2013
BROKEN ARROW TIMELINE
1828
THE MUSCOGEE-CREEK SETTLE AREA.
Broken Arrow band of the Muscogee-Creek settle here following removal from Alabama
1866
THE FIRST RAILROAD ENTERS INDIAN TERRITORY.
New treaties with the Five Tribes allow first railroad to enter Indian Territory
1874
BROKEN ARROW TRADING POST IS ESTABLISHED.
Broken Arrow Trading post is established by William P. Moore on the north bank of the Arkansas River near what is today South Olive Street.
1875
WHITE CHURCH IS ESTABLISHED.
White Church is established (location on South Olive Street today). Rev. Robert Loughridge, a Presbyterian missionary to the Muscogee Creek, is the pastor and runs a mission school for Indian Children.
1901
COAL MINING BEGINS.
Coal mining begins in the area, eventually running an 8-mile line east of the city
1901
ELAM SETTLEMENT IS ESTABLISHED.
Elam settlement is established by W.T. Brooks, N.L. Sanders, W.N. Williams and M.C. Williams. The men build a cotton gin and homes and await the railroad. Later they move all buildings a few miles to the new Broken Arrow townsite.
1902
THE BROKEN ARROW TOWNSITE IS SELECTED.
W.S. Fears, Secretary of the Arkansas Valley Townsite Company, selects the site of the new town to be named “Broken Arrow” after the already present Creek tribal town.
BROKEN ARROW PLAT SURVEY IS APPROVED.
S.A. Cobb’s plat and survey for the Broken Arrow townsite is approved in federal court in Muskogee, I.T.
TRADERS AND PLANTERS BANK OPENS ON MAIN STREET.
F.S. Hurd opens Traders and Planters Bank on Main at Commercial. On January 29, 1904, it was chartered as the First National Bank.
THE KATY RAILROAD ANNOUNCES NEW RAIL LINE.
The MKT (KATY Railroad) announces a new line extending from Wybark, near Muskogee, to Osage Junction, west of Tulsey town.
1903
BROKEN ARROW, INDIAN TERRITORY IS INCORPORATED.
Broken Arrow, Indian Territory is incorporated
DEED FOR THE TOWNSITE IS APPROVED.
The U.S. Secretary of the Interior approves the deed for the townsite, transferring Creek owned land to the Arkansas Valley Townsite Company.
THE BROKEN ARROW LEDGER BEGINS PUBLICATION.
The Broken Arrow Ledger begins publication with 40 subscribers.
FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING TAKES PLACE.
City Council meets for the first time
FIRST PASSENGER TRAIN ARRIVES IN BROKEN ARROW.
First passenger train arrives July 4
PUBLIC SCHOOL TAUGHT DURING CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOL.
Classes were taught during the final stage of construction of the new public school.
1904
PUBLIC SCHOOL OFFICIALLY COMPLETES CONSTRUCTION AND OPENS.
Public school classes open October 5. A two story brick building becomes Broken Arrow’s first school on North Main.
BROKEN ARROW RECEIVES TELEPHONE SERVICE.
Telephone service comes to Broken Arrow through a franchise granted to George Cress and Company.
1905
THE ARKANSAS VALLEY NATIONAL BANK OPENS.
Officers of the Arkansas Valley townsite Company open a new bank, the Arkansas Valley National Bank.
BROKEN ARROW IS CHOSEN AS A COUNTY SEAT FOR COWETA COUNTY, WITHIN THE PROPOSED STATE OF SEQUOYAH.
FIRST AUTOMOBILE COMES TO TOWN.
1906
THE FIRST VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT BEGINS.
Fire department begins with volunteer “bucket brigade.”
THE BROKEN ARROW ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY OPENS.
MINSHALL OIL AND GAS COMPANY PROVIDES THE TOWN WITH NATURAL GAS.
1907
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THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA IS ADMITTED INTO THE UNION.
Statehood-Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory are admitted to the Union as one state. Broken Arrow, Indian Territory becomes Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.
1908
THE FIRST CLASS GRADUATES FROM BROKEN ARROW SCHOOLS.
First graduating class from Broken Arrow schools.
1909
HASKELL STATE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE OPENS.
Haskell State School of Agriculture opens classes at the Opera House but eventually constructs new buildings on East College, named for the school.
1910
CITY WATERWORKS IMPROVE THE WATER SUPPLY.
City waterworks improve the water supply, with piped water from a large spring south of town, to homes and businesses.
1913
NINA FOSTER BECOMES THE FIRST WOMAN TO HOLD PUBLIC OFFICE IN BROKEN ARROW.
Nina Foster, city clerk, was first woman to hold public office in Broken Arrow.
1917
HASKELL STATE SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE CLOSES.
Haskell State School of Agriculture closes due to lack of funding.
PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY OF OKLAHOMA BUYS THE BROKEN ARROW ELECTRIC PLANT.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma buys the Broken Arrow Electric Plant.
1918
PART OF MAIN STREET BECOMES THE CITY'S FIRST PAVED ROAD.
HIGHWAY 51 CAME DOWN MAIN STREET.
1931
THE FIRST ROOSTER DAY FESTIVAL IS HELD.
On the first Rooster Days, five thousand pounds of roosters were sold. There were prizes for the best rooster, largest rooster and noisiest rooster.
BROKEN ARROW ELECTS ITS FIRST FEMALE MAYOR.
Phenie Lou Ownby assumed office as Broken Arrow’s mayor. She was the first female mayor in the state and the sixth female mayor in the country.
1932
THE FIRST COTTON JUBILEE FESTIVAL IS HELD.
1941
A. L. GRAHAM PURCHASES CONTROLLING INTEREST IN THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
A. L. Graham purchases controlling interest in the First National Bank from F.S. Hurd.
1947
BRADEN WINCH PLANT BEGINS OPERATIONS.
Braden Winch plant begins operations and is a major employer. Attracted to Broken Arrow by business leaders as coal mining ends.
1949
BROKEN ARROW POST OFFICE BEGINS HOME DELIVERY OF MAIL.
1950
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “BROKEN ARROW” IS HELD IN BROKEN ARROW’S NUSHO THEATER.
The world premiere of “Broken Arrow” starring James Stewart, Jeff Chandler and Debra Paget was held in Broken Arrow’s Nusho Theater.
1954
A CITY MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT IS APPROVED FOR THE CITY OF BROKEN ARROW.
1955
SURVEYS AND PLANS BEGIN FOR THE BROKEN ARROW EXPRESSWAY.
1964
THE FIRST PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT OPENS.
The first paid fire department began operating with a staff of five people.
1965
THE BROKEN ARROW EXPRESSWAY
The Broken Arrow Expressway eases the commute to downtown Tulsa and spurs city growth.
1975
BROKEN ARROW HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED
Howard Fisher, Broken Arrow Historical Society's inaugural president.
1976
RHEMA BIBLE TRAINING OPENS.
Rhema Bible Training is opened by Reverend Kenneth Hagin Jr.
1983
TULSA COUNTY TECHNOLOGY CENTER OPENS A BROKEN ARROW CAMPUS.
1995
MEIGHEN BRADFIELD IS OUR CITY’S FIRST MISS OKLAHOMA.
2001
NORTHEASTERN STATE UNIVERSITY OPENS BROKEN ARROW CAMPUS.
2002
THE CREEK TURNPIKE OPENS IN BROKEN ARROW.
2005
BASS PRO OPENS.
2009
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ROSE DISTRICT OFFICALLY ESTABLISHED
THE BROKEN ARROW PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OPENS.
BROKEN ARROW HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM OPENS
2010
ST. JOHN'S HOSPITAL OPENS, RENAMED ASCENSION ST. JOHN IN 2020
2013
BROKEN ARROW MILITARY CENTER OPENS
2015
BROKEN ARROW HIGH SCHOOL UNVEILS PREMIERE INDOOR SPORTS FACILITY - TIGER FIELD HOUSE
THE PRIDE OF BROKEN ARROW MARCHING BAND WON FIRST PLACE IN THE BANDS OF AMERICA GRAND NATIONALS CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2006, 2011 AND 2015
2016
BROKEN ARROW HISTORICAL SOCIETY REBRANDS TO: THE MUSEUM BROKEN ARROW
2017
KIRKLAND FIELD IS REMODELED AND REOPENS TO BAPS STUDENTS AS KIRKLAND ATHLETICS COMPLEX
2018
STONEY CREEK HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER OPENS
The Museum BA’s annual gala, Night For The Museum is held here every year.
2019
THE MUSEUM BROKEN ARROW CELEBRATES 10 YEARS, NAMES EXHIBIT HALL IN HONOR OF BARBARA BROWN KIMBROUGH
2021
