The overlook gets its name from the dominant
ridge in the foreground, Lenox Ridge. On the other side of the ridge,
on Oklahoma Highway 63, is the current Lenox Mission Church and
Lenox community. The original Lenox Mission was located 4 miles
west of the present day church. Interpretive signs at this overlook
cover the history of the original mission and the historic and prehistoric
residents of the Kiamichi River Valley.
The original Lenox Mission was founded in 1853 by S.L. Hobbs. The
mission was named for the home town of Dr. Hobbs' wife, Cornelia
Sears of Lenox, New Hampshire. Dr. Hobbs was sent as a missionary
to the Choctaw people by the American Board of commissioners of
Foreign Missions. He served in this capacity until his death.
The Board of Commissioners was nondenominational and was organized
by the Presbyterian and Congregational Churches in New England and
New York. The missions established by this organization may have
been the most important factor in the transformation of Indian culture
in the 50 years following 1810. The common agreement was that education
would be provided for permission to preach the Gospel. Many of the
teachers at the missions such as Dr. Hobbs were religious ministers
and doctors as well.
