The Smithsonian in Nowata. Bring the kids for lots of activities. Photo opportunities, Cherokee artisans doing traditional crafts. Vintage gas engines demonstrations, and much more. Join us from

10am to 4:00pm

The Nowata Museum’s latest acquisition is a 1912 International Harvester delivery truck that has been fully restored to running condition. The truck is now available for viewing as a permanent exhibit in the museum. The truck was donated to the Historical Society Museum by the Bell family in remembrance of James (Dude) Bell, who had it in his collction of autos from the past. Come by and take a look.

With many Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in Oklahoma being lifted, the Nowata County Historical Society Museum will re-open officially on Wednesday May 5. New Museum hours will be 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Wearing masks is recommended and we ask that the number of visitors at any one time be limited to ten (10). 

The Memorial Flower sale will also begin on May 5 in the Museum Annex. Hours for this will be Wednesday -Friday 10:00 a. m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Prices are exceptionally good, there will be many pre-made items and lots of loose flowers and supplies if you want to create your own displays. Our volunteers will not be making special arrangements this year. This will be the last Memorial Flower Fund Raiser the Society will hold so if you need supplies this is the time to stock up as everything needs to go. The Historical Society has a new use for the space with new exhibits and new activities in the future. 

The Museum is located at 136 S. Oak, the Annex is located at 144 S. Oak. 

Questions call the Museum at 918-273-1191 during regular business hours.

The Museum and the Glass Mansion will both be closed to the public until at least September. If there is a special need, you can message us here or on Facebook and we will see if it can be accommodated. Thanks for your patience.

Source:  The Nowata Daily Star

 June 21, 1951—Weatherman George Seabolt reported that Nowata got 1.65 inches of rain last night.  The heavy rainfall was general throughout Oklahoma last night as the state received its 22^ndstraight day of moisture.  The forecast calls for more rain tonight and tomorrow— the first official day of summer.

 June 22, 1951—Power, Communication Lines Cut By Storm; Twister is Sighted.  Communications and power lines in Nowata County were dealt hard blows in one of the most severe electrical storms in years.  A tornado skipped through the Coody’s Bluff community.

June 25, 1951—Floodwaters Close 169 at Owasso.  The Verdigris River stood at 30 feet following a 15-foot rise, Ed Chouteau, city water plant operator, reported from Coody’s Bluff.  A month of wet weather in Oklahoma has sent rivers out of their banks, flooded farm and city areas and driven thousands of people from their homes.

June 29, 1951—Rains pelted the Nowata area last night and this morning as inclement weather delayed farming operations and did minor damage in southeast portions of the county.

June 30,1951—At least 15 families in the Alluwe community prepared to leave their homes this morning as the rampaging Verdigris River backed into Salt Creek and spread waters of the little stream two miles past its banks into the bottom lands of that area.  The Alluwe flood came on the heels of a 4.25 inch rain which drenched the county last night.

July 2, 1951—Water Superintendent Ed Chouteau reported that the Verdigris River was down to 37 feet from its 38½-foot level of Saturday night.  Flood stage is normally calculated at 35 feet 8 inched, the point where the river used to flow over the old U.S. 60 road.  Weather Recorder George Seabolt totaled up the June precipitation and reported 10.71 inches of rain, the most that has fallen here in a month since he began keeping records in 1941.

From Dave Johnson’s “Dear Folks”:  The elevated road through the Verdigris Valley River bottom east of Nowata on U.S. 60 proved its just benefits during the past few days.

July 3, 1951—Rampaging Verdigris is Near Record Level.  More than 42 square miles of Nowata County farm and oil lands were estimated to be under water along both sides of the Verdigris.  At noon the river stood at more than 39 feet at the city pump station, highest since the great flood of 1943.

July 5, 1951—The Verdigris River began falling after cresting at 41 feet, only one foot short of the high mark of 42 feet recorded in the great flood of an estimated 100 families were forced from their homes or marooned by the rising waters.

Fire Lads and Boat to Rescue

City firemen came to the rescue of a damsel in distress this morning—and thereby relieved an emergency at the Nowata Hospital.  With four surgeries on tap at the hospital this morning, Mrs. Hester Burch, superintendent, faced the problem of what to do for a surgical nurse.  Mrs. Mary Wigger, the regular surgical assistant is in bed with the mumps. Mrs. Lillian Nichols, the standby surgical nurse, was marooned at her home northeast of Nowata by waters of California Creek.  She called on Fire Chief Ike O’Dell for assistance. With Earnest Lee James handling the oars, the Chief launched a boat in the flood waters on the farm to market road east of Stop 38.  They found the stranded nurse on the other side of the water and transported her to the Nowata side, thence to the hospital.  In the meantime, Miss Jeannie O’Dell, local physician’s assistant, pinch hit in surgery until Mrs. Nichols arrived.

July 6, 1951—Nowata County’s floodwaters were receding today at a rate of one inch per hour according to Water Superintendent Ed Chouteau.  State Highway 10 east of Lenapah, U.S. 169 north of Nowata, and Highway 28 north of Alluwe were still closed.  Nowata was still without train service as water was more than 40 inches over the tracks in northern Rogers County.

July 7, 1951—Flood Damage Estimated Near One Half Million in Nowata Area.  County Farm Agent Claude Chessmore estimated crop damage at $150,000, property damage at more than $100,000, while losses to oil operations may hit $250,000.

July 9, 1951—All state and national highways were again open and trains were back on schedule for the first time in more than a week as the area began a slow recovery from the flood. The Nowata County Red Cross chapter was taking applications today for rehabilitation grants to families victimized by last week’s flood in the Verdigris River lowlands.  Grover Dick, disaster relief chairman of the local chapter, said applications must be filled out at the Red Cross office above the Victory National Bank.

Mrs. Edyth Barr, executive secretary of the local chapter, said she expected many applications from the area around Alluwe. A survey committee is to study the applications to determine actual need.  Max Randall is chairman of the committee and Joseph Bonner is vice chairman.

July 10, 1951—More high water for the flood-weary area of Nowata County may be on the way, the Associated Press reported today.  Heavy down-pours in Kansas could again cause the river to overflow.

July 17, 1951—The worst of Nowata County’s second flood in less than two weeks appeared to be waning today. The Verdigris halted its rise at the city pump station about 5 a. m. this morning, Water Superintendent Ed Chouteau reported.  The peak level was 39 feet 10 inches.

July 18, 1951—Plans are being made for the first typhoid shots to be given Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the lobby of the Savoy Hotel building. Other vaccinations will be given to flood victims on Monday at 2 p.m. in Alluwe and Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Delaware.

From Dave Johnson’s “Dear Folks”column sums it all up:  The year 1951 will go down as one of the worst flood years in history in Oklahoma.