Maci Miller

Writer

Marlow High School students took a field trip to the Stephens County Historical Museum Thursday, Oct. 27.

Teacher Haleigh Elroy took Oklahoma history students to the museum to learn more about local history.

“I decided to take my students to the Stephens County Historical Museum after seeing via social media that they had an exhibit about outlaws in Indian Territory. We had just finished covering outlaws in class, mostly the Marlow Brothers, so I decided it would be beneficial for my students in Oklahoma History,” stated Elroy

The museum was started by the Stephens County Historical Society, which was formed in 1969 for the purpose of preserving photographs, first person stories and historical artifacts that have been collected from this area.

The building was originally located on Main Street in Duncan, but it was moved to the old National Guard Armory in Fuqua Park in 1974, the building itself being historic.

Some of the museum’s exhibits related very closely to what the students have learned in class.

Freshman Camden Hekia shared his thoughts on the museum’s relation to the history class.

“The early Oklahoma days exhibits were the most related to class I felt because they were very accurate,” said Hekia.

Freshman Eli Wagner also saw similarities between the exhibits and lessons in class.

“It showed more in depth about how the Indians were moved in the early days,” said Wagner. 

There were also different exhibits that expanded through more than just Stephens County’s history.

“My favorite part of the museum was definitely the Korean and Vietnam exhibit,” Hekia expressed. “It was so cool seeing a bunch of uniforms and gear that were actually used in war.”

Another exhibit sparked the interest of Wagner.

“I really liked the oil rig exhibit; it was very neat,” said Wagner. 

Going to the museum was a chance for these students to expand their knowledge.

“I did not previously know that there were so many different types of outlaws of all ages,” expressed Hekia.

Although there was new information to attain, a lot of the museum was not anything new to Elroy’s students.

“My students felt confident before the trip because they already knew a lot of the history that the museum had exhibits over,” expressed Elroy. “I loved seeing them act as experts in the field of history at the museum.”

The Stephens County Museum is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1-5 p.m. and is free of charge to tour.