Oil industry fuels Ponca City’s history
Discover Oklahoma

BY AUSTIN TACKETT Comments 2
Published: November 8, 2009

Found off beautifully scenic U.S. 60 in the north central part of the state, Ponca City is a destination full of history, art and excitement.

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The story of Ponca City is deeply rooted in the petroleum industry. It was here that the Marland Oil Co. was founded, and because of this, the city is home to a wealth of oil history landmarks.

Visitors may want to start their trek through Ponca City’s oil history with a trip to the Conoco Museum. This impressive collection gives visitors up-close examples of how petroleum is produced, as well as how it’s applied in our daily lives — and does so with the finest of design and finesse. Even if fossil fuels aren’t your passion, the Conoco Museum is worth a look.

Continuing the oil theme, check out the Marland Mansion. Modeled after the Davanzati Palace in Florence, Italy, the mansion was E.W. Marland’s dream home built to his specifications in 1925. Known as the Palace on the Prairie, this architectural marvel contains 48,000 square feet spread over four floors. The incredible grandeur of this building can be overwhelming and has to be seen to be believed. Filled with fine furniture, beautiful art and interesting stories, the Marland Mansion should be near the top of any Oklahoman’s "must-see” list.

Anyone visiting Ponca City should take time to check out Standing Bear Park. One of the state’s greatest treasures, the park pays tribute to American Indians and their culture with a 22-foot statue of Chief Standing Bear, a Ponca tribesman who fought for American Indian rights. The statue is marvelous, but visitors should save time to visit the museum and education center in the 63-acre park. It is here one truly gains more understanding about Chief Standing Bear and the values for which he fought so hard.

Not far from Standing Bear Park you’ll find the Pioneer Woman Statue and Museum. Sculpted in 1929, the 17-foot-tall Pioneer Woman Statue was commissioned by Marland to celebrate the hardships and triumphs of women who forged the frontier. The statue stands proudly beside the Pioneer Woman Museum, which houses exhibits of furniture, equipment, clothing and other memorabilia from the pioneer era.

The statue and museum are a great way for any history buff to spend an afternoon.

This only scratches the surface of many great things to do and see in Ponca City. There’s a bevy of good food and restaurants, more historical sites and great scenery, culture and shopping.

You may not get to visit everything in one trip, but that’s OK because Ponca City is worth coming back to time and time again.