An oilman makes his fortune drilling on land belonging to a missing Indigenous boy. The oilman becomes a noted philanthropist. The boy's tribe claims the kid is a fiction, and the fortune is a fraud.
If this sounds like something you want to know more about, join Allison Herrera, KOSU's Indigenous Affairs reporter, on Saturday, July 31st for a special biking history tour of Sand Springs. We'll explore the Muscogee Nation history of the town and one of its noted residents — Charles Page — who founded the home for widows and orphans and was involved in one of the most infamous U.S. Supreme Court cases in Oklahoma history.
Allison will be joined by author Russell Cobb and Apollonia Piña, who tell the story of Charles Page and a young Muscogee woman named Minnie Atkins in Cobb's book The Great Oklahoma Swindle. Representatives from the Muscogee Nation's cultural preservation department will also be there to speak to cyclists and history enthusiasts about Sand Springs.
We'll begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Case Park, located at 2500 S. River City Park Rd., Sand Springs, OK. 74063. The tour will also conclude at this location.
We'll ride for nearly 3.5 miles with stops in between. The course is easy with one moderately steep hill.
A limited number of free bikes will be available, as well as an air-conditioned bus for those wanting some respite from the heat. Water and some snacks will be provided.
Please note: Face masks will be required on the bus for those who aren't vaccinated.
This is a free event. For more information, email allison@kosu.org.
