Another place we have discovered is Ponca City. This is a city rich in history. Their main street has many old stores and building to see. The Poncan Theater is there and has a beautiful exterior and and very unique inside. When we stopped to take pictures of the outside the man who was working in the radio station there invited us inside to look around. They still show movies there and have special events. He told us some of the history and we had a great time.

The inside was really PINK, but in the soft lights it was really cute. They have one of the largest collections of vintage movie posters.



While there you need to visit the Marland Manson. There is a long history with this house. The short version is that he came here from back east and stuck oil. He built a house called the Grand House for him and his wife and started the Marland Oil Company. They started building the Mansion in the 1920's. It cost over One Million dollars. He did not live there very long before he lost his oil company to bankers from back east and had to sell the house. He and his second wife, who at one time was his adopted daughter and his first wife's niece, moved into a cottage on the grounds. He was also a US Senator for Oklahoma and one of the first governors of Oklahoma. If you do go and have the time be sure and take the guided tour. They do a wonderful job and give the whole history of his life.

This is the front of the mansion. There is a guard house at the entrance and then a drive. It is so impressive to see. The inside is beautiful.

This is the back side of the house. It has a free floating staircase and a patio on the back and east side of the house. At one time it had a swimming pool but it has been filled in now.

This is a statue of Lydie and her brother George. They were the niece and nephew of Mr. Marland's wife and they adopted them when they were young. After his wife died he and Lydie fell in love and they had the adoption annulled and they were married.

 

Can you see the "M" in the hedges. From the ground you don't see it, but when he looked out of the upstairs bedrooms he liked seeing his mark upon the land.

 

 





One of the many bedrooms. The mansion was the first in Oklahoma to have central heat and air. And the bathroom had showers.

The was Mr. Marland's office at the mansion. It has a beautiful mantel and fireplace and was very spacious.

 

To the left is the Hunt Kitchen. 
The fixed breakfast from their
friends before they went on the
Fox hunt. Above is the ceiling
from the room attached to the kitchen.

                  







 If you like Mexican food, you need to be sure and eat at the El Patio Restaurant. We have ate their twice and can't wait to go back. We have tried different things both times and enjoyed all of them.



You can't miss it... but don't let the outside put you off. As you can see below the food looks great and taste even better. On this trip we had the enchiladas and a seafood dish with grilled shrimp, bell peppers, tomatoes and onions with cheese wrapped in a large soft tortilla. It was so good!

Grilled Shrimp Dish