Beckham County

Beckham County, Oklahoma

Founded upon statehood in 1907, Beckham County was named for J. C. W. Beckham, who was Governor of Kentucky, and as the first popularly elected member of the United States Senate from Kentucky.

After a dispute over the Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819, both the governments of the United States and the state of Texas claimed ownership of some 1.5 million acres (6,100 km²) in what was then operated as Greer County, Texas. Litigation followed, and in the case of United States v. State of Texas 162 U.S. 1 (1896), issued on March 16, the Supreme Court, having original jurisdiction over the case, decided in favor of the United States. The county was then assigned to the Oklahoma Territory on May 4, 1896, and when Oklahoma became a state, in addition to forming a part of Beckham County, the region was also further split into Greer, Harmon, and Jackson counties.

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Beckham County

100th Meridian Museum

Dedicated to the presentation of 100th Meridian Line, which has served as an often disputed international and, later, state boundary for the past 166 years. Special emphasis is placed on the ma…

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Beckham County

Beckham County Courthouse

Famous Courthouse featured in the movie, "The Grapes of Wrath." This beautiful structure was completed in 1911 at a cost of $69,000. Designed by the architectural firm of Layton, Wemyss Smi…

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Beckham County

Binding Contract Statue

Binding Contract - a statue in front of the Bank of Western Oklahoma depicting two cowboys in a hand shake deal.

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Beckham County

Blacksmith Museum

Visitors to the Blacksmith Museum can view how blacksmiths created objects from iron or steel by forging the metal by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut. Blacksmiths produce things like wroug…

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Beckham County

Canute

Markers for the St. Francis Church, David Lee Walters, History of Canute, the Canute Centennial, and The Great Western Trail.(Full text and close-up pictures of the markers are located in "mo…

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Beckham County

Casa Grande Hotel

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 (Building #95000043)

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Beckham County

Centennial Lighthouse

The Elk City Centennial Lighthouse stands 42 feet tall. The structure is made of stucco over steel, and was designed by local architect Tommy Shaw. A beacon lights up a dusk. Fundraising for t…

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Beckham County

Elk City Centennial Carousel

A custom made, hand carved, all wooden carousel built by famed animal carver Dan Hornberger with Brass Ring Entertainment now sits in the middle of Ackley Park thanks to an overwhelming number …

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Beckham County

Elk City Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau

The Elk City Chamber of Commerce is located in the historic Thurmond building in downtown Elk City. The Elk City Chamber of Commerce is Elk City’s only full-time organization working to adv…

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Beckham County

Empire of Greer

This region was in land claims of 14 different governments from 1629. Granted Choctaw Indians by U.S. Treaty 1820, in meeting of Chief Pushmataha and Gen. Andrew Jackson, later U.S. President. …

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Beckham County

Farm and Ranch Museum

The Farm and Ranch Museum, sponsored by the Western Oklahoma Historical Society, celebrates Western Oklahoma's agricultural heritage. The museum features a vast collection of tools that were us…

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Beckham County

Great Western Trail

"Western Cattle Trail" More than 6 million cattle went up this trail from Texas to Kansas between 1874 and 1888. The trail crossed this area approximately 10 miles east of this loc…

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Beckham County

Highway, Oklahoma

In honor of the people who lived here from 1892 to 1957, and built this community. Land for the memorial was giving by the children of Aud Xennemer. Art work by Joe R. Waldrop Community…

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Beckham County

National Route 66 Museum

The National Route 66 Museum uses a road motif to allow visitors to travel through all eight states along Route 66 "The Mother Road". The trip begins in Chicago and ends in California. Murals a…

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Beckham County

Old Greer County

Greer Co. was named and governed as part of Texas from 1860 until 1895 when U.S. Supreme Crt. decision made it part of Oklahoma Ter. This county area was claimed by 14 different governments fro…

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Beckham County

Old Town Museum

The Old Town Museum complex is the steward for the present generation in preserving those moments of life experienced in settings like the interior of the Rock Bluff School, the Pioneer Chapel …

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Beckham County

P. P Ackley

Going up the Texas Chisholm Trail 1867 P.P. Ackley 1937 P. P. Ackley, served as a deputy trail brand inspector and was later a member of the Old Trail Drivers Association, spearheaded the…

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Beckham County

Parker Drilling Rig #114

The Parker Drilling Rig #114 dominates the sky line in Elk City. One of the world's tallest oil rigs.

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Beckham County

Roger Miller Museum

The objective of the ROGER MILLER MUSEUM is to collect, preserve, and exhibit memorabilia and artifacts celebrating the life and accomplishments of Roger Miller. The museum, including its exhi…

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Beckham County

Sandhills Curiosity Shop

This Mother Road icon location is what you would call a "living history" roadside location! It is much like a museum, yet with the added live music of 'good times' Rock 'n Roll laced with story…

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Beckham County

Spanish Road Crossing

The Spaniards developed the first-known trail in Oklahoma. Deep, indelible ruts were cut into the prairie by heavily laden wooden carts. Known as the Great Spanish Road to Red River, it connect…

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Beckham County

Texola Old City Jail

Old City Jail 1908 - 1910 This is a nice place to visit, but you don't want to stay here (especially in the winter, its cold). This jail was used to house local miscreants, usually dru…

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Beckham County

The Anadarko Basin

The Deep Anadarko Basin of Western Oklahoma is one of the most prolific gas provinces of North America. Wells drilled here have been among the world's deepest. The Bertha Rogers No. 1 in Was…

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Beckham County

Whited Grist Mill

Listed on National Register of Historic Places, added 1976 - #76001554. The Whited Mill in Elk City, Oklahoma, operated from 1903 thru 1944. The mill was moved in 1985 to it's present locatio…

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Beckham County

Will Rogers Highway

June 26, 1952, on this location, Route 66 was rededicated as the Will Rogers Highway. This was one of the many ceremonies that took place on the state lines of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Texas…


  1. County information from Wikipedia.
  2. Population from U.S. Census Bureau, 2020.