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

Indian Lands Near the Unassigned Lands

Oklahoma City May 23-24, 1889

— The ’89er Trail —

Indian Lands Near the Unassigned Lands Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 21, 2025

1. Indian Lands Near the Unassigned Lands Marker

Inscription.

Indian Lands Near the Unassigned Lands. Oklahoma City May 23-24, 1889. A month after the Land Run, Cheyenne and Arapahoe delegates were in Oklahoma City to negotiate the future of their lands west and north of the Unassigned Lands. , After the Civil War, Indian tribes that had sided with the Confederacy were forced to cede their land in western Oklahoma to the US government for the later resettlement of other tribes. But the Creeks and Seminoles retained residual claims to the Unassigned Lands. On March 1, 1889, Congress approved a treaty acquiring the Creek claims, and the next day they authorized the acquisition of the Seminole claims and opening of the Unassigned Lands for settlement. , The Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes were given land in the Cherokee Outlet (north of the Unassigned Lands) and west of the Unassigned Lands by treaty in 1867. In 1889 the winds of change in Washington persuaded tribal leaders to consider opening these lands for non-Indian settlement. On May 23 and 24, 1889 a group of Cheyenne and Arapahoe leaders met with federal officials in Oklahoma City and worked out an agreement. Ratified after a bitter struggle within the tribes, this led to land runs opening their western land on April 19, 1892 and the Cherokee Outlet on September 16, 1893. , [Caption] Cheyenne and Arapahoe leaders met with federal officials on May 23 and 24, 1889 at the Post Office building at 10 W. Main to work out an agreement regarding tribal land claims west and north of the Unassigned Lands. Today this is the site of the downtown's district steam and chilled water plant. Research Division of the Oklahoma Historical Society , [Timeline] , . April 22, 1889 at noon: Oklahoma Land Run officially begins , . April 23, 1889: The first mass meeting is called. A Citizen's Committee of 14 is elected and instructed to conduct a survey. , . April 27, 1889: Conflicting surveys are reconciled and approved at a second mass meeting. A temporary mayor is elected. , . May 1, 1889: The first formal election is held. A mayor and city council are chosen. , . May 23-24, 1889: Cheyenne and Arapahoe leaders meet with federal officials to discuss the sale of land claims outside the Unassigned Lands. , . July 16, 1889: The election to adopt a new city charter written by Kickapoo dissenters is shut down by the mayor. , . August 29, 1889: A new city charter written by supporters of the mayor is overwhelmingly rejected at the polls. , . September 17, 1889: Six congressmen visit the city for a first-hand look at Oklahoma country. , . September 21, 1889: Another Kickapoo charter election is broken up by the U.S. military. , . November 11, 1889: Mayor W.L. Couch resigns after a summer and fall of political unrest.

A month after the Land Run, Cheyenne and Arapahoe delegates were in Oklahoma City to negotiate the future of their lands west and north of the Unassigned Lands.

After the Civil War, Indian tribes that had sided with the Confederacy were forced to cede their land in western Oklahoma to the US government for the later resettlement of other tribes. But the Creeks and Seminoles retained residual claims to the Unassigned Lands. On March 1, 1889, Congress approved a treaty acquiring the Creek claims, and the next day they authorized the acquisition of the Seminole claims and opening of the Unassigned Lands for settlement.

The Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes were given land in the Cherokee Outlet (north of the Unassigned Lands) and west of the Unassigned Lands by treaty in 1867. In 1889 the winds of change in Washington persuaded tribal leaders to consider opening these lands for non-Indian settlement. On May 23 and 24, 1889 a group of Cheyenne and Arapahoe leaders met with federal officials in Oklahoma City and worked out an agreement. Ratified after a bitter struggle within the tribes, this led to land runs opening their

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western land on April 19, 1892 and the Cherokee Outlet on September 16, 1893.

[Caption] Cheyenne and Arapahoe leaders met with federal officials on May 23 and 24, 1889 at the Post Office building at 10 W. Main to work out an agreement regarding tribal land claims west and north of the Unassigned Lands. Today this is the site of the downtown's district steam and chilled water plant. Research Division of the Oklahoma Historical Society

[Timeline]
• April 22, 1889 at noon: Oklahoma Land Run officially begins
• April 23, 1889: The first mass meeting is called. A Citizen's Committee of 14 is elected and instructed to conduct a survey.
• April 27, 1889: Conflicting surveys are reconciled and approved at a second mass meeting. A temporary mayor is elected.
• May 1, 1889: The first formal election is held. A mayor and city council are chosen.
• May 23-24, 1889: Cheyenne and Arapahoe leaders meet with federal officials to discuss the sale of land claims outside the Unassigned Lands.
• July 16, 1889: The election to adopt a new city charter written by Kickapoo dissenters is shut down by the mayor.
• August 29, 1889: A new city charter

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 21, 2025

2. Indian Lands Near the Unassigned Lands Marker

written by supporters of the mayor is overwhelmingly rejected at the polls.
• September 17, 1889: Six congressmen visit the city for a first-hand look at Oklahoma country.
• September 21, 1889: Another Kickapoo charter election is broken up by the U.S. military.
• November 11, 1889: Mayor W.L. Couch resigns after a summer and fall of political unrest.

Erected 2018 by Oklahoma City Community Foundation. (Marker Number 11.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The '89er Trail series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 23, 1889.

Location. 35° 28.065′ N, 97° 30.806′ W. Marker is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in Oklahoma County. It is in Central Oklahoma City. It is on West Main Street west of North E.K. Gaylord Boulevard, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Oklahoma City OK 73107, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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

It is also

Cheyenne & Arapaho Delegation image. Click for full size.

Unknown; from Oklahoma Historical Society via The Gateway to Oklahoma History (Fair use), June 1889

3. Cheyenne & Arapaho Delegation

The photo was taken outside the Beidler Building, which housed Oklahoma City's second post office.

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: Angelo C. Scott (within shouting distance of this marker); The Election of May 1, 1889 (within shouting distance of this marker); Settling the Conflicting Surveys (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Citizens' Committee (about 400 feet away); The Building of Oklahoma City (about 500 feet away); City Hall by Forfeiture (about 600 feet away); The Land Run (about 600 feet away); A Summer of Political Unrest (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oklahoma City.

Also see . . . The '89er Trail. The '89er Trail consists of 28 historical markers placed where the events took place that helped create the City of Oklahoma City, from the attempts of the Boomers to settle in the Unassigned Lands

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to the election of the City's first mayor on August 9, 1890. (Submitted on July 31, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 31, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 112 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 31, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.