HIDDEN GEMS IN THE MODERN FRONTIER Prefer to explore off the beaten path? We’ve gathered some unconventional spots around Oklahoma City that are just the right mix of quirky, fun and unexpected.
plaza walls
Wheeler District
Nat’l Stockyards
L I V E C A T T L E A U C T I O N The Oklahoma National Stockyards hosts live cattle auctions nearly every week, and they are open to the public. It’s kind of like going to a horse show; sometimes you do things just for the experience — and the Instagram photo. N A T I O N A L M U S E U M O F H O R S E S H O E I N G T O O L S Take a walk-through history by learning about the tools, life and products in the world of farriers. What began as a private collection, is now a museum featuring exhibits and memorabilia about
M U S E U M O F O S T E O L O G Y
9 9 ’ S M U S E U M O F W O M E N P I L O T S One of the best stories you’ve never heard, chronicled in Atlas Obscura and other publications, is the history of this women’s pilot group that included Amelia Earhart. One floor is dedicated to women pilots who were groundbreakers in other ways, like the first African American female pilot,
A M E R I C A N P I G E O N M U S E U M In addition to a collection of live birds, the museum has amassed enough pigeon-related artifacts to curate several permanent exhibits. Learn about the role pigeons played in wartime—the museumwas originally dedicated to the noble homing pigeon, after all. Other exhibits include the passenger pigeon timeline and a history of pigeon racing. O K C R A T T L E S N A K E M U S E U M Located in Stockyards City, it’s a short walk from the famous Cattlemen’s Steakhouse. The museum features all of Oklahoma’s venomous snakes, a selection of rattlesnakes from across the U.S., venomous lizards and even more exotic snakes from outside the U.S.
Going here means you can check the “education” box on your itinerary. The collection contains more than 300 skeletons and 400 skulls. Don’t worry, there’s a hands-on section, too.
4 5 T H I N F A N T R Y D I V I S I O N M U S E U M This military organization is famous for many reasons, but mostly it’s because they were the first American unit in Hitler’s bunker. The museum contains a large collection of WWII artifacts, including Hitler’s mirror. The outside grounds are dedicated to a huge collection of military vehicles, artillery and aircraft. W O R L D O R G A N I Z A T I O N O F C H I N A P A I N T E R S While an organizational headquarters in purpose, the facility also contains a stunning collection of painted porcelain from around the world in the Porcelain Art Museum.
W H E E L E R F E R R I S W H E E L TheWheeler District is home to the historic Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel. After being purchased on eBay in 2008, over $1 million was invested to refresh and refurbish theWheel. Overlooking the downtown skyline, the Wheeler FerrisWheel stands 100 feet above the South bank of the Oklahoma River and is open seasonally with a variety of ticket and pass options. P L A Z A WA L L S Looking for an Instagram-worthy photo op? PlazaWalls is a curated, rotating mural project in the Plaza District. Murals change annually during the Plaza District Festival.
Bessie Coleman. T H E B O O M
This LGBTQ+ inclusive dinner theatre and nightclub hosts a variety of musical and comedy productions, monthly drag bingo, a weekly trivia night and a hilarious Sunday Gospel Brunch. A M E R I C A N B A N J O M U S E U M This Bricktown museum contains hundreds of banjos from the instrument’s storied history, and rotating exhibits featuring famous musicians. The most surprising thing about this museum is how incredibly beautiful these instruments can be.
the industry and craftsmanship of horseshoeing.
museum of osteology
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