Discover Oklahoma: Museums let you beat the heat with a cool cultural experience

Dino Lalli
·4 min read
The Philbrook Museum of Art is set in the historic home of Waite and Genevieve Phillips with expansive formal gardens in Tulsa.
The Philbrook Museum of Art is set in the historic home of Waite and Genevieve Phillips with expansive formal gardens in Tulsa.

The summer heat of late in Oklahoma has been somewhat oppressive. I’ve grown to hate the term “heat dome.” But, there are many great museums across the state that offer a cool and educational escape from the heat.

Oklahoma boasts a rich cultural heritage, and its diverse collection of museums offers something for every curious visitor. From sprawling institutions to intimate galleries, you can explore the wide array of museums and find plenty to captivate you.

Everyone knows of Oklahoma’s major repositories of art and artifacts like the wonderful Philbrook in Tulsa. The Gilcrease is still being renovated.

Continuing in Tulsa, there’s the Tulsa Air and Space Museum, which is one of my favorites because of my love for aviation.

Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium's mission is “preserving Oklahoma’s aerospace heritage to inspire science-based learning through discovery.”
Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium's mission is “preserving Oklahoma’s aerospace heritage to inspire science-based learning through discovery.”

The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, The Tulsa Historical Society and Museum and the Vintage Sewing Center and Museum and others in the Tulsa area are all worth your time to visit.

I have wondered through the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City; Sam Noble Museum of Natural History and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, both of which are in Norman; the Oklahoma City Museum of Art; Science Museum Oklahoma; and the Oklahoma History Center numerous times through the years too and will go back again.

And of course the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum remains one of OKC’s most notable destinations.

The sculpture "Universal Man" by Enoch Kelly Haney, a Seminole and Muscogee (Creek) artist who previously served as chief of the Seminole Nation, is pictured at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee.
The sculpture "Universal Man" by Enoch Kelly Haney, a Seminole and Muscogee (Creek) artist who previously served as chief of the Seminole Nation, is pictured at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskogee.

In Muskogee, the Five Civilized Tribes Museum pays homage to the rich heritage and culture of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek) and Seminole nations. You can certainly gain a deeper appreciation for their contributions to Oklahoma’s history and the nation.

Take the time to visit the First Americans Museum in OKC, Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center, Cherokee Heritage Center, Southern Plains Indian Museum, Chickasaw Cultural Center, Choctaw Cultural Center just to name a few. When I walk away from these museums and the ones not mentioned, I am always reminded of our state’s rich Native American history which in turn inspires me to return for another visit.

At the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, visitors experience the collective histories of 39 distinctive First American Nations in Oklahoma today. First Americans Museum shares the cultural diversity, history, and contributions of the First Americans.
At the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City, visitors experience the collective histories of 39 distinctive First American Nations in Oklahoma today. First Americans Museum shares the cultural diversity, history, and contributions of the First Americans.

I’ve marveled at the exhibits at Woolaroc near Bartlesville and indulged in some hero worship at the shrine of Oklahoma’s favorite son, Will Rogers, in Claremore.

In Guthrie, you can be astounded by what you learn at the Frontier Drug Store Museum.

The Oklahoma Sports Museum and the Oklahoma Territorial Museum also can be found in Guthrie.

Woolaroc in Bartlesville was the ranch retreat of oilman Frank Phillips and is now a 3,700-acre wildlife preserve and art museum.
Woolaroc in Bartlesville was the ranch retreat of oilman Frank Phillips and is now a 3,700-acre wildlife preserve and art museum.

Darla Wood, Alfalfa’s raven-haired love interest in "The Little Rascals," is featured at the Boswell Museum in her hometown of Leedey.

We salute some celebrities who are not from Oklahoma such as Tom Mix, who appeared in more than 300 Westerns from the 1920s until his death in 1940.

He is honored with his own museum in Dewey. By the way, Mix was from Pennsylvania. A Texan by the name of Gene Autry has a museum in his honor and an entire town named for him in southern Oklahoma. Sticking with the movie theme, the Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa is another must-see.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore houses the largest collection of Will Rogers memorabilia in the world and all of his writings. The museum has 12 galleries, a children’s museum, theater and library.
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore houses the largest collection of Will Rogers memorabilia in the world and all of his writings. The museum has 12 galleries, a children’s museum, theater and library.

Are you fascinated with rocks? You might be interested to know there are several museums dedicated to rocks and minerals, some of which include The Elsing Museum on the Oral Roberts University campus and the Midgley Museum in Enid. If you are interested in trains, there are several destinations from which to choose, including the Oklahoma Railway Museum in OKC and the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma in Enid. Also in Enid, be sure and visit Simpson’s Old Time Museum & Movie Studio.

The Elk City Museum Complex is exactly that. It’s made up of five different museums that will give you a very good glimpse into what it was like to live as a pioneer. You also will learn quite a bit about Route 66. The Mother Road has its share of museums dedicated to that wonderful part of our history. Lastly, if you have never been to the Toy and Action Figure Museum in Pauls Valley, I urge you to go very soon.

More: What about First Americans Museum got judges' attention for Urban Land Institute award?

Museums are like time machines. They are windows into the past, present and future and are places to be inspired and to connect with others. I am sorry I only had space in this article to name just a handful of the many wonderful museums found in the state. A much more comprehensive list of museums can be found on Travelok.com.

Dino Lalli is the co-host and one of the feature reporters for the weekly television travel show "Discover Oklahoma."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Discover Oklahoma: State offers diverse collection of museums