The state of Oklahoma is home to over five hundred museums and cultural organizations. These institutions and agencies of scientific discovery and culture serve as centers for preservation, presentation, and interpretation of Oklahoma’s heritage. In celebration of Oklahoma’s Museum Week, March 14 to 20, the historic 1916 Marland Grand Home in Ponca City will be highlighting its exhibits and displays as a fascinating tour experience for the public to enjoy.

Before building his large estate now known as the Marland Mansion, E.W. Marland constructed a very unique, one-of-a-kind Italian Revival style, four-story mansion at 1000 E. Grand Avenue. With social distancing and mask wearing currently in place, the historic home site creates an ideal and safe activity during the pandemic. The museum offers scavenger hunts for adults and youth and other educational opportunities in which visitors can participate such as seek and find and hidden picture fun.

E.W. Marland, an attorney by trade, made a fortune in coal and oil leases in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, but lost it all in the Bank Panic of 1907. He came to Oklahoma in 1908 and started drilling for oil on the Miller Brothers famous 101 Ranch acreage. With a lease and the cooperation of the Ponca Indians who shared in the profits, Marland and the Miller Brothers of 101 Ranch fame started the 101 Ranch Drilling Company. This company was later to become Marland Oil and then, as it is known today, ConocoPhillips.

The construction of the Marland Grand Home began in 1914 and was completed in 1916. The house plans included a central vacuum system, automatic Westinghouse dish washer, Frigidaire indoor air-conditioning, an attached three-car garage along with an additional three-bay carriage house, and the first indoor swimming pool built in Oklahoma. Each of these items was an exceptional addition for the 1916 time period. Just to the east of the home, Marland put in several blocks of formal gardens patterned after the gardens of France and England. Across the street to the north he added a 9-hole golf course for his employees and the public to play free of charge.

The Marland’s lived in the home until 1928. During this era E.W.’s net worth, not including his oil company, exceeded 100 million dollars, over a billion dollars in today’s standards. In the following decade, a new president of the Marland Oil Company, Dan Moran, lived at the site until 1940. At that time, the home was sold to the Paris family, owners of the Paris Furniture Store of Ponca City. In 1967, through a sales tax vote, the City of Ponca City purchased the property with the intent of creating a special events and meeting center where its collection of Indian artifacts, Marland family and Marland Oil memorabilia could also be exhibited. To this day these items have been on display with many similar items added. To complete the museum the addition of a 101 Ranch display area was placed in the basement recreation rooms.

Marland’s Grand Home is open for self-guided tours, Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed during the lunch hour 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Admission prices are $5 for adults, $4 seniors (65 and older), $4 military, and $3 for students 6-17, and children 5 and under are free. For additional pricing on event rentals or any other information see the web site at marlandgrandhome.com or call 580-767-0427.