman

Oklahoma had lots of outlaws

Bass Reeves, a black man, was the most respected US Marshall

They had a video on him, he was the best, compared to the Lone Ranger

Belle Star was a most colorful and legendary character 

Belle Starr carrying a big gun

Merle Haggard is another legendary character

Inside the Music Hall of Fame

Leon Russell is definitely there

Inside the Hall of Fame

Outside view

Merle put Muskogee on the map

I eventually find two Arkansas River access points, near the site of historic Fort Gibson.   The first is at two side by side scenic old iron bridges, one in use railroad bridge and the other is an out of service road bridge. 

Nearby I find a park along the river with beautiful shade trees, picnic tables and a scenic nature trail through the forest with side trails down to the river.

The highway Bridge

The Railroad Bridge

The Arkansas River is a beauty

I love to see these big trees !

It’s been a very hot day, Tucson hot, and back at Walmart I spend a very sweaty night in the van even though there is a decent breeze outside.  I eventually just open the side door and crack the rear door slightly open to get some air flow.

I was thinking about going into Arkansas tomorrow, possibly to Fayetteville, but I’m kind of tired of the crowded crazy city scene.  Instead, I'm heading north in Oklahoma taking a more route 66 route to Miami, Oklahoma.