the oklahoma land run at the harn homestead

we went to the harn homestead today to re-enact the oklahoma land run with a group of homeschool friends. you can click on http://www.harnhomestead.com/ to find out more about the place. it only cost $8/child and $5/adult (only one adult had to pay though).










we had never been before. today was the actual date of the oklahoma land run, april 22, 1889. it didn't occur to me until monday night to dress my kids in costumes. my very sweet friend, rose, sent me some prairie dresses for my daughter, but they were all too long. however, we did use one of her sun bonnets. my son just dressed up with his gun belt. he didn't want to wear a bandanna or hat. it was going to be 85 degrees - one of the hotter days around here.

when we arrived, we met at a big gazebo where they divided us into groups and sent us to our first station. our first station was going to be "old time games". they demonstrated some games for us, rolling the barrel ring, walking on stilts, and throwing mini-corncobs through the hoop. at this time, we were allowed to shop in the gift shop. my daughter purchased a yo-yo and my son bought a paper fan - he was already hot. it was a cute little giftshop. they had .50 cent cotton candy and .25 cent popcorn. by the time we finished with the gift shop, we had to move onto the next station and we didn't get to play any of the games. it's too bad because my son wanted to walk on the stilts.


the next station we went to was the general store. all the children were given a piece of paper with pictures of items you might take on a wagon trip. they circled what they would like to take and then the lady talked about each items on the list.

at the third station they learned how to set up a tent. they also colored the flags on their stakes they were going to use for the land run.























after everyone had colored pictures on the stakes, it was time to line up for the land run. the "governor brad webber" explained the land run and the rules. there were mounted sheriffs to ensure no one was a "sooner". they played the "oklahoma" song. the governor gave a 3, 2, 1 count down and the cannon was fired. the cannon was loud. with his stake in hand, my son took off as soon as the heard the cannon. my daughter just stood there as people rushed by her and cried. the cannon scared her and she got overwhelmed at all the running and screaming. i took her over to where her brother was and he drove her stake into the ground by his so they could live beside each other.

after everyone had staked their claim, they got in line to get their land deed from the governor. we got to eat lunch under a nice shade tree. we were supposed to go to our last station - a rope making lesson; however, the kids were too hot and were ready to go. oh yeah, the last thing they were going to do was to be able to see the land run from the perspective of the native american indians. that would have been interesting. if i would have remembered they were going to do that, we would have stayed.

overall, it was a great day - a little on the hot side, but not too bad. the land run was a lot of fun and we will do it again. my daughter loved wearing the sun bonnet (thanks rose!) and my son enjoyed his fan! :) i would highly suggest going to the harn homestead for a little field trip.