4/27/09 - The Land Run of 1889

In the 1830's, the federal government forced Five Civilized Tribes to leave their homelands in the southeastern part of the US. They had to walk to Oklahoma over a trail that became known as the "Trail of Tears." Thousands of men, women and children died during this long and treacherous trip. Once these people settled in Oklahoma....Oklahoma became Indian Territory. There was one parcel of land that was never given over to any Indian tribe---the Unassigned Lands. In the 1880's, many frontier Americans wanted to move into this land. The Unassigned Lands were opened through a Land Run with more than 50,000 Americans vying for 160 acres or a town lot. At noon on April 22, 1889, competitors rushed in on wagons, horses and foot. Towns were formed and homesteads were staked. The settlers who entered to claim land before the official start of the land run were called Sooners, hence the state's nickname. These statues are a depiction of The Land Run.