Village features authentic cabins from the 1900s, scenic trails
Nestled on the shores of picturesque Grand Lake is a well-known hidden jewel.
Har-Ber Village Museum, a 55-year-old tourism site, is a 1900s era frontier town with authentic log cabins from Missouri and Arkansas and shops.
Overlooking Grand Lake’s shoreline, the frontier museum features original vintage buildings, including a schoolhouse, jail, medical office, courthouse and hanging gallows, a bank, and a stagecoach inn.
Log cabins are outfitted with antiques, feather pillows, quilts, and cookstoves.
Visitors can enjoy self-guided tours. They will see antiques, collectibles, and display reproductions from the mid-1800s to early 1900s. The grounds includes historical buildings which have been relocated including log cabins, jail house, schoolhouse, courthouse, bank, and more.
Exhibits include hands-on activities for kids and adults. Demonstrations include spinning, weaving and a variety of workshops.
Special events are held each year at the Har-Ber Village including Civil War Day, Independence Day, Pioneer Day, and more. The museum also offers rental of facilities for special events.
More than 5 million people worldwide have toured the 98 log cabins and 101 exhibits on the 50 acres comprising Har-Ber Village since 1968.
The museum was built by Harvey and Bernice Jones of Springdale, Ark. The couple combined their names for the museum’s name.
The old-fashioned church, a popular wedding destination site, was the first building on the land. A statue of Christ with arms extending beckons passing boaters and visitors on the museum grounds.
The bricks used to construct the church are from pre–Civil War and the pulpit came from the Zion Methodist Church in Springdale, Ark., and dates to 1850.
The popular museum recently was damaged after 100 mph winds ripped through northeast Oklahoma on Father’s Day damaging several buildings.
The June 18 storm uprooted trees causing extensive damage to some of the buildings and exhibits at the museum prompting Har-Ber Village Museum directors to shut down the 55-year-old tourism site temporarily.
“It looked like a war zone,” said Nichole Reynolds, Har-Ber Village museum’s executive director referring to the damage the museum received.
Winds uprooted 10 large trees causing severe damage to the museum’s drug store and barber shop log cabins along with six other cabins.
“We plan to open the drug store and barber shop cabins next year,” Reynolds said.
The free year-round Natural Trails and Blue Cat Bistro are open.
The museum was expected to reopen on July 20.
For more information call (918) 786-6446.
