At Craterville in the Wichita mountains near Lawton. Had circus acts, wild West shows, an amusement park and more. Photograph taken during daylight hours of a family group, four adults and one child, one man standing on dam, one climbing, others standing atop a ridge above the pool. Water flows over the dam. Rocky landscape. Rush, Frank August 26, 1922. Second photo: Photograph postcard showing the Indian fairgrounds at Craterville Park, OK during a horserace. Creation InformationBookmark this section Creator: Unknown. 1926~. Last photo of train taken in 1960. ContextBookmark this section This photograph is part of the collection entitled: W. P. Campbell Collection and was provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society.

In the heart of the Wichita Mountains near Lawton, Oklahoma, Craterville once thrived as a dazzling hub of early 20th-century entertainment and culture. More than just a park, Craterville embodied the spirit of Americana—offering a blend of spectacle, tradition, and family joy. The landscape itself, dramatic and rugged, added an element of natural wonder that amplified every visitor’s experience.

Craterville was a dynamic destination. It featured an amusement park with rides that thrilled both young and old, traveling circus acts that brought laughter and awe, and Wild West shows that recreated the romance and grit of frontier life. It wasn’t unusual to see costumed performers reenacting cowboy shootouts or parading livestock, captivating audiences with dramatizations of Oklahoma’s storied past. The park also hosted annual fairs and pageants, becoming a canvas for community gathering and cultural exchange—especially showcasing Native American heritage through powwows and exhibitions.

Amid all this vibrant activity, nature framed the human experience. A photograph captured during the daylight hours of August 26, 1922, offers a quiet yet evocative moment in contrast to the park’s usual clamor. In this image, a family group—four adults and one child—inter