The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie tells the compelling story of the people who shaped Oklahoma from its turbulent territorial period to statehood. Through artifacts, photographs, and paintings, the museum explores the 1890s land runs, early settlements, and the creation of Oklahoma Territory.

The 1902 Carnegie Library, built with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation, served as the site of Oklahoma’s statehood ceremonies on November 16, 1907. Threatened with demolition in 1972, the library was preserved thanks to the efforts of Frank Pfeiffer, who helped establish the adjoining museum, which opened in 1973. The two buildings are now joined and celebrated 50 years of service in 2023.

Visitors will learn about the dramatic 1889 Land Run, life in early sod houses and dugouts, and the growth of towns like Guthrie, Stillwater, and Oklahoma City. From farmers and tradesmen to saloon keepers and entrepreneurs, the museum captures the diversity of early settlers who brought hope to the Unassigned Lands. Operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society, this unique site preserves the roots of Oklahoma’s statehood in the very place it began.