Born in rural Pennsylvania in 1880, Tom Mix had the opportunity to learn about horses at an early age, working with his father. In his adult life, he became a great horseman, and served in the Spanish-American War. Mix moved to Dewey, Okla., in 1909 after meeting Olive Stokes, who became his third wife. While in Dewey, he served briefly as town marshal, and also worked on a local cattle ranch. His skill with horses secured him work in a movie being filmed near Dewey, launching a movie career that included more than 300 films, mostly silent. He made a few talkies after sound was added to filmmaking. The Tom Mix Museum opened June 1, 1968. Today, it is owned by the Oklahoma State Historical Society and is managed by contract with the Tom Mix Museum Board of Directors, Inc.