This day in history: Oklahoma becomes state and Oklahoma Territorial Museum opens

LAWTON, Okla. (KSWO) - On this day in 1907, Oklahoma officially became a state, and on this day in 1973, the Oklahoma Territorial Museum opened to the public.

On Nov. 16, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt signed a proclamation that officially admitted Oklahoma as the 46th state. Celebrations and activities on that day took place in Guthrie at the Carnegie Library.

That library is still open to the public as part of the Oklahoma Territorial Museum. Guthrie city leaders wanted to demolish the Carnegie Library, but with the addition of the museum the structure was preserved.

The library was constructed with a grant from the Carnegie Foundation.