McCarter Museum

In 1997, the Tonkawa Historical Society purchased a building in downtown Tonkawa to house a museum. Ideally located directly across from Centennial Park, the McCarter Museum of Tonkawa History was opened on July 4th, 1997. The innovative interior layout was designed to tell a series of “stories.”

The Museum features:

• A Nez Perce and Tonkawa Tribal section,
• A gallery of photos of early-day Tonkawa,
• Schoolroom,
• University Prepatory School-Northern Oklahoma College exhibit,
• Depression era kitchen,
• Three Sands Oil Field memorabilia,
• Newspaper office,
• WW2 German Prisoner of War Camp exhibit,
• Military Room,
• Medical display,
• 1860’s bedroom,
• Country church,
• 1900’s parlor and bedroom.
• There is a Cherokee Strip corner and a telephone office space.

The Farm Room houses a replica of a sod house interior, a mural painted by well-known artist, Gene Dougherty, a wagon, plows, and many smaller artifacts related to farming, as well as numerous photos of farm homes of a century ago.

A railroad exhibit and a general store are also included.

A small gift shop offers books on local history.

Efforts are being made to acquire a collection of genealogy-related books, microfilm and CD’s for use by museum patrons.