Historical Marker

St. Louis School

Historical marker location:
Pawhuska, Oklahoma
( Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street (U.S. 60) and Farrell Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street.)

This Osage girls school was founded in 1887 by Mother Mary Katharine Drexel, a Philadelphia heiress who entered a convent as a young woman and used her fortune to support educational institutions across the southern United States, and the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions. The school's original frame building burned in 1889 and was replaced by a four-story stone building. In 1942, the school became St. Louis Academy. Later, the buildings were razed and replaced with a low-income housing project. In 2000, Mother Katharine was named a saint by Pope John Paul II

education
The state song of Oklahoma, "Oklahoma!", was written by Rodgers and Hammerstein for their Broadway musical of the same name. The musical, which premiered in 1943, was set in Oklahoma territory in the early 1900s and tells the story of a young farm girl and her romance with a cowboy.
Oklahoma random facts
Osage County, located in northeastern Oklahoma, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Before European settlement, the area was inhabited by several Native American tribes, including the Osage, Kaw, and Ponca. These tribes relied on the land's natural resources for hunting, fishing, and agriculture.

In the early 19th century, as European settlers began to move westward, the Osage people were forcibly relocated from their ancestral lands in present-day Missouri to what is now Osage County. This forced migration, known as the Osage Indian Removal, led to conflicts with other tribes and settlers. Eventually, the Osage entered into a treaty with the federal government, ceding vast portions of their lands to the United States.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil brought significant economic growth to Osage County. The region became known as the "Oil Capital of the World" due to the abundance of petroleum reserves. The oil industry brought wealth and prosperity to the area, attracting investment and leading to rapid development.

In more recent history, Osage County has preserved its rich Native American heritage and is home to the Osage Nation. The tribe has worked to preserve and promote their culture, language, and traditions. Today, Osage County not only boasts natural beauty with its rolling hills, forests, and lakes, but also offers a glimpse into its diverse history with museums, historical sites, and events honoring its Native American and oil heritage.

This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Osage County, Oklahoma.

  • 1808 - Osage Tribe was relocated to present-day Osage County.
  • 1825 - First permanent white settlement was established.
  • 1872 - Osage Reservation was established with Osage County as its main area.
  • 1901 - Discovery of oil led to a major economic boom in the region.
  • 1906 - The discovery of the world's largest oil field, the "Glenn Pool," further fueled the economic growth.
  • 1907 - Oklahoma became a state, and Osage County was officially organized.
  • 1921 - The infamous "Osage Indian Murder Investigation" began, involving the mysterious deaths of wealthy Osage individuals.
  • 1934 - Osage Tribe's governing powers were partially dissolved through the Indian Reorganization Act.
  • 1971 - The Osage Nation was officially recognized as a sovereign Native American tribe.
  • 2004 - The Osage Nation purchased the historic Constantine Theater, a major cultural landmark.
  • 2019 - Osage County celebrates its bicentennial anniversary.