mom of 2 girly girlz: Oklahoma State Capitol Scavenger Hunt & Lesson Plans

While there are many interesting things to see at the Oklahoma State Capitol, I have chosen 5 things to look for on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th floors for this Scavenger Hunt. Good luck finding everything!

1ST FLOOR:

Kate Barnard - Kate Barnard was the first woman in American history elected to state office as well as Oklahoma's first commissioner of charities and corrections. Though she could not vote for herself in the 1907 election, she overwhelming received more votes than the first governor of Oklahoma, Charles Haskell.

Indian Blanket Quilt - In 1986 Nettie Wallace was commissioned to create a quilt depicting the Oklahoma state wildflower Gaillardia pulchella, known as the Indian Blanket. The Indian Blanket was adopted as Oklahoma's state wildflower according to House Bill 1649 during the 1986 Legislative session.

David L. Payne - David L. Payne is known as Oklahoma's original boomer and has been called the father of Oklahoma for his push to settle the unassigned lands which Payne considered to be public domain.

Robert L. Williams - Governor Robert L. Williams was responsible for the completion of Oklahoma's domeless capital and oversaw every detail. He believed the dome would be a "useless ornamentation" because he strongly wanted to stay within budget.

The Earth and I Are One - "The Earth and I are One" is a mystical painting of a meditating Native American sitting amongst Oklahoma's state wildflower, the Indian blanket.

2ND FLOOR:

Dr. John Hope Franklin - Born in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, John Hope Franklin graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa and went on to become a nationally recognized historian and civil rights advocate. Franklin said it was his desire "to weave into the fabric of American history enough of the presence of blacks so that the story of the United States could be told adequately and fairly."

Sam Walton - Samuel Moore Walton was born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma on March 29, 1918 and later moved to Missouri with his family. In 1962, he opened the first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Arkansas. Soon a chain of Wal-Mart stores sprang up across rural America. Walton's management style was popular with employees and he founded some of the basic concepts of management that are still in use today. Wal-Mart is the largest private employer in the United States.

Spring Morning Along the Muddy Boggy - Spring Morning Along the Muddy Boggy is one of four paintings in Wilson Hurley's Visions of the Land: The Centennial Suite that represents the four quadrants of Oklahoma's diverse landscape.

Sunset at Roman Nose Park - Sunset at Roman Nose State Park is one of four paintings in Wilson Hurley's Visions of the Land: The Centennial Suite that represents the four quadrants of Oklahoma's diverse landscape.

The Guardian (9' Version) - Enoch Kelly Haney's colossal statue The Guardian stands prominently atop the Oklahoma State Capitol dome where it was lifted on June 7, 2002. The 17 feet tall statue holds a staff that reaches 22 feet into the sky. This monumental project was completed in ten months and demanded 4,000 pounds of bronze, which was cast in 50 sections. The Guardian is a reminder that just below him within the halls of our grand Capitol, the true guardians of Oklahoma, our legislators, are working everyday to improve this already magnificent state.

4TH FLOOR:

Carl Albert - Born in McAlester in 1908, Carl Albert was elected the 46th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1971, the highest elected office ever held by an Oklahoman.

Will Rogers - At the time of his death in 1935, Will Rogers was America's most widely read newspaper columnist and his Sunday night half-hour radio show was the nation's most-listened-to weekly broadcast. He wrote 4,000 syndicated columns and six books, becoming a prominent radio broadcaster and political commentator. In 1934, he was voted the most popular male actor in Hollywood and starred in 71 films and several Broadway productions. It was his unique sense of folksy humor and his honest, intelligent observations about the government and America that earned the respect of the nation.

Sequoyah - Sequoyah was a Cherokee Indian who was a skilled silver craftsman who never learned to speak, write or read English. He is credited with inventing the Cherokee syllabary, which had a profound influence on the tribe. Within several months of Sequoyah's unveiling of his invention, a substantial number of people in the Cherokee Nation reportedly were able to read and write in their own language. By 1825 much of the Bible and numerous hymns had been translated into Cherokee. By 1828 the first Indian newspaper was published along with religious pamphlets, educational materials and legal documents. He continued to serve the Cherokee people as a statesman and diplomat until his death.

Dr. Angie DeBo - Dr. Angie Debo was a leading scholar of Indian and Oklahoma history. Her works highlighted the fact that the five civilized Indian tribes of Oklahoma were the victims of a complex swindle. Major political figures had robbed and even murdered Indians who held oil-rich land. Banned from publication, Debo was shunned as a troublemaker until Princeton University published her books in 1950.The state of Oklahoma did not recognize Debo's lifelong achievements until she was in her 90s and she was inaugurated into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.

Woody Guthrie - Singer, songwriter, author and social activist, Woody Guthrie was exposed to music and politics at an early age. He would combine the two in his career to become America's first true folk hero. Guthrie wrote hundreds of songs, including such classics as This Land is Your Land; So Long, It's Been Good to Know You; and Oklahoma Hills, the official Oklahoma State Folksong. The colorful life he led became as legendary as the songs he wrote.

5TH FLOOR:

Discovery and Exploration (1541-1820) - The first of the four historic murals, Discovery and Exploration, depicts famed Spanish explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado atop his armored horse as he led a cavalry of soldiers into the panhandle of present-day Oklahoma in search of the city of Quivira and its mythic riches of gold. Summing up Oklahoma's history from 1541 to 1820, the mural shows Coronado and French explorers discovering the land coveted by many as a key for control of the region. Wichita Indians represent some of the Native American tribes who already inhabited the area in the 16th century.

Frontier Trade (1790-1830) - The years 1790 to 1830 were marked by a rising interest in Oklahoma territory. In the mural Frontier Trade, Charles Banks Wilson depicts a bustling scene of rising commerce. Fur trading posts and salt exporting businesses flourished as boats were built along the Arkansas River. Native Americans considered the area their eternal home causing tension among the Native American and the new settlers resulting in numerous forts being built to protect the settlers as shown in the upper right side of the mural.

Indian Immigration (1820-1885) - Indian Immigration captures the atmospheric tension and civil unrest as sixty-seven different Native American tribes were forced into the region. Already a home for nomadic hunters, the Native American settlers would become implemental in the development of the state. Wilson depicts numerous armed federal troops surrounding a Native American village. The troops were sent as a preventative measure against tribal warfare.

Non-Indian Settlement (1870-1906) - Non-Indian Settlement refers to the years 1870-1906 in which Unassigned Lands were open to all in the Land Run of 1889. A train overflowing with eager settlers rolls steadfast through the land. In the center of the mural a man atop a horse waves a banner reading "Go Forth And Possess The Promised Land," a simple phrase that encapsulates the excitement of the time. The Boomers settlement of the land yielded the admission of Oklahoma into the Union on November 16, 1907.

Flight of Spirit - Flight of Spirit merges the tragic history of Native Americans with the hope and renewal of modern accomplishments. Behind the illuminated ballerinas is Larson's depiction of the Trail of Tears. Five geese soar over the displaced Native Americans. The geese symbolize the grace and spirit of the five ballerinas. Larson reserves his customary enlargement of hands and feet for the traditionally dressed Native Americans who stand tall behind the ballerinas. His depiction of the ballerinas is strictly representations in that the painted figures have analogous facial features and proportions. The commission was managed by the Oklahoma Arts Council.

* Info for this Scavenger Hunt was found here.

* Another fun Scavenger Hunt by my friend, Nicole, can be found here.

THINGS TO DO IN THE OKC AREA: