The Active Historian

McLoud Historical Society Museum: McLoud, OK

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Hey, Friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to show you around the McLoud Historical Society. Let’s get started!

McLoud History

The town of McLoud was established on June 21, 1895. John W. McLoud was a railroad attorney for the Choctaw, Oklahoma & Gulf Railway and the man whom the town was named for.

It would become the third largest town in Pottawatomie County. It soon became an important business center for agriculture and manufacturing. There were five cotton gins and two brick factories in 1904.

A framed black and white historical photograph labeled 'McLoud 1911', depicting a view of West Broadway taken from near 5th and Broadway, showcasing buildings and a church in McLoud.
Historical photograph of a Blackberry Festival parade in McLoud, Oklahoma in 1944, featuring horses and a line of vintage cars in front of a drugstore.
A framed black and white historic photograph depicting Main Street in McLoud, Oklahoma, prior to 1907. The image shows storefronts and horse-drawn carriages, with a label beneath it.

McLoud became known as the “Blackberry Capital of the World” when a crate of blackberries was sent to United States President Harry S. Truman in 1949 by the McLoud Blackberry Grower’s Association. This group had been founded in 1940 assist with marketing the product and improving production. The group was formally disbanded in 1963, but the traditions never went away.

Today, McLoud is known for the annual Blackberry Festival which takes place every year during the first week of July. There is a parade, live music, crafts, a royalty contest, and more.

A display inside the McLoud Historical Society Museum featuring historical photographs related to blackberry farming, along with a table showcasing information about the McLoud Blackberry Grower's Association.

Museum History

The McLoud Historical Society was formed in 2004 by Glenda Palmer Kuhn. The McLoud Historical Society Museum opened to the public on April 25, 2008.

Today, the museum is run by a dedicated group of volunteers that have a passion for the town and its history!

Let me show you a few photos from inside the museum next.

Photos Inside the Museum

The poster in the photo below has a quote that says, “History is living memories” and I absolutely loved it!

Inside the McLoud Historical Society Museum, showcasing a vintage barber chair with a sign stating 'history', along with various historical items in glass display cases and a red letterman jacket in the background.

I’m always looking for saddles and love to see the various designs. This saddle belonged to Paul K. Keene and was created by the Reidhead Saddlery in Phoenix, Arizona.

A vintage saddle with ropes and a washboard displayed in a museum setting.
A close-up view of a saddle belonging to Paul K. Keene, made by Reidhead Saddlery in Phoenix, Arizona, displayed in a museum setting.
Close-up of a saddle with a label indicating it belonged to Paul K. Keene, a former resident of McLoud, Oklahoma.

The museum had several cases filled with things from McLoud’s history. From various businesses in town to placing McLoud in the larger picture of national history, the museum does a good job of telling McLoud’s story.

A display case in the McLoud Historical Society Museum featuring vintage items including a newspaper article, memorabilia from local businesses, and decorative pumpkins.
A display case inside the McLoud Historical Society Museum featuring various historical items, including photographs, documents, and memorabilia from local businesses.
Display case featuring various vintage telephones and communication equipment, including rotary phones, a vintage picture of a building, and various historical artifacts.
Display case showcasing various historical artifacts and documents, including military items, photographs, and a vintage dress, set inside the McLoud Historical Society Museum.
Display case showcasing historical artifacts and photographs related to McLoud, including military memorabilia, local history books, and clothing items.

I love seeing how letterman jackets have changed over the years at local historical societies.

A red and white letterman jacket with the letter 'M' and 'COACH' embroidered on it, displayed on a mannequin in a museum, alongside a wooden paddle and other historical items.
A red jacket with 'McLOUD' written on it hanging on a wire figure resembling a person, surrounded by various historical displays in the McLoud Historical Society Museum.
A red and white letterman jacket displayed in a museum case, featuring an 'M' emblem and various sports symbols.

The Nowakowski family donated this Polish dance dress to the historical society. Minnie Nowakowski and her husband, Leo would dance in parades in McLoud and Harrah.

Traditional Polish dance dress displayed in the McLoud Historical Society Museum, featuring vibrant colors and intricate patterns.
A display at the McLoud Historical Society featuring a traditional Polish dance costume donated by the Nowakowski family, with a descriptive plaque detailing the history of Minnie Nowakowski and her contributions to local dance traditions.

The objects below caught my attention as I was walking around. There used to be horse races in McLoud which I found interesting. The safe was cool and a group of students came in while I was there and asked if a volunteer could open it and they thought that was so cool!

A framed poster advertising horse races in McLoud, Oklahoma, detailing the event schedule and management information.
Historic machine display next to a framed black and white photograph in a museum setting.

Seikel’s Department Store was an important business in the community for years. There was also another Seikels located in Harrah.

A historical display featuring a Seikel's Department Store paper roll with an accompanying vintage photograph of the store in McLoud, Oklahoma.
Weathered alley loading door from Seikel's Department Store, covered in signatures and graffiti, with a plaque indicating its historical significance.

This area below is set up to showcase the pillars of the community – the school, agriculture, and business.

A vintage horse-drawn carriage displayed in a museum, featuring a mannequin dressed in a hat and plaid shirt seated inside, and a woven blanket with 'McLoud, Oklahoma' on the backrest.
An exhibit inside the McLoud Historical Society Museum showcasing various historical tools and artifacts displayed on a wooden shelf against a wooden wall.
Interior view of the McLoud Historical Society Museum, featuring a vintage wooden display counter with historical artifacts and a typewriter.
Framed historical documents related to Ben Cooper Motor Co., showcasing a Dodge Brothers vehicle and various sales and service agreements.
A vintage blue truck with a wooden flatbed, displayed inside the McLoud Historical Society Museum.

The case below was used in one of the local businesses and I love that it has been repurposed as a museum display case now.

Display case filled with historical artifacts and documents at the McLoud Historical Society Museum.
Close-up of a display case with a plaque reading 'Tubbs-Dorsey Manufacturing & Co.' and historic artifacts in the background.
Close-up of an antique store cabinet from circa 1900, displaying a sign detailing its history and donation.

My favorite piece I saw is on the bottom left below – there was a registry for dogs in McLoud because you had to pay a tax if you owned a dog! Now, I’ve visited a lot of museums, but this was a first for me seeing a dog tax registry.

A close-up view of a historical dog registry book displayed in a glass case at the McLoud Historical Society Museum, with a sign indicating that dog owners were required to register their dogs and pay a tax.
A display case featuring a tin type photo case from the 1800s, with one photo showing a seated individual and another photo depicting a horse-drawn carriage.

It was neat seeing a copy of the original town bylaws!

A display case in the McLoud Historical Society Museum featuring original by-laws of the Town of McLoud from about 1900, along with a cloth bag.

Y’all know me… the hats on this mirror immediately caught my attention and I had to walk over and look closer. These hats were worn by Doll Ray, a blackberry grower from McLoud. I loved them both!

A reflection in a vintage mirror showcasing a collection of hats, including a bright red hat with a sparkly band and a blue feathered hat, with additional decor elements like candles and a bowl.

Concluding Thoughts

I enjoyed visiting this museum. I had driven by it a few times previously, but they were never open when I drove through McLoud. I was happy to catch them on a Friday when I visited this time! The volunteers were very kind and told my some very cool stories about some of the pieces.

This museum is definitely one you’ll want to stop and see if you’re driving through McLoud on a Friday.

Happy traveling! I’ll talk to ya soon 🙂

Visit

421 W Broadway Ave,

McLoud, OK 74851

Sources

“McLoud Hometown Mural” pamphlet. Pioneer Library System. (Found at the McLoud Historical Society)

Glenda Palmer Kuhn. “Great Beginnings in McLoud, Oklahoma.” Volume I “Our Heritage Series.” (McLoud: SpritSBo Publishing, 1995).

Leah Horton Bird, “McLoud,” The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture, Oklahoma Historical Society.

“History of McLoud.” City of McLoud website.

“McLoud Historical Society & Museum.” Travel OK website.

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