I’m Ron Enderland. I was born in Miami, Oklahoma, at Miami Baptist Hospital, a long time ago. I moved out of town at age eight, but Miami is still my hometown, and it always will be. It’s had its ups and downs, financially speaking, but it’s on an upturn now. Still, I want to remember it as it was, and many agree with that sentiment. Thus, I’ve created this site, loaded with photos and history of the place.
The information here is nearly all documented from city guides, from the Miami News-Record, from other well-researched historical sources. Where personal recollection or tradition is involved, this is pointed out. Thus, my confidence in the accuracy of what you find here.
It has a searchable database of businesses over the years. I’m estimating that it has 85-90% of Miami’s businesses between 1919 and 1968, and I’m still adding the missing ones. It’s mostly the result of researching the Miami News-Record, and I only have access to papers up to 1968 at this point. But still, it has over 2,300 businesses listed, and can be a fine asset for helping you to track down who was located where and when.
Also, check out Miami’s Postcard Past. This section has a bunch of postcards which open up in good-sized resolution. And for your pleasure, you can get full-sized scans of five Main Street postcards, suitable for desktop wallpaper or for printing.
Check out virtual tours of North Main, South Main, and Central. Also, visit the lost businesses of East and West A Streets. We also have a growing listing of other significant business buildings, and a page devoted to urban exploration. Plus, just added, a page with downloadable historical resources. And I’ve recently begin compiling Miami’s history, briefly.
View of Miami looking north from the First National Bank building, 1966. Used with permission.
Recent articles:
- Miami Armature Works
- Sanborn Maps from 1896 and 1898
- Miami’s Railroads
- Making Airplanes in Miami
- Steve Owens
Take a virtual historical tour of Miami
North Main
South Main
Central
East and West A
Most Recent Additions to Business Database
| Business Name | Business Address | Date First Seen There | Business Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptist Church | 28 SW A | 1896 | Church | |
| Beck's Lumber Yard | 7 SW B | 1896 | Retail | Took up north half of block. Appears to be gone by 1898, missing from Sanborn map that year. |
| National Hotel | 1 N Main | 1896 | Hotel | Frame building, was soon replaced by a new rock building for Palace Drug |
| Booster Cafe | 16 N Main | 1919 | Restaurant | Equipment auctioned off in 1946. |
| IOOF Odd Fellows Lodge | 12 N Main | 1919 | Lodge | 12 1/2-14 1/2 |
Random Images from Our Library:
Full-Sized Postcard Views of Main Street
North Main, 1965
South Main, 1959
South Main, 1955
Looking north on Main, 1940’s
North Main, 1925
Other Local Historical Resources
Cardin Kids – A Comprehensive History of NE Oklahoma
Ottawa County, Oklahoma, Vintage Photographs from Yesteryear
Dobson Museum – Ottawa County Historical Society
Literally Letty (much Miami history)
Miami Flight 1955 (a wonderful film)
Special thanks to the Miami Chamber of Commerce, the Dobson Museum, and to John Schehrer for providing many historical photographs!
Copyright notice: some of these images are in the public domain. Some have been contributed by others for use on the site, with the understanding that saving internet images is trivial. That being said, if you’d like to use any of the site graphics, my permission is required. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. COPYRIGHT 2019.