The Bixby Historical Society was incorporated November 9, 1983, in Bixby, Oklahoma, to provide educational opportunities about the history of Bixby and the surrounding area. It is maintained by volunteers, private donations, and fund-raising projects.
The mission of the Bixby Historical Society is to:
Discover, collect, preserve, and exhibit material of historic value, while providing educational programs, bringing together, and encouraging people interested in history.
Phase One: The Scale House
In December of 2018, the Historical Society had a vision. With hard work and dedication of volunteers, renovations began on the Scale House which was built in 1930. It served Bixby and the surrounding area farmers and merchants with a means of weighing their products before being sold and shipped throughout the region. With money raised from the Festival of the Trees, our Annual Vintage Golf Tournament, and donations, we were able to complete the renovation of the building in 2022. The Scale House, with its scale still operable, is now hosting revolving exhibits throughout the year. Our new sidewalk is complete and bordered with the first phase of commemorative bricks from our brick campaign. The Scale House also hosted the first Santa house to coincide with The Festival of the Trees. On June 1, 2023, the new sign was installed on top of Plummer’s Scale House.
Phase Two: Plummer’s Station
Plummer’s Station was built in 1921. The station provided a vital service facility and gateway to the Albert Pike Highway giving access to the Arkansas River bridge. It was the longest bridge west of the Mississippi to provide vehicle traffic at that time. Martha Plummer Roberts donated the land to the Bixby Historical Society in 1983 and the Station was to serve as a source of revenue for the Society. Our plan is to lease the renovated building to a business that will attract patrons and tourists daily to the downtown River District.
The completion of a new metal tile roof in 2018, was the first component for the restoration of Plummer’s Station. The second phase of this project, consisting of tuck-pointing the outside brick walls, installing new windows and doors, was completed in the fall of 2022. The final component of this renovation will be the expansion of the building to the north and restoration of the interior.
Phase Three: The Grounds and The Greenwood Building
The Historical Society’s grounds will host a butterfly garden, rose garden, several memorials along with seating areas for the public to enjoy plays and events. Commemorative brick pavers with your memory or your family’s name will encircle the grounds connecting gardens and the buildings.
During World War II, the Greenwood building was used to house produce and textiles that were shipped by rail from Bixby to areas throughout the country. Once renovated, the building will resemble one of our historic feed mills and house carriages and larger items for display.
Phase Four: New Museum
Our final phase will be a new museum building that will host local exhibits as well as traveling exhibits. In addition, there will be room for educational programs, interactive historical exhibits, and a large gathering room to host meetings and events.
Funding:
Funding for all projects and all programs that the Historical Society provides to schools and the public depends entirely on donations, fundraising proceeds, and competitive matching grants. Your donation will enable the Bixby Historical Society to fulfill its mission and provide a place for all to enjoy and provide economic development to the Downtown River District. Donations to our volunteer based independent, non-profit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. We thank you so much for your continued interest and support! Your generosity will be appreciated for many generations to come.
