Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum

10/07/2026

ROUTE 66 PRESENTATION AT SAND SPRINGS MUSEUM - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24th at 11:00 a.m.

It's the Route 66 Centennial, and you are invited to a presentation, "Tulsa, The Capital of Route 66: From Cyrus Avery to Michael Walls." Steve Clem and Becky Hatchett, authors of the new book, "Route 66 in Tulsa" discusses the tremendous influence Tulsans have had on America's most famous highway. From Cyrus Avery, the Father of Route 66 to author Michael Walls, the voice of the Sheriff in the "Cars" movies and the catalyst for Route 66 revitalization. You'll see historic photos of Tulsa's Route 66 as well as images of Tulsa's exciting new attractions in the Capital of Route 66! Copies of Steve and Becky's "Route 66 in Tulsa" will be available for purchase, with a signing following the presentation.

Steve's Route 66 Exhibit will be on display the week of October 12, through the second week in November.

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09/26/2026

Founders' day is officially started! While this morning has had a little rain we are still going on with outside vendors and events, while also having inside events at the museum like speakers, a short film, games, and more! Come hang out all day at the triangle and come to the museum to say hello to Charles Page and “Cap” Breeding!

09/26/2026

09/25/2026

Tomorrow is September 26!!!
The Founder's Day Festival 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

YOU ARE INVITED!!!!

9:15 - 10:40 a.m. - BK and The Brand take the stage
All Day - Children's Activities at the Museum with Kathy's Old Time Sing Along at 10:30 .m.
9:30 Charles Page Short Films (Museum Upper Level)
10:00 a.m. - Historic Walking Tour (sign up first 30 and meet at museum.
11:00 a.m. - Miss Tirita's Dance Group
11:30 a.m. - Think Right
12:00 p.m. Opal Clark Moss's Story played by Serena Schultz, Peyton Stephenson, and Parker Stephenson
1:00 p.m. Tribute to Mrs. Page - Ruth Ellen Henry; Tribute to Mr. Page by Mrs. Page and Captain Breeding played by Emery Stephenson and Parker Stevenson
1:15 p.m. - Andre Chisum takes the stage
1:30 p.m. - Mustache and Beard contest
2:00 p.m. - Historic Walking Tour (sign up first and meet at the museum)
2:15 p.m. - Pie Eating Contest (in front of stage)
2:45 p.m. - Andre Chisum - Back on stage
3:45 p.m. - Saying Goodbye and remember to THINK RIGHT PLAYED BY Parker Stephenson

THANK YOU!!!!

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09/24/2026

Have you ever wondered what the old Sand Springs High School was like? We would love to hear your stories of what it was like too!
A page from “Sand Springs Oklahoma A Community History Volume 2

“SAND SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL (by Eric Hill, CPHS, based on an interview with Mr. Lewis Kibbe)

Sand Springs High School originally taught students in grades seven through twelve. A variety of subjects were taught at the school. Mr. Kibbe was in charge of the Industrial Education program. Classes in this program ranged from trigonometry to wood and metal shop to driver's education. Part-time education in this program was set up for boys who had served in World War II so that they could work and also make up classes they had missed.

The two main programs taught in the industrial education department were direct and indirect courses. In the direct subjects, teachers would teach a student how to perform a certain job and succeed in it. Because many students were working during World War II, and students were often absent because of work, the school taught all of the grade levels together in all the subjects. Because of this, the school often seemed like a country school.

Teachers of the direct subjects would often miss a day of school to check on the students at work. The teachers would talk to their boss and see if the student needed to improve in a certain area to excel in that job. If there was a problem, then the next day that student was at school, the teacher would work on the problem with the student and get it worked out.

In indirect subjects, students were taught how to get a job, how to be reliable at that job, how to treat people around them, and the proper way to act in the community. Teachers would often help the students find a job and keep it. There were many requirements for graduation. The graduating student must have earned up to sixteen credits during their high school years to graduate. Four credits came from the four years of English, two credits from the two years of history, two credits from the two years of math, two credits from the two years of science, and the other six credits from electives.

In 1945 and 1946 Sand Springs High School was very crowded because Central Elementary students were moved to the high school after their school burned. Some classes were held in the school basement. Others were held in the basement of Page Memorial Library and the Methodist Church. The football field used to be where Homeland is now. Before Ed Dubie Field House was built, there was a creek running through it.

When Charles Page High School was built in 1959, the grade levels split up. Grades seven through nine were kept at the old high school which was now the new junior high (Central). Grades ten through twelve were sent to the new high school. Mr. Lewis Kibbe was a teacher of direct subjects at the old high school for two years and then became principal. He is now retired.”

09/17/2026

What was it like to use the phone in the early 1900’s Sand Springs?

A page from “Sand Springs Oklahoma A Community History Volume 2 “

“The Sand Springs Home had a telephone installed even before the tracks were laid, probably in the later 1908 or early 1909, according to Margret Breeding Petrik. In Town, the first telephone building was built by the Davis brother in April 1914 with John Davis operating until Icie Kepner was hired a year later. The first year only 12 phones were placed, but the number grew to 300 after three years. There was a strict ruling that telephone service could not be had after 10:00pm unless it was a very important call. On Sunday Central (the operator) sang in the choir, so service was discontinued between the hours of 11:00 and Noon. Long distance calls were made from a special booth in the telephone building (216 N. Main). The first directory published in 1914 contained 20 pages. The MKT installed Western Union telegraph offices in their depot at First and Main in August 1915.”

09/10/2026

SANDITE IN SPACE
William Reid “Bill” Pogue was born in Okemah, Oklahoma, on January 23, 1930. During his childhood he attended Lake Elementary School, then attended Sand Springs High School and graduated in 1947. His senior quote read, “Whose little body lodged a mighty brain," and he was absolutely right. Pogue continued his education at Oklahoma Baptist University and graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor degree of science in education. He then later got a Masters of Science degree in mathematics at Oklahoma State University in 1960. Pogue, after graduating from OBU, enlisted in the Air Force. His first few years he flew fighter bombers in the Korean War, then from '55 to '57 he flew with the elite Thunderbirds. After graduating from OSU, he started teaching at the Air Force Academy. Along with his many feats, he also was a test pilot with the British Royal Air Force and became an instructor at the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School. According to the National Air and Space Museum, “Pogue became proficient in 50 types of American and British aircraft and logged 7,200 hours in flight (4,200 hours in jets).” In 1966 Pogue was chosen for the astronaut program, he then was on mission support for Apollo 7, 11, and 14. Then in 1973 Pogue hit the sky with two other astronauts in Skylab 3. They set out on an 84-day flight starting in November 73 to February 74. According to the Air and Space Museum, “Command module pilot Bill Pogue logged 13 hours 31 minutes in two spacewalks and, with commander Gerald P. “Jerry” Carr and science pilot Dr. Edward G. “Ed” Gibson, spent a total of 2,017 hours in spaceflight.” After retiring from NASA in 1975, he still stuck around as an aerospace consultant. Pogue also has a passion for teaching and reaching out to young learners. Bill wrote 4 books, 1 novel, and several videos on his life and space. One of his most known books was “How Do You Go to the Bathroom in Space?” a book focused on answering all questions about living in space. Bill Pogue passed away on March 3, 2014, at his home in Cocoa Beach, Florida. His ashes were sent into orbit using Celestis, a company that launches ashes to space with rockets. Now in Sand Springs, in his honor, we have the William R. Pogue Municipal Airport, and we share his story on display at the Museum.

09/03/2026

THE BRINGING OF WATER AND POWER TO SAND SPRINGS

A page from “Sand Springs Oklahoma A Community History Volume 1”

“Charles Page had gained experience with natural gas companies when he lived in Colorado at the turn of the century. When he started his new industrial community, Sand Springs, he also started, and owned, the electrical, natural gas, and water supply. Page acquired many oil leases from Creek alottees and from the Osage Nation near the townsite of Sand Springs in 1908. In May, 1911, pipelines into town were constructed, and natural gas became available to newly created homes and businesses.

The Sand Springs Gas Company was incorporated in 1911, and the offices of this company remained in Tulsa until 1913. In 1911 Page brought the first electrical generator to town to supply the needs of the Sand Springs Railway, which was being constructed that year. This generator operated off of a flat bed railroad car located at the foot of Main street, near the site on which the power plant is located today. Early that same year he brought engineer C.H. Tingley to Sand Springs to build and operate the power plant, and also to drain some swampy areas and to install storm and sanitary sewers. The power plant was first a sheet metal building, then enlarged. By August, 1913, the Review said, "The Sand Springs Light, Power, and Water Co. is preparing to about double the capacity of the plant here by the expenditure of about $60,000. Charles Page was in St. Louis this week and bought it a second big gas engine for generating purposes."

The Sand Springs Power and Water Company was incorporated in 1911, and was owned by the Sand Springs Home. The Home had piped water from the Springs to Tulsa as early as 1909. "The Water Company, in order to increase its supply and keep up with the growing population is building a well just south of the interurban curve off Main Street, that is 50' in diameter. It is expected to strike water at about 16', and the well will go to the solid rock." wrote the Sand Springs Review on April 4, 1913.The well and springs could not supply the water needs of Sand Springs, which was growing very rapidly that first decade. Charles Page believed that damming Shell Creek west of town could supply enough water for both Tulsa and Sand Springs, and he believed this strongly enough to acquire the Tulsa Democrat (which later became the Tulsa Tribune) in order to editorialize about the merits of Shell Creek as a water source. Tulsa decided on another source, Spavinaw, but between 1919 and 1923 the Home dammed Shell Creek Lake and laid pipes made from wooden staves from the new lake east as far as the Midcontinent Refinery in West Tulsa. Shell Creek Lake remains the primary water supply for Sand Springs.

After Page's death the Home sold the power plant and the utilities to Oklahoma Power and Water Company. In 1947 the utilities were divided and sold again; electricity to Public Service of Oklahoma, gas to Oklahoma Natural Gas, and water to Middlewest Service Co. The City of Sand Springs took over the water district in 1950, and the leaky wooden piping was replaced with steel and concrete pipe between 1952 and 1954. Since then water rates have been an important source of revenue for the City. In the mid 1960s Sand Springs was the first city to sign up for future water rights from Skiatook Lake, which was being dammed at that time. It took nearly three decades, but now Sand Springs receives water from Skiatook Lake.”

08/27/2026

How much work was put into maintaining the Sand Springs Children's Home?

Charles Page wanted the Children's Home to be self-sustaining in every possible way. The water from Shell Creek Reservoir would be one of the most important aspects of expanding everything needed in order to support the Home. The Sand Springs Creamery provided all the milk for the children. An orchard was planted in 1908 and provided cherries, apricots, pears, plums, apples, blackberries, raspberries, dew berries, strawberries, and currants. Gardens provided all the vegetables. Ten thousand gallons of fruits and vegetables were canned per year. There were fields of cotton, corn, wheat, oats, alfalfa, and other crops. Cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and buffalo were also raised. Hayfields provided nourishment for the livestock. It took many people to keep the Children's Home running; Charles Page ensured that the home would have many employees to make sure the home was a safe and livable place for orphans. A portion of the support staff of the home filled these following positions:

Wagon hauling worker; Supply matron; Camp counselor; Greenhouse worker; Blacksmith; Livestock handler; Teacher; Coach; Construction worker; Landscape gardener and farm worker; Cook; Field worker; Laundry worker and forelady Engineer; Dairy barn worker; Purchasing agent; Secretary; Manual training instructor; House mothers and fathers; Music instructor; Orderlies; Baker; Maintenance worker; General Practice Doctor; Surgeon; Dentist; Optometrist; Nurse; Head Matron/Matron/Asst. Matron

Some of the employees had multiple duties. Many matrons that took care of the infants, young, and older children also served as nurses, and the Home seamstress taught the girls to sew. Many different people filled these roles for the love of children in need. With the thanks of those with a servant's heart, the Children's Home was able to be homes to many boys and girls for many years to come.

08/24/2026

ART OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER

With the North Gallery open again we now have put on a display of many different art collections representing the American Frontier. A large collection of these painting are 1 of only 1000 signed art pieces. Alongside them is also a collection of “Liberties with Liberty” Art created in celebration of the Statue of Liberty centennial. The Museum has many more paintings on displays with images of the old frontier, local sights, and more. Make sure to come see the rest of the collection for yourself here on display!