The Choctaw government was dissolved in 1906, just before the present state of Oklahoma was formed on November 16, 1907.

[2] The mountain range is a popular tourist destination, due to the designated protected areas in the vicinity.

The forest comprises the Winding Stair Mountain National Recreation Area, designated by President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

[1] The Talimena National Scenic Byway crosses the mountains from Talihina, Oklahoma to Mena, Arkansas.

The byway, which travels through the Ouachita National Forest, is often described as one of the prettiest drives in the country, situated along some of the highest peaks in the Winding Stair Mountains.