April 23, 1937
Osage County News
Microfilm Roll: MN00312
On this day in Osage country, an article was published in the Osage County News announcing the opening of a new store in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
The Ki-he-kah Indian Shoppe opened its doors on April 20, 1937. Owners Josephine Hamilton and Nora L. Standingbear were pleased with the opening day’s turnout, saying “many people visited the shop to see the fine display of wares.” The stores shelves were filled with “articles suitable for many occasions,” including blankets, beads, belts, war bonnets, ribbon work, and more.
The store was located at 707 Ki-he-kah Avenue in the Whiting building. The Whiting building still stands in Pawhuska today and was built around 1920, by a man named Vernon Whiting who once served “as the Probate Attorney and Competence Attorney Commissioner for the Osage tribe” (Building History). The two-story brick and stucco building, located at the bottom of Agency Hill, consists of eleven store fronts and “a total of 20 studio apartments” (Building History). The second floor apartments are divided between four units which are surrounded by roof terraces. Today the building houses the Historic Whiting Bed and Bath, a unique hotel with themed suites.
Morgan M. Guzman
“Indian Hoppe Opens Tuesday.” Osage County News. April 23, 1937, p. 1. Microfilm roll number MN00312. Sequoyah National Research Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Further Reading
“Building History.” Historic Hotel Whiting Suites. https://historicwhiting.com/history Date accessed May 8, 2018.
“National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination Form.” United States Department of Interior. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/c01579a6-fd2b-4a64-a32e-537148861629 Date accessed May 8, 2018.
