Perry Good

A small yet historically significant city, Perry is best known for its deep connections to the Land Run of 1893 and its remarkable wrestling tradition. Located along Interstate 35, Perry is the seat of Noble County and offers visitors a unique blend of history, culture and good old community pride.  

Perry’s origins date back to the Cherokee Outlet Land Run; on September 16, 1893, a pistol shot rang around noon and one of the largest land runs in U.S. history began. This event saw tens of thousands of settlers race to claim land in what was previously Cherokee Nation territory. Perry was established almost overnight and named after J.A. Perry, a government official overseeing the land run.  

“The significance of this race is that it not only was the largest and last land run of the unassigned lands, but brought thousands of immigrants and cultures to America,” says Maddy Flores, executive director of the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School. 

The town quickly became a bustling hub, with businesses, homes and civic institutions.

For those interested in exploring Perry’s pioneer history, the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School are essential stops, Flores says. The museum provides a comprehensive look at the history of the Cherokee Strip, the Land Run of 1893, and the development of Perry and surrounding areas. Exhibits include artifacts from early settlers, historic photographs and interactive displays that bring Oklahoma’s frontier past to life.  

“Presently, so many of the last names you see around town are the same last names of settlers that came to settle the strip in 1893,” Flores says. “I am one  of those people who can date my family back to the land run! They established their roots north of Perry in 1893 and we bought the land back ten years ago that they established.”

Adjacent to the museum, Rose Hill School offers a glimpse into early Oklahoma education. The restored one-room schoolhouse provides visitors with an immersive experience of what schooling was like for children in the early 20th century. The site hosts educational programs that allow guests to step back in time and experience a typical school day from the past.  

One of Perry’s most unique and celebrated attractions is Perry Wrestling Monument Park. Wrestling is a deeply ingrained part of the city’s culture, with Perry High School boasting one of the most successful wrestling programs in the country. With 43 state championships to date, a national record, and a reputation for producing elite athletes, Perry has rightfully earned the nickname of the Wrestling Capital of the World.

“Wrestling is a way of life in Perry,” says Roger Tetik, president of the Perry Wrestling Foundation. “People come to the Perry Wrestling Monument Park to find names etched in granite of their father, brother, uncle or someone they know that wrestled for Perry.”

The park stands as a tribute to the town’s rich wrestling history and features statues of Danny Hodge and Jack VanBebber, Perry natives that not only went on to have collegiate success at Oklahoma University and Oklahoma A&M, respectively, but also as Olympic champions. 

“The Perry Wrestling Foundation wanted to honor Danny Hodge, and [the establishment of the museum] grew to where we wanted to recognize both of our Olympians and the Perry Wrestling program and all its accomplishments,” says Tetik. “We wanted to recognize all the state championship teams and the individuals and coaches that made up those teams that helped us win our 43 state championship titles.”