The Frank Phillips Ranch was founded in 1925 and the Woolaroc Museum had a humble beginning four years later in 1929.

In 1929, a stone pavilion was built on the hill above the Lodge for the WOOLAROC, a small, single-engine monoplane sponsored by Frank Phillips that was flown in the Dole Air Race from Oakland, California to Honolulu, Hawaii Territory on August 16-17, 1927. The pavilion was an open structure with no doors or windows. Before long, glass showcases were placed around the plane to display some of the overflow of guns, Indian relics, and other gifts not needed for decorating the Lodge.

Though he did not realize it at the time, he had just built the beginning of his own private museum.

To keep the rain, snow and wind out, a brass door and glass windows were added to enclose the facility. Uncle Frank called it his "airplane museum" as he continued to receive gifts that were placed there. Later, art acquisitions were added that encroached on the space for the small aircraft.

During the 1930's, the "airplane museum" had been enlarged with additions in 1932 and 1939. The art collection also began to expand with a vast array of western art and artifacts to achieve Uncle Frank's vision of "preserving the history of the West that he knew as a young man." Tourism was beginning to develop in Oklahoma and people were asking to see Woolaroc.

The Phillips family realized that the museum was taking on increasing historical significance and that it must become more than a private collection. In 1938, a professional museum director was hired to oversee the preservation and presentation of the increasing Woolaroc Museum collection.

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