Museum of the Western Prairie

09/05/2026

Today is Beard Day!
Enjoy these photographs of early Southwest Oklahoma men and their beards!
The first photograph, circa 1860, is of a bearded J. W. McAskill.
The second photograph, circa 1870, shows a tintype of Robert L. Clinkscales, father of Kate McAskill, with a short beard.
The third photograph, circa 1880, is of early settlers of Headrick, Vida and a scruffy bearded Henry Hickman, with their kids.
The fourth photograph, circa 1895, shows Rev. Willim Ezra Banks, with a cropped beard, from Hess, Oklahoma.
The fifth photograph, circa 1896, is of John Marion Waldroop, with a fanned-out beard, and his wife, Martha Dial Waldroop.
The sixth photograph, circa 1898, shows Dr. R. W. Eddleman, with a distinguished beard, and his infant granddaughter, Alva Mae.
The seventh photograph, circa 1900, is of long bearded John McClearen, his daughter, Jennie McClearen Holt, his granddaughter, Winnie Marvin Holt Morris, and his great grandson, Joseph Marvin Morris.
The eighth photograph, circa 1915, shows Dr. C. G. Spears with a trimmed beard.
The ninth photograph, circa 1945, is of a short-bearded Frank Harris and his son, Guy Harris.
The last photograph, circa 1880, shows Joseph S. “Buckskin Joe” dressed for the stage as an old man, complete with a fake beard.

09/04/2026

We had a full house on Tuesday night for George Getschow's talk on all things Lonesome Dove!

The Lonesome Dove exhibition is on display at the Museum through October, so be sure to come and see it before it's gone!

09/02/2026

08/28/2026

Happy ! For today we have Mr. and Mrs. Waldo Clark, who posed alongside their furry family in ca. 1945! 🐶🐕🐩🦮🐕‍🦺

Do you have information on this gentleman and lady and their fuzzy friends? Share your stories!

~Museum of the Western Prairie

08/27/2026

In 1988, the Museum of the Western Prairie identified ninety-one Living Legends residing in our community and presented their stories on KWHW radio. We believe that these are people we should still be celebrating and think you will agree with us. Watch for Living Legend posts and join the celebration by adding to the stories of the legendary individuals in the Comments section of our posts. Today’s post about Gail Miller was written in 1988 by Loweta Chesser, the first curator of the Museum of the Western Prairie.
Gail Miller is not an “olde timer” in Jackson County, but since he moved to Altus in 1969, he has really left his mark on our community. He came to Altus from Tinker Air Force Base and became Chief of Training with 443rd M.A.W. at Altus Air Force Base. He was involved in almost every civic and cultural event since his move to our community.
Gail had served as chairman of the official Board of the Grace United Methodist Church, on the Finance Committee, Board of Trustees, and taught a Sunday School Class.
He had been secretary of the Altus Noon Lions Club, vice-president, and president, had been district and state chairman of Lions’ International. He served as District Governor for District 3 L. He was a member of the Shortgrass Arts and Humanities Council and served on the Site and Grounds Committee for the “8L” Arts Festival.
Gail had been a volunteer worker for the Jackson County United way for many years and served on the Board of Directors and as vice-president in 1983.
He was a local and state member of Friends of the Library and had served on F.O.L.I.O. (Friends of Libraries in Oklahoma) Since 1979. He was elected as one of seven delegates to represent Oklahoma in the 1979 White House Conference on Libraries. He was a nine-gallon blood donor to the Jackson County Red Cross Bloodmobile and had been a member of the Great Plains Literacy Board of Directors since its creation in 1985.

08/26/2026

This Cearley sailor, ca.1942, had his sharp Navy uniform on, and his comb in his pocket! He had his priorities! The patch on his arm indicates he was a gunner!

We don't know who this Cearley man might have been. Do you recognize him? Let us know!

~Museum of the Western Prairie

08/25/2026

Today we have the dashing Bobbie Cearley, ca. 1918, in a WWI-era army uniform.

It appears he was on staff at the C.R. Anthony Co. department store, and his wife was active in the community and got herself mentioned in the Altus Times-Democrat quite a bit, but we don't know much more about him! Did you cross paths with Bobbie Cearley? We would love to hear your stories!

~Museum of the Western Prairie