Osage County Historical Society and Museum

The Osage County Historical Society Museum, located at 700 North Lynn, Pawhuska, has five main exhibit areas: Boy Scouts, western life, pioneer life, early day oil industry and Native American life.

The Boy Scout exhibit centers around the first Boy Scout troop in the United States which was founded in Pawhuska in the Spring of 1909. This troop preceded the organization of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 and thus had a charter from the Boy Scouts of England. A statue of a Boy Scout in the British uniform of 1909 is located in front of the museum.

The museum is currently planning a 2007 Oklahoma Centennial Celebration. The highlight of this celebration will be the unveiling of a new bronze piece honoring the first Boy Scout troop in America. The bronze will be a replicate of What It's All About by the late Jim Hamilton, of Pawhuska.

The early day oil display represents early oil operations in Osage County and includes information on boom towns in the county and famous oilmen. Also a scale model of a wooden oil derrick can be seen at the Museum.

Osages and other tribes are recognized in the Native American exhibit, which features clothing, beadwork, blankets, rare Medicine Man's flute and bag, memorabilia and many photographs. Also, we have the Osage Roll Book available for $35.00.

Other exhibits in the museum concern the historic 101 Ranch near Ponca City and Ben Johnson, foreman of the famous Chapman-Barnard Ranch, now the Nature Conservacy Buffalo Ranch. Also, there are displays of World War I and II uniforms, photos and memorabilia, including the Tinker case.

Several items of interest are located on the grounds of the museum, known as the Cultural Park. Two rail cars north of the museum actually were used by Santa Fe between Kansas and Pawhuska. One is a cattle car and the second is a combination passenger, freight, and mail car. A one room country schoolhouse, south of the museum, has been completely restored and contains desks, chalkboards, iron stove and artifacts.