Central Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Cross Timbers

The Red River Journey

Photographed by Jason Voigt, April 9, 2021

1. Cross Timbers Marker

Inscription. The Cross Timbers is an ecoregion composed of a thick growth mixture of post oak, blackjack oak, cedar, hickory, elm, and prairies of tall grass. Oklahoma's largest natural vegetation area, the Cross Timbers traverse the state from the Red River to Kansas. Washington Irving found that the Cross Timbers resembled "forests of cast iron." Consequently, the Plains Indians tended to stay west of the Cross Timbers while the eastern Indians stayed east of the barrier.

The Cross Timbers is composed of some of the least disturbed old growth forest in the United States. Many of the short oaks in this ecoregion are 200 to 400 years old. The western edge of the Cross Timbers may still be observed just east of I-35 from Ardmore to Ponca City.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Horticulture & Forestry • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 35° 29.614′ N, 97° 29.871′ W. Marker is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in Oklahoma County. It is in Central Oklahoma City. It can be reached from Nazih Zuhdi Drive west of North Laird Avenue. Marker is part of the Red River Journey pathway, which is on the grounds of the Oklahoma History Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City OK 73104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma — Frontier Country.

It is also in the American South,

specifically on the prairies,

and on the Southern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Washita River (here, next to this marker); Katy Railroad (here, next to this marker); Colbert's Ferry and Denison Dam (a few steps from this marker); Chickasaw Nation (a few steps from this marker); Bison Tracks (a few steps from this marker); Lake Texoma (a few steps from this marker); Texas Road (a few steps from this marker); "Alfalfa Bill" Murray's Red River Bridge War (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oklahoma City.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, April 9, 2021

2. Cross Timbers Marker

Marker is on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 12, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 362 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 12, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.