Big Cedar, Oklahoma

A post office opened at Bigcedar, Indian Territory on April 3, 1903. On December 1, 1929 the official spelling of the post office name was changed to Big Cedar.Shirk, George H. Oklahoma Place Names (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1965), p. 22. The post office was discontinued on October 15, 1943.

At the time of its founding, Big Cedar was located in Wade County, a part of the Apukshunnubbee District of the Choctaw Nation.Morris, John W. Historical Atlas of Oklahoma (Norman: University of Oklahoma, 1986), plate 38.

Big Cedar is at the intersection of U.S. Route 259 and State Highway 63.{{cite web|url= https://www.google.com/maps/place/Big+Cedar,+OK+74939/@34.6459347,-94.6663883,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x87cac6816a1509d7:0xe6940ee99fc69968!8m2!3d34.6459365!4d-94.6488357 |title=Big Cedar, Oklahoma|publisher=Google Maps|accessdate=July 9, 2020}} President John F. Kennedy visited Big Cedar on October 29, 1961, to dedicate the opening of US-259, then called the Ouachita National Forest Road.{{cite web|url=http://www.ohptrooper.com/old6.htm |title= Dedication of Ouachita National Forest Highway (US-259) by President John F. Kennedy|publisher=OHPTrooper.com|accessdate=July 9, 2020}} A copy of his remarks, along with other materials pertaining to this visit, are available for viewing at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.[https://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPOF-036-008.aspx "Remarks at Ouachita National Forest Road opening, Big Cedar, Oklahoma, 29 October 1961."] Accessed September 24, 2018. A John F. Kennedy Memorial, dedicated in 1966, is at the intersection of US-259 with SH-63 in Big Cedar.{{cite web|url=http://blogoklahoma.us/place.aspx?id=853|title=John F. Kennedy Memorial|publisher=Exploring Oklahoma History|accessdate=July 9, 2020}}

Intercity bus service is available from Jefferson Lines in Mena, Arkansas, about 26 miles east.{{cite web|url= https://www.jeffersonlines.com/bus-stops/arkansas/ |title=Arkansas Bus Stops|publisher=Jefferson Lines|accessdate=January 10, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Big+Cedar,+OK/Mena,+AR+71953/@34.6169765,-94.5852222,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x87cac6814b1c62fb:0x3c5749fa2dbc2979!2m2!1d-94.6500907!2d34.6458101!1m5!1m1!1s0x87cb2fc1cae0651f:0x5e1e09ec52e959cd!2m2!1d-94.2396554!2d34.5862171 |title=Big Cedar, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas|publisher=Google Maps|accessdate=January 10, 2021}}

Big Cedar is on the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, sometimes simply called the Ouachita Trail. The Big Cedar Trailhead is at mile 30.5 of Segment 02 of the Trail.{{cite web|url=http://arkokhiker.org/east-oklahoma/ouachita-trail-02c-259-pashubbe-trailhead/ |title=Ouachita Trail 02: Hwy 259 (Big Cedar Trailhead) to Pashubbe Trailhead (30.5 to 34.3)|publisher=Mike Newman, Arklahoma Hiker, April 3, 2011|accessdate=July 6, 2020}}{{cite web|url= https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_039448.pdf |title=Ouachita National Recreation Trail, U.S. Forest Service, December 2006|accessdate=July 6, 2020}}

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{{Le Flore County, Oklahoma}}

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Category:Unincorporated communities in Oklahoma

Category:Unincorporated communities in Le Flore County, Oklahoma

Category:Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

Category:Populated places established in 1903

Category:1903 establishments in Indian Territory

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