June 11 — 110th anniversary of first 101 Ranch Rodeo

June 11 is the 110th anniversary of the first 101 Ranch Rodeo.

In 1905, the National Editorial Association met at the 101 Ranch. More than 65,000 people attended the meeting and were treated to the hospitality and entertainment of the Miller Brothers.

The Miller brothers presented an outdoor show belived to have been the biggest show of its kind ever presented at the time in the United States. Down through the following years, the Miller brothers continued holding the annual round-up at the ranch. A rodeo arena was constructed at the headquarters with a seating capacity of 10,000.

Spectacular sights greeted presidents and celebrities at the gate of the ranch’s majestic white house: flocks of ostriches, zebras, camels, wild boars, tigers and anteaters. Sometimes they saw performers rehearsing, mounted cossacks, dancing mules, clowns, charioteers and stagecoach "hold-ups" and Indian "attacks."

The 101 Ranch continued the spirit of the west through its Wild West shows and Miller Bros. Circus that toured the United State and Europe, as well as through entertainment on the ranch, round-ups and rodeos.

The photograph of Geronimo driving a car on the last page of the April 2004 issue of American History was actually taken on June 11, 1905, at the Miller brothers’ 101 Ranch, located southwest of Ponca City.

This weekend, the modern 101 Ranch Rodeo celebrates its 56th year.