May 5, 2018
On April 22, 1889, 50,000 people rushed into two million acres of “unassigned lands” in Indian Territory to stake homestead claims. The event is commemorated in the Centennial Land Run Monument, dark bronze statues of people, horses, wagons, and a dog stretching over 365 feet. We think it’s fine that a monument acknowledges those folks who came out and suffered to settle the land. However, we wonder about how the land came to be available to them in the first place.
The firing of a cannon started the land run. People who had sneaked in ahead became known as “Sooners”.
Not every would-be settler successfully negotiated the land run.
The sculptures are 1 1/2 times life-size.
A tour boat along the Bricktown Canal in the middle of the monument
Sculptor Paul Moore, whose great-grandfather participated in the land run, incorporated many details.
This mallard shows not every creature in the area is a tourist.
Barn Swallow
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