Entry No. 58 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: haunted-museum
Museum of Pioneer History
Lincoln County's oldest commercial building, the 1898 Mascho Building, is so reputedly haunted that haunted-attraction scare actors reported being frightened themselves by footsteps, ghostly laughter, and rearranged objects.
The story
Spanning three interconnected storefronts on Manvel Avenue, this quiet repository of Lincoln County lore is anchored by the 1898 Mascho Building—the oldest standing commercial structure in the county. On paper, it is a traditional volunteer-maintained archive filled with pioneer farm tools, turn-of-the-century quilts, and local homestead records. But the space holds a persistent reputation for paranormal activity so distinct that local haunted-attraction scare actors—people who scare others for a living—have reportedly walked out spooked after encountering phantom footsteps in empty hallways, disembodied laughter, and display items shifted around overnight in locked rooms.
The weirdness gets sharper as you climb the stairs to the second floor, which houses the museum's prized Western artifacts. Up here, away from the street level, staff and visitors have long reported heavy wooden doors unlatching and swinging open on their own accord. Outside behind the storefronts sits a quieter memorial garden dedicated to Susan Jane Ferrell, a Chandler native who was killed in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, adding a poignant stop to a venue already thick with the weight of local history.
What it's like
Drive an hour east of Oklahoma City into Chandler and park directly along Manvel Avenue—the old Route 66 alignment—where street parking is plentiful even on weekends. Inside, you'll be greeted by local volunteers who keep the lights on through door donations. The layout feels creaky and unpolished in the best way; take your time through the main floor exhibits before taking the staircase to the second level. If you step quietly enough among the upstairs Western displays, you might just catch the dull thump of footsteps or a door swinging shut behind you when nobody else is on the floor.
The move: Tour the pioneer exhibits together, then go quiet and see who hears the phantom footsteps first before exploring Chandler's small-town haunts.
📍 Before you go The museum fills three century-old storefronts on Manvel Avenue, Chandler's main drag on the old Route 66 alignment, with easy street parking out front even on a Saturday. It's volunteer-run and donation-funded, open only part of the week (typically Thursday through Saturday), so confirm before making the hour-ish drive out from OKC. The best Western pieces are tucked up the stairs on the second floor — the same floor where visitors report doors opening and closing on their own. Pair it with the 1930 Phillips 66 filling station a few buildings down the street and the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler's old armory nearby.
- 📍 Chandler (Lincoln County)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Hours: Added 2026-06-09 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art — Head 23 miles south to Shawnee to follow up local ghost lore with Oklahoma's only public Egyptian mummies, collected a century ago by a Benedictine monk.
- POPS 66 — Continue west along the Route 66 path toward Arcadia to swap haunted storefronts for a giant glowing neon soda bottle and hundreds of obscure glass-bottled drinks.
- Elmer McCurdy's Grave — Drive northwest to Guthrie to visit the final resting place of Elmer McCurdy, the failed train robber whose embalmed corpse toured sideshows for 65 years before burial.
Good to know
Where is the museum located and what are its hours?
It sits at 719 Manvel Avenue in downtown Chandler. It is volunteer-run and typically open Thursday through Saturday, though you should call ahead or verify current hours before making the drive from OKC.
How much does it cost to visit?
The museum is donation-funded, so there is no fixed ticket fee, but bringing cash to drop in the donation box helps support the volunteer society.
What paranormal activity has been reported here?
Visitors and volunteers report hearing unexplained footsteps on empty floors, disembodied laughter, doors opening and shutting by themselves on the second floor, and small objects moving when no one is around.
What other historic Route 66 sites are nearby in town?
A restored 1930 Phillips 66 filling station is just a few doors down Manvel Avenue, and the Route 66 Interpretive Center operates inside Chandler's historic sandstone armory nearby.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · okhauntedhouses.com · hauntedplaces.org · Tripadvisor
last checked: 2026-06-09