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

Oklahoma's Gold Rush

The Red River Journey

Photographed by Jason Voigt, April 9, 2021

1. Oklahoma's Gold Rush Marker

Inscription. Encouraged by the tales of old Spanish and Mexican mines, prospectors found evidence of gold deposits in the Wichita Mountains near Fort Sill, Indian Territory, in the 1890s. Active mining was delayed until 1901 when the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Reservation opened up for non-Indian settlement. Between 2,000 and 3,000 miners rushed to boomtowns such as Golden Pass, Poverty Gulch, and Meers.

Little actual gold was produced despite frenzied activity over ten years, leaving some to observe that more mining of investors than gold had been accomplished.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 35° 29.613′ N, 97° 29.946′ 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 73105,

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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. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1834 Dragoon Expedition (here, next to this marker); Babbs Switch School Fire (here, next to this marker); North Fork of the Red River (here, next to this marker); W.C. Austin Project (here, next to this marker); Devil's Canyon (here, next to this marker); Hackberry Flat (a few steps from this marker); Altus Air Force Base (a few steps from this marker); First Shelterbelt (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. Oklahoma's Gold Rush Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 2,281 times since then and 258 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.