Here Are 10 Times The Entire Country Was Looking At Oklahoma In Suspense And Awe
Oklahoma has had quite a few events that have made national headlines. From the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah building to killer tornadoes, the Sooner State has had its share of events that had the nation looking at it in suspense and awe. Here are 10 of those times:
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1. The nation watched as the largest tornado ever recorded hit El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31, 2013.
2.Oklahoma received extensive media coverage and was the subject of daily radio reports when an oil well blowout took place on March 26, 1930. The "Wild Mary Sudik" gusher flowed for eleven days before it was capped on the third try. It is listed as one of the famous gushers of the world.
3. The world watched in horror on April 19, 1995, as the Alfred P. Murrah building in OKC was bombed by domestic terrorists, killing 168 people and injuring more than 680 others.
4. The "Black Sunday" dust storm of April 14, 1935 was the worst in the Oklahoma pandhandle. A massive wall of blowing dust that resembled a land-based tsunami swept through the plains. Winds in the panhandle reached upwards of 60 MPH, and for at least a brief time, the blackness was so dark that people couldn't see their own hand in front of their face.
5. The country was devastated when it heard that a U.S. city had been bombed during WWII. However, the nation soon realized Boise City was mistakenly bombed by a friendly U.S. bomber crew during training on July 5, 1943. No injuries were reported and only minor damage was done.
6. One of the worst race riots in the nation’s history occurred in Tulsa over a 14-hour period on May 31- June 1, 1921. Dozens of people were killed, hundreds were injured and thousands were left homeless. Most of the segregated black district, known as Greenwood, was destroyed.
7. The ice storm of 2007 was devastating in Oklahoma. The ice was so thick that it took down power lines and trees all over the state. The power outage was the worst ever in Oklahoma, with nearly 600,000 homes and businesses without electricity. Oklahoma's state of emergency was viewed worldwide.
8. The years 1950, 1955, 1956, 1974,1975, 1985 and 2000, when one of our college football teams, The University of Oklahoma Sooners, became the national champions. The nation was in awe at our elite football program.
9. The first land rush into the Unassigned Lands happened in Oklahoma on April 22, 1889. The Unassigned Lands were considered some of the best unoccupied public land in the United States. An estimated 50,000 people lined up for their piece of the available two million acres during the Oklahoma Land Rush.
10. Oklahoma experienced its largest tornado outbreak on May 3, 1999. According to the National Weather Service records, 63 tornadoes touched down across the Sooner State. One was rated an EF-5
that tore through the city of Moore. 40 people were killed in Oklahoma with nearly 700 injured.
Ashley has lived in Oklahoma for 25 years and is the Oklahoma staff writer for onlyinyourstate.com. When she isn't exploring Oklahoma, she enjoys visiting the beaches of California.
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