Places to Visit in Oklahoma-Situated in the Southern region of the United States. Oklahoma comes from two Choctaw words, Okla and Humma, which mean “red people.” Oklahoma’s economy is based mainly on agriculture, energy production, and manufacturing. Some of the state’s largest employers are Tinker Air Force Base, the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and American Airlines.
In 1907, Oklahoma was the 46th state to join the Union. Before it joined, President Theodore Roosevelt wrote a letter encouraging officials in the territory to write a constitution and form a state government before Congress acted. In that same year, Congress passed an enabling act that stated that the people of Indian territory could create a state government whenever they were ready. The act also allowed for the admission of Oklahoma as a state once it had a constitution and a state government.
Oklahoma’s first state capitol was located in Guthrie, which was also the territory’s first capital. In 1910, Oklahoma City became the new state capital.
Interesting Facts-The University of Oklahoma is the state’s largest university.
The school started as a university in the early 1900s. It later became known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College before it was renamed to match its initials. Some people still call the school OAMC or “Oklahoma A&M.”
The state flower of Oklahoma is the mistletoe.
The state bird of Oklahoma is the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
Oklahoma has many state parks, including Beaver’s Bend State Park, Lake Eufaula State Park, and Osage Hills State Park.
The state motto of Oklahoma is Labor Omnia Vincit (Latin for “Labor Conquers All”).
In 1992, the state of Oklahoma was hit by a devastating tornado. The tornado killed dozens of people and caused billions of dollars in damage. In 2011, another catastrophic tornado struck the town of Joplin, Missouri. However, the tornado that hit Joplin was much stronger than the one that hit Oklahoma. It resulted in over 1000 deaths and approximately $2.8 billion in damage.
Interesting Facts-The state fruit of Oklahoma is the strawberry.
The state tree of Oklahoma is the eastern redbud.
Oklahoma has many notable people, including former President of the United States William H. Taft, singers Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire, and NBA player Blake Griffin.
The state gem of Oklahoma is the cat’s eye.
Oklahoma is one of the top states in oil production. Over 90% of crude petroleum is used to power oil rigs located off the coast. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, over 85% of the crude oil produced in Oklahoma is exported.
In Oklahoma, red dirt, buffalo herds, and oil wells abound, a gateway to the west. Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the state’s two main cities, have had a polished air since they were founded on the oil fortunes of the early 1900s. Even though the state’s cosmopolitan image is enhanced by modern museums and galleries of foreign art and lush gardens, many tourists choose to experience Oklahoma by driving down Route 66.
Route 66-Places to Visit in Oklahoma
While the complete length of the highway extends from Chicago to Los Angeles, it’s in Oklahoma, where the most considerable distance is traveled. In the northeastern part of Oklahoma, it begins and ends in Oklahoma City before crossing Texas. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, National Route 66 and Transportation Museum in Elk City, and the Blue Whale of Catoosa and Golden Driller in Tulsa are all examples of roadside attractions.
It’s easy to learn about the history of Route 66 at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, which has a 1950s restaurant and rotating exhibitions celebrating the road’s journey. There are numerous places to visit along Route 66 that cater to motor-heads, such as drive-in theatres, motorbike museums, and old-fashioned gas stations.
Art Museum of the Philbrook Collection
Philbrook Museum of Art’s collection includes pieces from Africa, Asia, and Europe in a range of media and American artists’ and craftspeople’s work. It stands on 23 acres of beautiful formal and informal gardens along Crow Creek in an Italian Renaissance-style palace converted into an art museum. Tulsa in the 1920s, with its oil wealth and elegance, but with a worldwide art collection.
You’ll want to see the cats patrolling rodents and bees pollinate and make local honey, which is available in the gift store at certain times of the year. The Tulsa Art Museum has a second location in the city center.
Spacecraft at the Science Museum of Oklahoma-Places to Visit in Oklahoma
Exhibits at the Science Museum of Oklahoma captivate visitors of all ages with their variety and complexity. In the museum’s main display hall, several hands-on activities and interactive exhibits teach about various scientific subjects, from biology to physics. Planetarium displays and movies on the dome, a Tesla coil show, and the lights and shadows show are just some of the live acts that visitors may experience.
“CurioCity,” an activity-packed indoor city with numerous challenges and endless learning opportunities, is a beautiful place for youngsters of all ages to play and learn. They can also design and build their inventions using a variety of materials, from paper and string to Lego bricks, and then evaluate their new creations against the wind, gravity, and each other.” Tinkering Garage is where students may merge their love of art and science by experimenting with coding, animation, and sound mixing.
Exhibits highlighting Oklahoma’s long-standing involvement in the country’s space program include relics and actual spacecraft, as well as a real Mercury Capsule Simulator, which astronauts use to practice.
Visitors may also learn about botany and wildlife in the museum’s lovely gardens.
The Oklahoma State University
Tourist sites and excellent sports programs may get found in and around Norman, which sits on the southern edge of Oklahoma City. In 1890, the school was founded, and it has since grown to a 3,000-acre site.
Among the numerous attractions on campus are the Fred Jones Jr Museum of Art, which features innovative exhibitions, and the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, which has ancient relics and dinosaur bones. The Bizzell Memorial Library, built-in 1929, is a beautiful landmark for bibliophiles.
Oklahoma City Zoo-Places to Visit in Oklahoma
Walking paths at the Oklahoma City Zoo lead visitors through various habitats, from African plains to tropical jungle. Established more than a century ago, the zoo and botanical gardens are home to more than 500 diverse types of animals, some of which are endangered, in addition to a beautiful garden setting.
Demonstrations and educational seminars are a big draw for families, whether a giraffe feeding or an elephant performance. The stingray touch tank, a train ride, or a boat trip on the zoo’s lake round out the exciting activities.
Oklahoma City national memorial
Oklahoma City’s outdoor monument and museum honor the victims of the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. The grounds contain a reflecting pool, gardens, and symbolic sculptures to remember the victims, survivors, and rescuers. It’s now a well-known sight at the state’s seat of power. The Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, which is just a few miles away, tells the story of the tragedy that gripped the country.
Mansion on the Marland Estate-Places to Visit in Oklahoma
One of Oklahoma’s oil-boom towns is Ponca City, located north of the state line with neighboring Kansas. E. W. Marland, Oklahoma’s 10th governor, and a billionaire oil executive commissioned the opulent Marland Estate Mansion in 1928 as a second residence. There are 55 rooms in the mansion, three kitchens, a swimming pool, a studio for an artist, and a boathouse.
The Bryant Baker Gallery, devoted to the estate’s namesake sculptor, and the Marland Oil Museum are two other historical museums on the grounds. Visit Marland’s Grand Home near Ponca City, Oklahoma, for a glimpse of the Marlands’ older home.
Great Plains Museum
Visitors to Lawton may learn more about Native American and pioneer life in the Great Plains through hands-on and interactive natural history displays. Visit a railroad terminal, a trading post, and a schoolhouse while you’re out in the open air.
The Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center and The Holy City, an exciting collection of structures made to seem like Israel during the Biblical time, are both in Lawton and worth visiting for those curious to find out more about the area’s culture.
Gilcrease Art Museum-Places to Visit in Oklahoma
With a focus on both frontier settlement and Native American traditions, Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum highlights a vast collection of art and history from the American West. Art, historical documents, and anthropological relics are part of the museum’s extensive holdings. There are 460 acres of Osage Hills land available for the museum. Thematic gardens include 23 acres, featuring attractive Victorian, colonial, pre-Columbian, and pioneer settings, which are well maintained.
Oklahoma Aquarium’s Bullhead Shark exhibit
Known for housing the most extensive collection of bullhead sharks globally, the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks, just south of Tulsa, is one of the state’s most popular attractions. The Shark Adventure exhibit has a walk-through glass tunnel where you may observe these magnificent creatures.
Extreme Fishes, Sea Turtle Island, EcoZone, and Polynesian Reef, are just a few of the other unique exhibits within the aquarium. The aquarium’s Aquatic Oklahoma exhibit, which has a 120-year-old alligator snapping turtle, also features local marine life in addition to foreign species.
Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve-Places to Visit in Oklahoma
There are 3,700 acres of property on Woolaroc Ranch where American bison, longhorn cattle, and elk are free to roam. From the safety of their automobiles, visitors may get up close and personal with these majestic creatures.
In addition, there is a western-themed museum and a rustic lodge on the ranch grounds. In addition to the Price Tower Arts Center, which is the only skyscraper built using Frank Lloyd Wright’s plans, the preserve is a 20-minute drive southwest of Bartlesville.
The National Weather Service
Oklahoma features some of the most extreme weather globally, including strong tornadoes, sky-splitting lightning, and blistering heat. The National Weather Center in the south of the city (Norman) is fascinating because of these unusual circumstances.
We’ll stop at the School of Meteorology and the Storm Prediction Center at Oklahoma University. Reservations must get made in advance. Additionally, an on-site café is available to visitors, and entry to the meteorological center is free.
Center for Cherokee History and Culture
Tahlequah was the capital of the Cherokee Indian Nation since 1839, but the live history displayed at the Cherokee Heritage Center goes back for further in time. Historic wooden structures at Adams Corner Rural Village, built in the 1890s, mimic a 1710 Cherokee Village. Both places are well worth a trip if you’re interested in learning about Native American history from a different angle. Between Muskogee and the Arkansas border, southeast of Tulsa is Tahlequah.
Arms & History Museum of JM Davis-Places to Visit in Oklahoma
The Jim Davis Arms & Historical Museum in Oklahoma City has 50,000 artifacts. More than 12,000 guns in Davis’ private collection date back to the 14th century.
Historical treasures from the “Wild West,” such as authentic saddles and spurs, as well as Native American artifacts, are also on show. JM Davis’ Mason Hotel lobby and World War II relics and information on the area’s history may get found at this museum. This M41 Walker Bulldog tank from the 1950s is the most significant component in the collection and may be seen by visitors outside the museum.
Heritage Museum of the National Cowboy and Western Art
Beginning as a “Hall of Fame” for American cowboys, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City has evolved into the country’s premier repository for Western art, relics, and cultural heritage.
Various Western art forms, including painting and sculpture, are on show in galleries that also feature interactive displays on the people and culture of the Old West. The military and weapons, the history of rodeos and Western entertainers, and Native American culture are just a few topics discussed.
The museum also recreation a western village and holds educational programs regularly. There is a Children’s Cowboy Corral and a Kid-Sized Wild West where parents may rest while their children have fun and learn outside.
Botanical Gardens of Myriad-Places to Visit in Oklahoma
The Myriad Botanical Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City are a haven for locals, visitors, and families alike. The 15-acre site, which includes walking routes, a vast lawn, and a small lake, is open to the public. A playground, a dog park, and a tourist center are also available.
Children’s gardens, decorative gardens, and the stunning Crystal Bridge Conservatory are all part of the grounds. The Tropical Wet Zone and the Tropical Dry Zone, and the desert plant region are all represented here for the benefit of tourists.
A waterfall and a bridge across a tropical forest allow visitors to obtain a bird’s-eye view of more than 750 types of plants.
