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Location

Oklahoma City came into being during the span of a single day at the end of the 19th century. The land it sits on was part of the Unassigned Lands, nearly 2 million acres that had been subject to a series of treaties between the United States government and the Creek and Seminole Indians. On April 22, 1889, after much wrangling, President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation that opened the area up to settlement by means of a land run. On that day 50,000 homesteaders gathered at the area's boundaries to rush in and make claims, some "Sooners" sneaking in the night before to get a jump start. Some 10,000 homesteaders settled the area that would become the capital of Oklahoma.

Today Oklahoma City, the largest city in the state, is known for its parks, varied festivals, national sporting events, museums and districts highlighting arts and entertainment. In the 1990s, as part a massive redevelopment package, the city made renovations to the civic center, convention center and fairgrounds; added a new baseball park, central library, and a canal to the Bricktown entertainment district, where one can catch a water taxi to tour the area. The city is home to several colleges and universities, including the city's flagship university, Oklahoma City University.