Harn Homestead(12)

Jonathan Elmore
Jun 11
2 min read

Updated: Jul 10

OKLAHOMA CITY

Tucked back away from the bustle of Lincoln Avenue sits a true piece of Oklahoma history, The Harn Homestead. When the land run happened in 1889, President Harrison needed someone to organize and determine property ownership. He asked a man from Ohio named William Fremont Harn to move to Oklahoma City and handle the affairs of the territory. Harn successfully got the job done and when his appointment ended in 1893, the plan was to go back to Ohio. However, he loved the potential of Oklahoma City som much that he decided to stay. His wife wasn't so gung-ho so he offered to buy her any house she wanted from the National Home Builder catalog. My guess is since originally she wasn't keen on staying around, the Queen Ann house she chose for her new residence was one of the more expensive ones. Ha! I would have done the same thing!

Harn bought 160 acres in Oklahoma City and set up the homestead you can see today. It has a couple of houses, a couple of barns, a cabin, and a schoolhouse. Each building has a little history about the farm and the building which helps put things into perspective. One cool fact about the Harns was both William and his neighbor Mr. Culbertson each donated 40 acres of their farms so that the new state capitol could be built when it was relocated from Guthrie to Oklahoma City.

William and his family were big figures in the history and the creation of Oklahoma and specifically Oklahoma City. Their legacy lives on in neighborhoods around the city and of course in the capitol building. It's always a great experience for me to be among historical sites and this one was no different. There is a big red barn on the property and I kept taking pictures of it from different angles. I won't include all of them. It would make me seem like a barn nut, which I am, but I don't want to let on that I am. The other barn that's on the property is a more recent reproduction of a barn that was destroyed. It's now used for events that can hold from 200 to about 500 people. There is an outdoor stage where I would love to see a bluegrass show or something like it. You can see more about it at their website below.

So, if you're a history buff like me and you have some spare time, make a little trek south of the capitol and check out the Harn Homestead. There's plenty of parking, tours available, and great for field trips for kids or adults. Most of the propertly is wheelchair accessable. I only saw one cabin that may be difficult to get to on wheels. Other than that, you're golden.

1721 N. Lincoln Blvd

Oklahoma City

405-235-4058

https://harnhomestead.com/