According to the Pottawatomie Historical Society, the Beard Cabin "was the first building built in Shawnee after the land run of September 22, 1891.  The two-story cabin was built in 1891 by Etta Ray, her father, future brother-in-law John Beard and future sister-in-law Lola Beard, near the southeast corner of Highland Street and Kickapoo Street, the west line of the 1891 land run. Etta Ray married Henry Beard in November of the same year and they lived in the cabin until they built another house next to the cabin.