Pawhuska Oklahoma G. W. Parsons Fire Real Photo Postcard

The postcard captures a significant fire at the G.W. Parsons establishment in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, likely dating to the early 20th century. Pawhuska served as the capital of the Osage Nation and experienced rapid development, particularly after the 1907 Oklahoma statehood and the subsequent discovery of substantial oil reserves in Osage County. This period of rapid economic expansion led to the construction of numerous commercial buildings, often built with materials and methods that made them vulnerable to large-scale fires.