1901 Map of Tishomingo

About this map

The Chickasaw Nation in Indian Territory is defined here by the winding course of the Washita River and the growing regional center of Tishomingo. Surveyed in the late 1890s, the landscape reveals a transition from frontier military presence to early industrial extraction, most notably at the Asphalt Mines near Gilsonite and several early Oil Well sites. The map documents numerous rural settlements like Mill Creek, Pontotoc, and Emet, alongside educational and religious institutions such as the Harley Institute and Pilgrim Chapel. A significant historical landmark is the site of Fort Washita (Abandoned) near the confluence of the river and Rock Creek, anchoring the southeastern portion of the quadrangle. This survey captures the intricate network of creeks—including Pennington Creek and Blue Creek—that dictated the placement of schools like Seely School House and ferry crossings before the region's full integration into Oklahoma statehood.