1900 Map of Winding Stair

About this map

The Choctaw Nation of Indian Territory is defined here by the massive ridges of Winding Stair Mountain and Kiamichi Mountain at the dawn of the twentieth century. This rugged portion of the frontier shows a landscape in transition, where the Choctaw Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad and the St Louis and San Francisco RR meet at Wister, creating a vital junction for early commerce. Settlements like Fanshawe, Summerfield, and Heavener dot the northern valleys, while the southern reaches remain dominated by the winding course of the Kiamichi River. High-altitude benchmarks and named peaks such as Quentin Peak and Rich Mtn provide a detailed topographic record of the Ouachita range before extensive modern development. The presence of the Woods Trail crossing the Kiamichi heights suggests early travel routes through these formidable northern Oklahoma uplands.