Great people. Fascinating history. Full of knowledge and insight about the history of this amazing community and town. Highly recommend to make a visit.
These are the unsung Heroes that no one really considers. They are volunteers, running the many many "Must see and go to" Route 66 and Bristow, OK historic sites and scenes. There's too many to thank, so we'll say, THANK YOU ALL for what you do!! We will see you all soon!!!
-The Southern Plains Mopaar Fest Owners:
southernplainsmopaarfest.com
Doug Cataline
Matt Hindi
I've never seen a board and volunteers work so hard to make the museum experience informative and fun. The museum is in a unique 99 year old depot with exhibits enjoyed by all ages. A great team of volunteers, each with their own interests, expertise and enthusiasm brought to make the Bristow Historical Society one of the best!
I have witnessed the generous time the volunteers put in to their work at the Bristow Historical Society museum! So many selfless hours making this place what it is. It is a fine, professionally run collaborative history of the town and surrounding areas!
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The Bristow Historical Society is a worthy non profit keeping our towns rich history alive and touchable. We have very qualified people to curate and tell the story of our history! The volunteers and staff are small in number but have great aspirations to grow and expand! We sit on Route 66 and have lots of visitors!
This group of volunteers operate our local community museum, a 501C3 nonprofit organization. They are doing amazing work and bringing in lots of tourism to our town. Their volunteers have donated over 4000 hours of work so far this year! WAY TO GO BRISTOW HISTORICAL SOCIETY!
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I have been to the Bristow Historical Museum which is operated by the Bristow Historical Society many times. This dedicated group of volunteers have created a very professional looking museum in the local train depot of their small town. Their enthusiasm and hard work is attracting visitors from all over the world as well as Rte. 66 tourists and local citizens. Many classes of students also visit the museum. From the beautifully restored red caboose to the butterfly gardens filled with flowers, this little museum is a hidden jewel in Oklahoma.
The history of my small hometown is literally in the hands of the Bristow Historical Society. This group not only saved our town train depot when it was slated for demolition but also saved our local museum which is filled with amazing artifacts from the late 1800's. Working on a shoe string budget, they present educational events for our citizens and students plus make the Bristow Train Depot a fun place to visit for travelers on both historic Route 66 and Oklahoma's largest highway, the Turner Turnpike. There is no limit to what this amazing nonprofit will accomplish! Thank you Bristow Historical Society -
This Bristow Historical Society/ Depot/ Museum' Town Square was developed for the community of Bristow and surrounding area. I was on the original board of directors when the words, "Museum" and "Depot" "Town Square became the inspired words of the day, in the development for the this project and it continues now, is a community effort. Our people are proud of the accomplishments of refurbishing the depot and adding so many artifacts to the museum. Since Bristow is on Route 66, we have any travelers who take an extra few minutes to stop and view the museum. We as a community consider the museum as the pride of Bristow. I guess you could say it is the "heart of hearts" of our town.
I have lived in Bristow my entire life minus the years I was in college. Growing up, we learned about Oklahoma history, American history, and World history. I took pride in being an American and an Oklahoman because I knew what it had taken to get to where we are today. However, we never learned anything about the history of our town. We didn't have a rich culture that was shared in a big way. Bristow was just a place to grow up and then move away. We couldn't wait to get out, and see the world because Bristow had nothing to offer us. That's exactly how I felt when I graduated high school and moved for college. I've since come back to be a teacher in Bristow, and I get the same feeling from my students. Bristow is a wait stop until their life can begin.
However, the Bristow museum is changing that. I have been in the museum with students. They learn about the three possible founders of our city and how the depot brought people in. They learn that we had a Miss America winner graduate from Bristow, a Bristow soldier won the Purple Heart, and a Bristow football player went to the NFL. Suddenly, Bristow is a place to be from, not a place to get away from. They tell me facts they learned from their experience at the museum and share it with their friends in a way that makes it sounds cool. The other students can't wait to stop in and find out what Bristow has to offer.
The Bristow Museum is helping shape the way our city presents itself to the each other and the world. Sitting on Route 66, we part of a rich history of this country, and the Bristow Museum is helping to remind our town of not only our roots but all the possibilities for our future. Great things have happened here before, so they can happen here again!
Thank you, Bristow Historical Society, for bringing our history back to life.
Whether operating a museum, running the annual Lebanese festival in our city, welcoming Rt. 66 visitors from around the world or simply working to restore the beauty of our beloved museum/depot, the Bristow Historical Society represents what is BEST about our community. Every dime donated to this group goes right back into the museum and its upkeep. The volunteers work tirelessly and are excited about the future as the museum and events continue to gain momentum. Life is GREAT at your Bristow Historical Museum!
The Bristow Historical Society is such a wonderful asset to the town of Bristow. It's a welcoming location to out-of-town visitors, as well as locals with it being located in the historic train depot. The volunteers have done a wonderful job reviving the historical display inside while also sprucing up the exterior of the depot with a butterfly garden, flowers and just general upkeep and beautification. I always enjoy my visits there!
My kids LOVE going to visit the Bristow Museum! They even ask if we can go by. They love looking at the wagon inside and the caboose next to the historic depot. So thankful to have this gem in our little town! The staff and volunteers are always so friendly and welcoming. We love it!
One of Bristow's finest non-profit groups is the Bristow Historical Society who not only run the local museum but also offer many community opportunities such as the Bristow Tabouli Festival, school tours , and traveling exhibits. The volunteers share their love of Bristow by continuing to grow the museum and working to refurbish the beautiful 1920 Train Depot where they are housed. You'll never find a harder working, more dedicated group of individuals! Please consider making a donation to help them keep Bristow's history alive for future generations.
The Bristow Historical Society was formed in the 1980's to remodel and preserve the Bristow Railroad Depot, which had fallen into disrepair after being abandoned for 15 years. The Historical Society conserves the artifacts, operates a museum, and maintains the depot - which is the biggest and most important artifact entrusted to them.
Two years ago, the original Historical Society passed the torch to a new generation of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers. The current Historical Society's goal is to digitize the collections while performing outreach to local organizations on innovative programs that bring value to the surrounding communities.
Kudos to the Bristow Historical Society. Our lives are all richer through their efforts.
I have been to the museum many times since it reopened in April. The Historical Society crew has done a tremendous job creating a flow for the story of Bristow. They have designed special displays for class reunions and a program for classes to use the museum as a learning experience. I can’t say enough good things about this organization. Everyone here is a volunteer who loves this city and her history.
The Bristow Historical Society is located in a charming setting—about a century-old, red brick, traditionally designed train depot with a large, open plaza to the west, a colorful butterfly garden to the north, and an old-fashioned caboose on the south. The exhibits are well displayed and reflect the history and culture of the town. If you’re traveling down Route 66 or live in the area, this site is an enjoyable and educational stop.
It all came about 35 years ago when someone wanted to save the depot from being demolished. To accomplish this goal, countless hours were spent in time-consuming planning, meetings and fund-raisers.
Then, in an effort to establish and maintain a museum that would preserve the history of Bristow, the Bristow Historical Society was formed. Reaching our goal of having a first class museum was a labor of love.
We can never thank the current Bristow Historical Society’s board enough for the things they are doing. They are keeping alive the dreams we had many years ago.
Having grown up in Bristow, I really appreciate the efforts of this small group of individuals who tirelessly strive to preserve Bristow's heritage. Just in my lifetime I have seen many businesses and people come and go from this community. Having the museum at the depot anchors our community, allowing us to remember the past and prepare for the future. I am thankful these individuals see the need to preserve our past!