“Grand Opening” of the Chelsea Area Historical Museum

Chelsea Area Historical Society Announces Exciting Event

The Grand Opening of the Chelsea Area Historical Museum at the newly renovated Bank of Chelsea will be Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 10 a.m. located at 200 West 6th Street, Chelsea, Oklahoma.

Everyone is welcome! Members of the Chelsea Area Historical Society invite you to come celebrate with us. You will be impressed with Chelsea’s unique collections and the amazing transformation of this building.

The museum is housed in the restored historic Bank of Chelsea originally opened in 1896, likely one of the first Banks in Indian Territory. Explore Chelsea’s history through interactive touch-screen videos, artifacts and historic photographs. From the Cherokee Nation’s reestablishment in Indian Territory to Route 66 travelers passing through town, the museum brings generations of stories to life.

Educational Exhibits at the Chelsea Area Historical Museum

Chelsea area citizen exhibits include: Chief J.B. Milam - Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Admiral Joseph “Jocko” Clark, Andy Payne - winner of the 1928 Trans-Continental Foot Race, Ralph Terry – NY Yankee Pitcher, 1962 World Series MVP, Clem McSpadden – ProRodeo Hall of Fame, State Senator and US Congressman, and many other famous and legendary figures.

Historic sites in and around Chelsea include: Oklahoma’s first oil well, the legendary Sears catalog home, RT 66 Pedestrian underpass and mural, and RT 66 Pryor Creek Bridge.