Exhibits

AMERICAN INDIAN MUSEUM

On the second floor in adjacent east and west rooms are diverse collections of Native American Indian artifacts. The lives of American Indian men, women, and children are represented. These displays focus on the Plains Tribes of North America, but also include a unique collection of Southwest and Northwest Coastal Tribes as well as a broad photo collection. There are over 1,200 artifacts in the collection; seventy percent of them are on display, representing over 40 different tribal affiliations. American Indian exhibits are included at Marland Grand Home because E.W. Marland drilled on their lands and had friendly relationships with the tribes.

PATRIARCHAL SHOWROOM (NATIVE AMERICAN MEN)

The exhibit displays artifacts representing the patriarchal societies of several of the local Native American tribes, including but not limited to the Kaw, Pawnee, Osage, Nez Perce and Ponca. Items include ceremonial clothing and moccasins, tobacco bags, beadwork, toys, and musical instruments and pipes. A special Ponca Indian exhibit highlights the local tribe for which the city was named.

MATRIARCHAL SHOWROOM (NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN)

The exhibit showcases artifacts representing the matriarchal societies of several of the local Native American tribes. Different forms of clothing and dress are displayed here along with items needed to care for a family and its children. Items include beadwork, handbags and pouches, tipis, toys, blankets and cradle boards. Ribbon work, a popular Ponca form of clothing design and decoration, is included in the clothing displays in the cedar closet.

BASKET AND POTTERY SHOWROOM

The exhibit focuses on the Southwest, Northwest Coastal and North Central US regions. A large display of Hopi ancient Indian pottery, rare Katchina dolls and a beautiful collection of clay pots are included here. Woven wall mats, a wide variety of basketry from cooking bowls to water jugs made of weaved fibers, sea grass, spruce, red bud and willow can also be seen. Basket weaving is an art almost as old as mankind.

101 RANCH MUSEUM

The basement area of the home now houses exhibits representing the 101 Ranch and Wild West Show of the early 1900s. These exhibits include artifacts used on the ranch and in the Wild West Show by the performers and cowboys. 101 Ranch exhibits are included at Marland Grand Home because E.W. Marland drilled on their property and had a friendly relationship with the Miller brothers.

101 RANCH SHOWROOMS

The exhibit displays a vast assortment of items from the 101 Ranch, a diversified early 1900s ranch and city unto itself of over 100,000 acres. The local ranch was home to the filming of the first talking Western movies, numerous crops and livestock and many colorful cowboy, Indian and other cultural characters. Many celebrities visited or worked on the ranch including Will Rogers, Geronimo, Bulldogger Bill Pickett, Tom Mix, Buck Hones, Hoot Gibson, and several government officials.

WILD WEST SHOWROOM

The exhibit showcases items from the traveling Wild West Show which was half circus and half rodeo. The show included elephants, bears, horses, cattle, buffalo, Indians, Russian Cossacks, cowboys, cowgirls, gunfights, roundups and more! The show toured the world even performing for the Queen of England while in Europe before the U.S. government confiscated all the show horse stock to aid in the WWI effort.

ARCHEOLOGICAL SHOWROOM

The exhibit includes items from an archeological excavation funded by E.W. Marland in 1926 of a Wichita Encampment just north of Ponca City along the Arkansas River. The site was an area where meat was processed by the Wichita Indians. French fur traders and trappers came up the Mississippi River to the Arkansas River stopping to trade here for furs and meat. The items include tools, arrowheads and other miscellaneous artifact representing the people.

MARLAND FAMILY MUSEUM

The first floor of the home is reminiscent of the Marland family with period furnishings, art, china and silver services and family photos. On the second floor you will find information and items which represent the Polo and Fox Hunting cultures of the community, the Marland Oil Company and some of the family's more personal living spaces and related items. These rooms also include painted murals, cedar lined closets and period furnishings.

HORSE AND HOUNDS LANDING

The exhibit refers to information on the 1920s Marland Hunting Camp in the Bar L pasture along the Arkansas River south of Ponca City. This camp was a favorite of the oil men of the day. The exhibit also includes items used in fox hunting and polo, two sports established in Ponca City in the 1920s by Englishman, E.W. Marland. Fox hounds, the red fox, fox hunting mounts, polo ponies, polo equipment and a Master of the Hounds were all brought to Ponca City by Marland to encourage the participants.

MARLAND OIL OFFICE

The exhibit represents a replica of an office at Marland Oil in 1920. Some original items are displayed along with others which represent the era. E.W. Marland's original chair and telephone are found here. Marland Oil came to employee over 60% of the community's population and housed 10% of all the world's oil in reserve above ground in the 1920s. E.W. Marland became a millionaire almost over night in 1911 after striking the big gusher, the Will Cries for War well #9, which laid the ground work for many other oil fields to come.

DAR MUSEUM

Ponca City resident, Louise Fluke, designer of the Oklahoma flag was a member of the local Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Colonial artifacts, valued DAR objects and other items representing the patriotic organization are on display in the home's former attached garage space.