Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

completed in 1960, followed by a gymnasium,
community center, and other buildings;
two elementary schools and a media center.
One of the elementary schools was above
ground and the other was underground, for
protection from tornadoes. The district
acquired and remodeled a shopping center
to house its middle school classrooms and
an auditorium.
Prague citizens are served by a twenty-five
bed hospital and clinic with offices for medical
personnel, as well as a modern seventy-eight
bed nursing home. A 300 acre city-owned lake
provides fishing and recreation facilities.
Prague also has a nine-hole golf course, tennis
courts, a swimming pool and rodeo grounds,
as well as baseball, softball and football fields.
A good airport with a 3,600 foot lighted runway
provides not only an office and hangers,
but fuel as well. The Haynie Public Library
provides books, E-books, DVDs and computer
access for preschoolers through senior citizens,
as well as a meeting room with
video conferencing equipment.
The Prague Historical Museum on
Jim Thorpe Boulevard includes a
monument to Jim Thorpe, the outstanding
twentieth century athlete
and Olympic gold medal winner.
Thorpe was born on a farm south of
Prague. The museum also recognizes
Olinka Hrdy, a noted artist born
in Indian Territory near Prague
in 1902. Hrdy’s work has been
treasured worldwide. The National
Shrine of the Infant Jesus of Prague,
which is located in Saint Wenceslaus
Catholic Church, attracts over 60,000
visitors to the city each year. St. Wenceslaus
is one of the city’s fifteen churches, which
include several that were recently built,
remodeled or enlarged.
Because of its Czech heritage, Prague chose
“The Kolache Festival” to celebrate the
anniversary of its founding. The first such
festival was held in 1951, followed the next
year by the city’s “Golden Anniversary” celebration.
Thousands of visitors from throughout
the world now attend this annual event,
which features a parade, street dancing, entertainment
and good food.
Although still primarily a farming/ranching
community, Prague is moving toward industry
and commerce, with manufacturing adding
to its diversification. With an ideal location
between two interstate highways, a forty acre
industrial park is being developed for future
growth. As with most of Oklahoma, oil and
gas production still provide the foundation of
this segment of the economy.
Above: Prague streetscape looking north on
Highway 99.
Below: Prague Historical Museum and
Jim Thorpe Monument.
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