The Active Historian

Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post! Today, we’re talking about the Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History in Chandler, Oklahoma.

This museum looked way cool from its website and I was so excited to find some really awesome Western history pieces tucked away on the second floor. Let’s go look around!

*All photos were taken by myself in Chandler, Oklahoma.

Museum History

The Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History was founded in 1954 in Chandler, Oklahoma. The Lincoln County Historical Society’s goal is to preserve local history for future generations.

The Mascho Building was built from 1897-1898 and is the oldest commercial building in the county! The photo on the right below shows the building c. 1898. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

The Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History has been housed in this building since 1966. 

Collection

The collection covers a little bit of everything from the land run, military history, western history, Route 66 history and more!

You can also do genealogical research at this museum as well!

The following photos showcase a few of the cool items you’ll see in the museum.

Henry Starr

Henry Starr was an outlaw in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. He was active in Indian Territory (later known as Oklahoma). 

He robbed banks and trains. He was eventually caught and faced a prison sentence for highway robbery and murder. He served five years of his fifteen year sentence before being released in 1903. 

He moved to Tulsa, was married and started a family. 

But, Starr returned to a life of crime in 1908. He joined in on a robbery in Kansas. 

He was captured in Colorado and spent some time in prison. He wrote, “Thrilling Events: Life of Henry Starr.” After being released from prison, he fled Colorado even though he wasn’t supposed to… 

He is most known for the robbery of the two Stroud, Oklahoma banks. This was the first *successful double bank robbery. Henry Starr and one other person of the six man group were badly wounded. Starr was captured. 

Starr was sentenced to twenty-five years in prison. He was released after about five years. He returned to Tulsa and was married a third time. 

Starr decided to rob another bank in February 1921 though. He was shot during the robbery and passed away two days later. 

Bennie Kent

Bill Tilghman’ Rocking Chair

Legends of the West Stamp Collection

I have only seen pictures on the internet of the “Legends of the West” stamp collection so it was cool to see this in-person.

Concluding Thoughts

I enjoyed visiting this museum because it’s on Route 66 in the middle of Chandler. I went on a Saturday afternoon and had no trouble finding parking by the museum at all.

Make sure to take time to chat with the volunteers. They were so kind and full of knowledge.

I hope you’ll add this museum to your next Route 66 road trip itinerary! Happy traveling, I’ll talk to ya soon! 🙂

Visit

719 Manvel Ave
Chandler, OK 74834

TRAVEL TIP: Make sure to stop by the 1930 Phillips 66 Filling Station while you’re here. It’s like 3-4 buildings right down the street and cool to see. I’d definitely call it a selfie-spot in Oklahoma for sure! Check out my blog post about the building here, “1930 Phillips 66 Filling Station: Chandler, OK.”

Sources

Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History – Website

Placards placed on the objects for Henry Starr, Bennie Kent, and Bill Tilghman.