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

The Goldfish Pond

— Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum —

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024

1. The Goldfish Pond Marker

Inscription.
The goldfish pond at the mansion has been here since the mansion was built. The circular part of the pond was the original section built in 1910. The long, rectangular portion was constructed in the 1920s. The circular part of the pond originally housed Pawnee Bill's pet alligator, an animal used in his Wild West Show. When the alligator died, he was turned into an umbrella and cane rack and now resides inside Pawnee Bill's office.

Next to the pond is the original windmill tower for the mansion. When it was constructed in 1910, it provided water and electricity for the mansion. After the tragic death of Billy Lillie on this tower in 1925, Pawnee Bill had the large wooden cross added to the top to light up the structure on major holidays. It is a tradition that is continued today in memory of their son. The original wooden cross is long gone. In its place is a metal one installed in the 1970's.

[other photo captions]
• Mary Barrera and Pawnee Bill's dogs sit on the manicured back lawn of the mansion. The fishpond was a highlight of the Lillie mansion, surrounded by May Lillie's rose bushes which still grow today.
• May Lillie’s

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peacock roams the lawn of the mansion. Peacocks were a common sight at the Lillie mansion, roaming around the fishpond and windmill tower.

Erected by Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Architecture • 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° 19.924′ N, 96° 48.989′ 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 on the Pawnee Bill Ranch interpretive trail, near the Mansion and beside the subject Goldfish Pond. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1141 Pawnee Bill Road, Pawnee OK 74058, United States 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

Marker detail: Billy Lillie image. Click for full size.

2. Marker detail: Billy Lillie

Billy Lillie approaches the Lillie's pet black bear. The fishpond can be seen in the background.

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 Mansion (here, next to this marker); Gordon William (Pawnee Bill) and May Manning Lillie (a few steps from this marker); The Carriage House (within shouting distance of this marker); Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Wild West Show (within shouting distance of this marker); Civil War (within shouting distance of this marker); The Observation Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Return to the Ranch (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pawnee.

Regarding The Goldfish Pond. Contributing structure, Blue Hawk Peak Ranch, National Register of Historic Places № 75001571 (now known as Pawnee Bill Ranch & Museum).

From the National Register Nomination prepared by Kent Ruth, Oklahoma Historical Society, 5/1975:
On this commanding point Pawnee Bill built a rambling

3. Marker detail: Windmill Tower & Pond
A view of the ranch showing the windmill tower and the pond. The pond was decorated with native sandstone from around the ranch.
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. The house, outbuildings, garden, original log cabin, and three-story stone-and-steel barn were essentially unchanged.

Related markers. 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. 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

4. Marker detail: An Early Photograph of the Ranch
The windmill tower at the house only had fans and a water pump for a short amount of time before being removed. Pawnee Bill later added a radio antenna as well as the cross to the top.
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. 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.

(Submitted on February 10, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Mexican Joe poses with Pawnee Bill’s horse in front of the fish pond image. Click for full size.

5. Marker detail: Mexican Joe poses with Pawnee Bill’s horse in front of the fish pond

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024

6. The Goldfish Pond Marker

The newer rectangular portion of the pond is on the left side of the marker. The original circular portion of the pond is on the right.

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 136 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 10, 2025, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.