About the Owners:

Native Oklahoman's, both, Joe and Nancy Stine attended the University of Oklahoma with differing degree paths. Joe followed the path of Science studying Geology and further completed a Master in Science - Geology. After completing this honored degree Joe worked as the Managing Editor of the Landmarks of Science for eleven years.

Nancy's studies followed Business Administration. After graduation Nancy worked as an Executive Secretary in the offices of the Director of Department of Human Services, State of Oklahoma. She retained this position for about eight years.

Then in 1977, the Stines began full time artwork with rose rocks. They studied metal work at Swest, located in Dallas, and at the Firehouse Art Center of Norman, Oklahoma. This training provided them with excellent talents for creating the beautiful metal sculptures with rose rocks as the center piece.

Finally, the uproar started and in 1986 the Stines opened their museum. People from around the world began to gather to see the "world famous" Barite Rose Rock of Oklahoma. Other places have what has been misidentified as rose rocks, but they are made with selenite making them greyish-blue and sometimes light-grey in color.

CHEROKEE ROSE LEGEND

In the 1800s, despite a decision in favor of the Cherokees by the Supreme Court, President Andrew Jackson ordered the removal of the Cherokees and other Indian tribes from their Eastern homelands to Oklahoma, a journey later referred to as the "TRAIL OF TEARS". About four thousand people died along the way.

Indian folklore states that "God, looking down from heaven, decided to commemorate the courageous Cherokees. As the blood of the braves and the tears of the maidens fell to the ground, they were turned to stones in the shape of a rose." The Rose Rock is found in Oklahoma, the end of the journey. The State Flower of Georgia, the tribe's eastern home, is the Cherokee Rose.

Timberlake, the name:

The name Timberlake comes from Joe's lineage; five great-grandfathers back. At the end of the French and Indian War the British and Cherokee nations signed a lasting treaty. Ostenaco, war chief of the Cherokees, accompanied Lt. Henry Timberlake and Sgt. Thomas Sumter to England where he had an audience with King George III.

Lt. Henry Timberlake lived with the Cherokees for sometime. Lt. Timberlake and Sakinney, Ostenaco's daughter, were the parents of Richard Timberlake, beginning the Timberlake lineage of which Joe is a descendant.

Chief Ostenaco was the inspiration for the rose rock sculpture "Cherokee Rose". Sir Joshua Reynolds, the King's royal artist, painted Chief Ostenaco's portrait which is on display at Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Learn more about the Cherokee Nation at The Official Web Site of the Cherokees.