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

Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024

1. Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum Marker

Inscription.

Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum. . , 1. Goldfish Pond , The goldfish pond was constructed along with the mansion in 1910 and was home to Pawnee Bill's pet alligator. The circular part of the pond is the original section. , 2. Pawnee Bill's Mansion , Pawnee Bill and May Lillie's dream home was built in 1910. It is fully furnished with the original belongings. THE MANSION IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE WITH A GUIDE. STOP BY THE MUSEUM FOR MORE INFORMATION. The last tour of the day runs one hour before closing. , 3. Carriage House , The carriage house was built as the original barn and bunkhouse on the ranch. Since the 1970s, it has served as the ranch manager's private residence. PLEASE DO NOT TRESSPASS. THIS IS NOW A PRIVATE RESIDENCE. , 4. Blacksmith Shop , The blacksmith shop forge is still used today on Blue Hawk Peak. This original building houses many blacksmithing implements that would have made a blacksmith's job easier. , 5. Log Cabin , The log cabin was built in 1910 by Pawnee Bill to serve as an educational tool. It was meant to give guests a taste of what pioneer life was like on the frontier., 6. Earth Lodge , The earth lodge was one of the largest structures on the site but is no longer standing. The original earth lodge would have belonged to Blue Hawk, a Pawnee tribal member who originally owned this land., 7. The Barn , The barn was the last structure built by Pawnee Bill in 1926. Today, it houses our 1900 barn side billboard, the ranch wagons, and ranch offices. Standing by the barn also gives visitors an amazing view of the pasture where our animals live., 8. Windmill , The white windmill tower was first used to power the mansion's electrical systems. In 1925, it became the site of the accident which claimed the life of Billy Lillie, Pawnee Bill's son., 9. Observation Tower , The observation tower was built around 1913 to view the property. It is still accessible by a small staircase on the interior. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TOWER., 10. Pawnee Bill Museum , The museum houses various exhibits and artifacts that pertain to Pawnee Bill and May Lillie's lives on Blue Hawk Peak and Wild West Show history. The museum store, conference room, and restrooms are also located in this building., 11. Entrance Gate , The entrance gate to Blue Hawk Peak is based upon the original ranch entrance which is now located on private property. , 12. Bison Pasture , The drive thru bison pasture houses bison, longhorn cattle, and Clydesdale horses. It is open from dawn to dusk for visitors to enjoy. Please, always remain in your vehicle. The behavior of the animals is unpredictable., 13. Wild West Show , The Wild West Show arena is used for modern show reenactments. Since 1988, the Pawnee Bill Ranch has produced a show that uses Pawnee Bill's scripts to bring the Wild West to life.

1. Goldfish Pond
The goldfish pond was constructed along with the mansion in 1910 and was home to Pawnee Bill's pet alligator. The circular part of the pond is the original section.

2. Pawnee Bill's Mansion
Pawnee Bill and May Lillie's dream home was built in 1910. It is fully furnished with the original belongings. THE MANSION IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE WITH A GUIDE. STOP BY THE MUSEUM FOR MORE INFORMATION. The last tour of the day runs one hour before closing.

3. Carriage House
The carriage house was built as the original barn and bunkhouse on the ranch. Since the 1970s, it has served as the ranch manager's private residence. PLEASE DO NOT TRESSPASS. THIS IS NOW A PRIVATE RESIDENCE.

4. Blacksmith Shop
The blacksmith shop forge is still used today on Blue Hawk Peak. This original building houses many blacksmithing implements that would have made a blacksmith's job easier.

5. Log Cabin
The log cabin was built in 1910 by Pawnee Bill to serve as an educational tool. It was meant to give guests a taste of what pioneer life was like on the frontier.

6. Earth Lodge
The earth lodge was one of the largest structures on the site but is no longer

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standing. The original earth lodge would have belonged to Blue Hawk, a Pawnee tribal member who originally owned this land.

7. The Barn
The barn was the last structure built by Pawnee Bill in 1926. Today, it houses our 1900 barn side billboard, the ranch wagons, and ranch offices. Standing by the barn also gives visitors an amazing view of the pasture where our animals live.

8. Windmill
The white windmill tower was first used to power the mansion's electrical systems. In 1925, it became the site of the accident which claimed the life of Billy Lillie, Pawnee Bill's son.

9. Observation Tower
The observation tower was built around 1913 to view the property. It is still accessible by a small staircase on the interior. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TOWER.

10. Pawnee Bill Museum
The museum houses various exhibits and artifacts that pertain to Pawnee Bill and May Lillie's lives on Blue Hawk Peak and Wild West Show history. The museum store, conference room, and restrooms are also located in this building.

11. Entrance Gate
The entrance gate to Blue Hawk Peak is based upon the original ranch entrance which is now located on private property.

Marker detail: Ranch and Museum Map image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Ranch and Museum Map

12. Bison Pasture
The drive thru bison pasture houses bison, longhorn cattle, and Clydesdale horses. It is open from dawn to dusk for visitors to enjoy. Please, always remain in your vehicle. The behavior of the animals is unpredictable.

13. Wild West Show
The Wild West Show arena is used for modern show reenactments. Since 1988, the Pawnee Bill Ranch has produced a show that uses Pawnee Bill's scripts to bring the Wild West to life.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the Windmills series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1910.

Location. 36° 19.904′ N, 96° 48.987′ W. Marker is in Pawnee, Oklahoma, in Pawnee County. It can be reached from Pawnee Bill Road just east of Harrison Street (U.S. 64), on the right when traveling east. The marker is located in front of the Pawnee Bill Ranch visitor center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1141 Pawnee Bill Road, Pawnee OK 74058, United States

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024

3. Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum Marker

Looking west from the main parking lot. The Visitor Center is in the left background.

of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Tulsa.

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: The Carriage House (a few steps from this marker); The Observation Tower (a few steps from this marker); The Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); The Goldfish Pond (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); Gordon William (Pawnee Bill) and May Manning Lillie (within shouting distance of this marker); Local and Regional Sites (within shouting distance of this marker); The Log Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pawnee.

Regarding Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum. National Register of Historic Places № 75001571

Pawnee Bill Ranch Entrance Gate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024

4. Pawnee Bill Ranch Entrance Gate

Turn south here from Pawnee Bill Road to access the ranch and museum. The main parking lot is about 150 meters uphill from the gate.

(as Blue Hawk Peak Ranch).

From the National Register Nomination prepared by Kent Ruth, Oklahoma Historical Society, 5/1975:
This was Pawnee Indian reservation until opening of the Cherokee Outlet in 1893. When a 27 May 1902 Act of Congress made some of these eligible for sale, Pawnee Bill bought nearly 2,000 acres of hills and valleys here on which to establish his buffalo ranch. His homesite he purchased from Blue Hawk, a Pawnee chief and medicine man who had selected for his allotment prior to Outlet opening a tract of land on high ground overlooking the Black Bear River. On this commanding point Pawnee Bill built a rambling log cabin he named Blue Hawk Peak for his Indian friend. Here the Lillies lived until 1910 when their new stone bungalow was built. The comfortably rustic "mansion" remained their home until they died, May in 1936, Pawnee Bill in 1242. When his Wild West Show finally went under in 1913 Pawnee Bill retired to Blue Hawk Peak and concentrated on building up and promoting his herds of bison and cattle. When the state purchased the ranch in 1961, it stood much as it had when Pawnee Bill died twenty years before.

Related markers.

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Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum

Also see . . . Pawnee Bill Ranch (Wikipedia).

Excerpt: The Pawnee Bill Ranch, also known as the Blue Hawk Peak Ranch, was the home of Wild West show entertainer, Gordon W. "Pawnee Bill" Lillie. The Pawnee Bill Ranch consists of 500 of the original 2000 acres, original outbuildings, a fully furnished historic home, a modern museum, and a herd of bison, Longhorn cattle, and horses.
In December 1910, Lillie and his wife May's dream of a home on top of a hill overlooking a bend in the Black Bear River was realized. Between the years of 1910 and 1926, many other buildings were added to the ranch site. Between 1910 and 1913 the carriage house, log cabin, blacksmith shop, and observation tower were added to the site by the Lillies to accommodate their growing businesses. In 1926, to meet the need for larger livestock accommodations, the Lillies built an impressive three story barn. On October 10, 1975, the site was included on the National Register of Historic Places under the original title of Blue Hawk Peak Ranch.
Since 1962, Blue Hawk Peak has been owned by the State of Oklahoma. Now operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society, Pawnee Bill Ranch, as it is known today, is open as a historic site dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of history as it relates to Pawnee Bill and May. The site also houses exhibits on ranching, Wild West shows, and the American Indian experience in the Wild West show. In 1970, a museum was built on the site to house the Western collection as well as provide an educational experience for visitors. Open year-round, the Pawnee Bill Ranch provides educational programming for adults and children as well as a yearly re-enactment of Pawnee Bill's Historic Wild West Show.

(Submitted on February 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 8, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 206 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on February 10, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3, 4. submitted on February 9, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.