Three Rivers Museum

Deep in the heart of Oklahoma, where three mighty rivers converge, lies a museum dedicated to preserving the vibrant tapestry of local history. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee invites visitors to step back in time, exploring everything from the pioneering spirit of legendary lawmen to the heartwarming origins of Girl Scout cookies. It's a journey through the stories and artifacts that shaped a unique American landscape. The Three Rivers Museum is named for its location at the confluence of the Arkansas, Grand, and Verdigris Rivers, reflecting a deep connection to its geographical roots. Housed in a beautifully restored 1916 Midland Valley Railroad depot, the museum itself is a historical artifact, preserving a piece of America's rail legacy. Its diverse exhibits celebrate local legends like Bass Reeves, pioneering women, and pivotal moments in community history, including a chance to explore a vintage diesel locomotive.

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Deep in the heart of Oklahoma, where three mighty rivers converge, lies a museum dedicated to preserving the vibrant tapestry of local history. The Three Rivers Museum in Muskogee invites visitors to step back in time, exploring everything from the pioneering spirit of legendary lawmen to the heartwarming origins of Girl Scout cookies. It's a journey through the stories and artifacts that shaped a unique American landscape.

The Three Rivers Story: A Vision Takes Shape

The idea for the Three Rivers Museum began brewing in 1989, thanks to the vision of Dorothy Ball, then chairman of the Muskogee Historic Preservation Commission. Her passion was to capture and celebrate the rich history of this particular corner of Oklahoma. And its name? It's a direct nod to the region's defining feature: the majestic convergence of the Arkansas, Grand, and Verdigris Rivers right there in Muskogee.

A Historic Home: The Midland Valley Depot

For its permanent home, the museum found a true architectural treasure: a grand railroad depot. This isn't just any building — it was originally constructed in 1916 for the Midland Valley Railroad, a bustling hub designed by the famed architect Louis Curtiss, known for his innovative 'Curtain Wall' style. Sadly, after the rail line closed in 1964, the depot sat abandoned for decades, a silent witness to a bygone era.

But its story wasn't over. In the fall of 1998, the museum acquired the historic depot, breathing new life into the derelict structure. A substantial federal grant of $1 million — nearly $2 million in today's money — powered an extensive renovation. Finally, on March 3, 2001, the beautifully restored depot reopened its doors, now transformed into the vibrant Three Rivers Museum. Its former freight area became exhibit space, and the old ticket counter now serves as the museum's gift shop.

A Glimpse Inside: The Exhibits

Step inside the Three Rivers Museum, and you'll find yourself immersed in stories from every corner of Muskogee's past. The exhibits are thoughtfully arranged, some within the depot's historic walls, and others inviting you to explore the grounds outside. Each display is a window into a different facet of local life, from the famous to the everyday.

Celebrating Local Legends and Innovations

Inside, you can marvel at intricate model trains, meticulously depicting the railways that once served this very depot. But the human stories truly captivate: artifacts belonging to legends like Bass Reeves, the first Black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi; the notorious 'Bandit Queen' Belle Starr; and Alice Robertson, Oklahoma's first female member of Congress. These figures shaped not just local, but national history.

The museum also proudly tells the story of the Mistletoe Troop, Muskogee's pioneering Girl Scout troop founded in 1917, and even the very first sales of Girl Scout Cookies. Beyond these highlights, you'll discover the history of beloved local businesses and intriguing rotating displays that delve into military history and the fight for women's suffrage.

Outdoor Discoveries

Outside the depot, the journey continues. You'll encounter a robust diesel locomotive from the 1940s, a testament to industrial might. Nearby stands the charming Oak Grove School, a meticulously preserved one-room schoolhouse that offers a glimpse into early education. Numerous statues also dot the landscape, each telling its own unique tale.

Telling the Human Story: Oral Histories and Statues

A truly invaluable resource at the museum is its library of over one hundred videotaped oral history interviews. Collected by historian C. W. West and digitized by the Oklahoma Historical Society, these recordings capture the voices and memories of local residents, preserving firsthand accounts of Muskogee's past for future generations.

Among the most striking outdoor features are the statues. 'A Promise to Keep' depicts a young Girl Scout mid-pledge, with four boxes of cookies at her feet, a sweet nod to local history. More recently, in January 2025, an impressive 8-foot tall bronze statue of Bass Reeves was unveiled. It captures the legendary marshal striding forward, billy club in hand, a powerful tribute to his service as a lawman and his lasting legacy. The museum also proudly preserves Bass Reeves' original tombstone.

Beyond its main depot location, the Three Rivers Museum also extends its reach to operate the historic Grant Foreman House. This grand residence offers another layer of insight into Muskogee's past, providing a glimpse into the life of an influential Oklahoma historian.

The Iconic Locomotive: Muskogee Roads No. 63-138

One of the museum's most imposing outdoor exhibits is Muskogee Roads No. 63-138, a mighty ALCO S-2 diesel locomotive. This workhorse was built in January 1949, initially serving the Northern Pacific Terminal Company. It then moved to the Fort Howard Paper Company, where it received its familiar number, 63-138.

In October 2002, this impressive machine found its permanent home at the Three Rivers Museum, generously donated by Georgia Pacific, who had acquired Fort Howard. Lovingly repainted in the distinctive Muskogee Roads livery, the locomotive now sits proudly on static display behind the depot, alongside the Oak Grove School. Visitors can even ascend wooden stairs to peek inside its cab, imagining the rumble and power of its working days.

More Than Just Exhibits: Annual Events

The Three Rivers Museum isn't just about static displays; it's a dynamic community hub that hosts several engaging annual events, often collaborating with other Muskogee attractions. One highlight is Muskogee Heritage Days, co-hosted with the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, featuring lively Native American music, historic medicine shows, and captivating storytelling of the Old West.

For those fascinated by the legendary marshal, the museum offers the Bass Reeves Legacy Tour. And for a touch of seasonal magic, the 'Polar Express Pajama Party,' held with the Roxy Theater, screens the beloved 2004 film, inviting families to come in their comfiest sleepwear for a festive experience.

Other popular annual events include 'Railroad Day,' a celebration of all things trains and the area's rich railway heritage. Film enthusiasts also look forward to the 'Bare Bones Film Festival,' which adds a contemporary cultural flair to the museum's historical offerings. These events ensure the museum remains a lively and integral part of the Muskogee community.

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Three Rivers Museum

The Three Rivers Museum is a local museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The museum was established in 1989, and its main location—a railroad depot formerly operated by the Midland Valley Railroad—was bought in the fall of 1998. After renovations, the museum opened on March 3, 2001. The museum features several exhibits both inside and outside of the depot, such as artifacts of Bass Reeves. An exhibit behind the museum is Muskogee Roads No. 63-138, an ALCO S-2 diesel locomotive.

History

Three Rivers Museum

The Three Rivers Museum was established in 1989; the idea of the museum originated from Dorothy Ball, the chairman of the Muskogee Historic Preservation Commission. The museum's name was derived from its location in the "Three Rivers" region in Muskogee, Oklahoma which is surrounded by the Arkansas, Grand, and Verdigris River. In the fall of 1998, the museum acquired a railroad depot in Muskogee, which was originally owned by the Midland Valley Railroad. The depot was built in 1916, and was abandoned after the railroad line closed in 1964; the designer of the depot is attributed to Louis Curtiss. The museum renovated the depot with federal grants of US$1,000,000 (equivalent to $1,975,296 in 2025) through the Oklahoma Department of Transportation. On March 3, 2001, the depot opened as the location for the museum. The freight area of the depot was used for the interior exhibits, and the ticket counter was used for the gift shop.

Exhibits

Three Rivers Museum

Oak Grove School at the Three Rivers Museum, March 2026

The museum has several exhibits both inside and outside of the depot. Exhibits inside of the museum include model trains depicting those used on the railroad which served the depot; artifacts of Bass Reeves, Belle Starr, and Alice Robertson; the 1917 founding of the Mistletoe Troop—a Girl Scout troop in Muskogee—and the first sales of Girl Scout Cookies; information about former local businesses in Muskogee; and rotating displays covering military history and women's suffrage. Exhibits outside of the museum include a diesel locomotive built in the 1940s; a one-room schoolhouse, known as Oak Grove School; and several statues. Other exhibits include a library of over one hundred videotapes of oral history interviews by the historian C. W. West, which were digitized by the Oklahoma Historical Society.

In front of the museum, a bronze statue named A Promise to Keep depicts a Girl Scout in uniform while giving a pledge—holding three fingers up on one hand—with four boxes of cookies at her feet. Another statue for the museum began construction in 2021. On January 11, 2025, an 8-foot (2.4 m) tall bronze statue of Bass Reeves was unveiled at the Three Rivers Museum. The statue depicts Bass Reeves walking on wooden floorboards with a Billy club in his hand, alluding to his service as a police officer. It has been suggested that the residents of Muskogee indirectly helped in the creation of the statue; the statue was created to commemorate Reeves. The tombstone of Bass Reeves is preserved at the museum. In addition to the exhibits at the Midland Valley Railroad depot, the museum operates the Grant Foreman House.

Muskogee Roads No. 63-138

Muskogee Roads No. 63-138 on static display, March 2026

Muskogee Roads No. 63-138 is an ALCO S-2 diesel locomotive. The locomotive was built in January 1949 with the serial No. 76581, and sold to the Northern Pacific Terminal Company as No. 38. The locomotive was sold to Fort Howard Paper Company as No. 63-138. The Fort Howard Paper Company was later owned by Georgia Pacific, which donated the locomotive to the Three Rivers Museum on October 22, 2002. The locomotive was lettered and painted into the Muskogee Roads livery. A chain-link fence was built around the locomotive, and a concrete sidewalk running from the back of the museum to the fence was poured. Wooden stairs were built next to the locomotive's cab to allow visitors to enter the locomotive. Since 2002, the locomotive has remained on static display behind the depot, with Oak Grove School.

Annual events

Three Rivers Museum

The museum hosts several annual events, sometimes in collaboration with other attractions in Muskogee. The museum—with the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame—hosts Muskogee Heritage Days, an annual event featuring Native American music, medicine shows, and storytelling of the Old West. In addition, the museum hosts the Bass Reeves Legacy Tour. The Polar Express Pajama Party is held with the Roxy Theater, which features a screening of the 2004 film The Polar Express. Other annual events include Railroad Day and Bare Bones Film Festival.