The Active Historian

Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to show you around the Canadian County Historical Society Museum Complex. Let’s get started!

Museum History

The museum is housed in the old Rock Island Depot in El Reno, Oklahoma that was built in 1906. The original depot was built earlier in 1890 as the Southern Division Headquarters of the Rock Island Railroad. In 1907, passenger trains began running through El Reno and ran continuously through November 1967. In 1970, the Canadian County Historical Society leased and later purchased the building for a museum.

Below you can see a handful of photos from inside the museum. The exhibitions include a litany of objects covering a range of topics from railroad history to Fort Reno to local history about El Reno.

Buildings at the Historical Society Complex

El Reno Hotel

In February 1984, the El Reno Hotel was moved to the museum complex for preservation. Founded in 1892 and located at the corner of Wade and Choctaw in El Reno, the hotel was owned by J.M. Kemp. The next owners were John and Emma Kossuth who ran it for a time before selling it in 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Hiram M. Foster operated the hotel for years. Mrs. Foster turned the hotel over to her son in 1959 and he ran it until 1964. Next in line to run the hotel was Catherine Lemon, Mrs. Foster’s daughter. Catherine ran the hotel until 1974 when it permanently closed its doors to guests. Not wanting the building to fall into disrepair, Catherine and her children continued caring for the building and its grounds. Robert Osborn later purchased the building. In 1984, he and his associated donated the hotel to museum complex so the original lot could be cleared for Route 66 interests.

The hotel has 16 rooms altogether – 6 on the bottom floor and 10 on the top floor. Rooms were originally priced 50-75 cents with meals costing 25-35 cents. Before the 1900s, the building didn’t have electricity so they used kerosene lamps and gas lights.

Land Run Marker

“At the opening of “Old Oklahoma,” April 22, 1889, this was the west line for the Run starting at 12 o’clock noon. Prairies and hills in the 2,000,000 acre tract, east, were peopled by tens of thousands, homes were planted and tent cities sprang up before nightfall.”

Rock Island Caboose & Coal Tender

In 1998, the Rock Island Caboose was donated and delivered to the museum. Retired railroad workers volunteered their time and efforts to restore the caboose. It is painted dual-sided with the Rock Island red and Union Pacific yellow.

In 1974, the American Locomotive Co. coal tender was donated to the museum. It was built in 1923.

Red Cross Canteen

Built in 1918, the first Red Cross Canteen was built in El Reno. It served over 50,000 people during World War I. The railroad dropped off trainloads of soldiers and they were given cigarettes, writing paper, and a meal.

The building was constructed with cedar logs and mortar. It was dedicated on August 1, 1918 by the El Reno Modern Woodmen & Woodmen of the World.

It was relocated back to the museum complex in 1975.

Possum Holler School

This little one-room schoolhouse originally stood 20 miles west of El Reno near the South Canadian River and was built in 1910 after the original schoolhouse succumbed to a fire. Students walked or rode a horse to school. Local schoolhouses provided a place for the community to gather. The school was closed in 1947 and added to the Caddo County District. In 1976, the schoolhouse was donated to and moved to the museum complex.

Mennoville Mennonite Church

In 1893, the Mennoville Mennonite Church was built in Oklahoma Territory. This was the first Mennonite church in the Territory. Church services were held here for 61 years. In 1997, the building was moved to the museum complex.

Petrified Tree

This petrified tree was found in Anderson, Oklahoma on March 14, 1914. The Rock Island Coal Mining Company was sinking Shaft No. 9 and found this petrified tree at 40 feet. It is estimated to be from the Carboniferous Age.

Darlington Agency Jail

General Sheridan’s Headquarters

Heritage Trolley

In 2001, the Canadian County Historical Society purchased a trolley car reminiscent of the El Reno Interurban which launched in 1909. The trolley line travels through downtown El Reno. Today, you can ride the Heritage Express Trolley in June, July, and August. There are four rides every Saturday or you can call the museum to schedule a group ride. Check out their website for more information!

Concluding Thoughts

I enjoyed visiting the Canadian County Historical Society Museum Complex and hope you’ll check it out if you’re ever driving down Route 66! There are several fun stops in El Reno and I enjoyed the ones I made.

Happy Traveling, friend! I’ll talk to ya soon! 🙂

Visit

300 S Grand Avenue

El Reno, OK 73036

Sources

Canadian County Historical Society – website

Museum plaques on site

Information from the tour with a staff member

Binders of information in various buildings