The Land Run of 1889

On March 23, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation opening more than 2 million acres of unassigned land in Indian Territory to settlement.

Under the terms of the proclamation, no one could enter the area to claim land until noon on April 22, 1889.

The proclamation attracted national and even international interest. Over 50,000 hopeful people lined up around the edges of the unassigned lands. When the cannons were fired at noon, they raced to claim homesteads or town sites.

The "Run" or "Harrison's Horserace" was a defining moment in the history of the state of Oklahoma. A number of cities grew from the original town sites, including Oklahoma City. The area by the Santa Fe Railroad station and on the north bank of the North Canadian River drew 10,000 people on the day of the run.