Okfuskee County: Music History, Culture and Nature
Accommodation in Okfuskee County
Okfuskee County brings together the history of Woody Guthrie and African American communities with river landscapes and natural areas. If you want to combine music history, culture and time by the water on your trip, you’ll find a range of inspiration here. Which experiences you want to focus on can also influence where you stay and your choice of a vacation rental in Okfuskee County.
Woody Guthrie and Okemah
Woody Guthrie was born in Okemah on July 14, 1912. Two historical markers at the Woody Guthrie memorial commemorate his birthplace and hometown. For more than 20 years, artists, songwriters and folk music lovers from around the world have gathered on his birthday for WoodyFest. The four-day festival combines live performances, activities and community events with storytelling, spoken word, panel discussions and workshops. Those interested in music and stories can gain insight into the different forms of expression associated with Guthrie’s legacy.
Other places in the county tell their stories in different ways, too. Greenleaf was established in the 1830s as a Creek tribal town within what is now Okfuskee County. Okfuskee County had fourteen Rosenwald schools and three teachers’ homes. The Okfuskee County Historical Society & Museum is housed in a 1926 Masonic Temple. Its exhibits and displays focus on the county’s past; numerous early photographs from the surrounding area offer further insight into the region.
African American Cultural Heritage in Boley and Clearview
Founded in 1903 as a camp for Black railroad construction workers, Boley is one of Oklahoma’s 13 remaining African American towns. The Boley Historical Museum, housed in a building dating to 1929, displays numerous artifacts from the town’s early years. A tour of the area with Boley Tours offers a closer look at Boley’s history.
Among Boley’s historic sites is the Farmers & Merchants Bank. The building was originally constructed in 1906 and rebuilt in the 1920s. The bank’s history also includes an attempted robbery by the Pretty Boy Floyd gang, which was stopped by local residents. Every Memorial Day weekend, Boley hosts the oldest community-run rodeo organized by African Americans. Clearview, also one of Oklahoma’s 13 remaining African American towns, was founded in 1903 along the Fort Smith and Western Railroad line.
Rivers, Wilderness and a Day at the Lake
The county’s landscape lies within the Sandstone Hills physiographic region. The Deep Fork of the Canadian River drains the northeastern corner; the North Canadian River forms the southern boundary with Seminole County. The Deep Fork Wildlife Management Area spans 12,820 acres in southern Creek County and northern Okfuskee County. Its landscape includes wooded floodplains, old fields, native prairies and stands of post oak and blackjack oak. The Deep Fork of the Canadian River is home to many channel catfish and flathead catfish.
For a day of activities on the water, Okemah Lake makes a destination in its own right: its public park offers opportunities for fishing, swimming, boating and camping. The park has 18 RV sites with water and electricity hookups, as well as several basic campsites. The lake also has two boat ramps and an accessible fishing pier. If you’d rather plan a round of golf, the Okemah Golf Club has a nine-hole course with bentgrass greens, Bermuda grass fairways and three water hazards; rental clubs and golf carts are available.
Whether you’re most interested in WoodyFest and local history, nature along the Deep Fork or a day at Okemah Lake, consider which of these sides of the region you want to shape your trip. This will help you plan your stay in Okfuskee County around the experiences that appeal to you most.
For the main travel overview: Oklahoma.
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