In just a matter of minutes, the historic city of Sulphur was smashed to pieces by a that took out an estimated 200 buildings, left its museum without a roof and wiped out its downtown. The storm also showed no mercy to the city’s where trees were shredded into pieces. But this is no ordinary city.
This is Sulphur, where healing waters and the strength of the Chickasaw Nation have long provided relief to those in pain and hope for recovery. Can the history of Sulphur be saved? Can it be rebuilt, and if so, how? And why is the city, and its history, worth the effort? Nestled in the foothills of the , Sulphur is known for its mineral springs that were believed to have healing powers. According to the National Park Service, archeological evidence indicates the area’s springs were first used by humans 1,000 years ago.
The Chickasaw Nation, one of the five major tribes forcibly moved from their lands in what is now the southeast United States, was relocated in the 1830s to what is now southern Oklahoma. Dennis Muncrief, Sulphur’s city historian, sees the city’s DNA in the Chickasaw legacy and the healing powers of the rippling waters of the sulfur springs. “The water has brought people to this area for hundreds of years,” Muncrief said.
“And it’s where the Chickasaws had their tribal meetings. A lot of tribal business was taken care of at the springs.” During the Civil War, at what is now the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the tribe set up a camp for refugee.
