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Tonkawa - Northwest (Red Carpet Country) | ||||||||
Tonkawa: The Little Town with a BIG Heart! A unique past, an intriguing present and an exciting future – that’s Tonkawa! Native Americans, hardy pioneers, visionary educators, legendary oilmen, German prisoners of war and creative citizens have all left their marks. The Heart in the Park labyrinth with its time line of Tonkawa history and the Grand Heart Walk of panels are the latest additions to Centennial Park. A number of historical monuments and three museums – the McCarter Museum of Tonkawa History, the Tonkawa Tribal Museum and the A.D. Buck Museum of Science and History – give glimpses into the history of the area. The town takes its name from the Tonkawa Tribe, which was removed to the area in 1885. Because of abundant wheat production in the area, Tonkawa styles itself “Wheatheart of Oklahoma.” With the discovery of oil in the Tonkawa (Three Sands) Field in 1921, the town briefly was known as “The Billion Dollar Spot.” Several beautiful homes and churches built during this time still stand. German prisoners of war were housed here in a POW camp during World War II, and the site is identified by a stone marker engraved with a map of the original compound. Northern Oklahoma College is the home of the Eleanor Hayes Art Gallery, which hosts outstanding exhibits by Oklahoma artists. Its landscaped grounds delight the eye with individual memorial gardens and sculptures. Numerous cultural events are open to the public. For more information, contact the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce or call 580-628-2220. |
