Oklahoma offers art lovers plenty of things to see and do, such as 21c Museum Hotel – an exquisite former car assembly plant turned boutique hotel featuring its own contemporary art gallery.
The Cave House, which looks straight out of “The Flintstones,” stands out as an unusual attraction. Also noteworthy is Factory Obscura Mix-Tape, an interactive art experience which makes visitors feel simultaneously confused, excited and amused.
Philbrook Museum of Art
Oklahoma is well known for its world-class museums, featuring breathtaking glass sculptures and engaging narratives that will leave visitors inspired and spellbound. Museums provide more than just stops along an itinerary; they serve as an invaluable window into a vast world; whether that worldview be from a cowboy’s perspective or that of a scientist’s.
Tulsa’s Philbrook Museum of Art is an irreplaceable cultural treasure trove. Boasting nine art collections spanning various countries, periods and styles – with Native American paintings, jewelry, pottery and traditional woven baskets being especially impressive highlights – its nine art collections cover an incredible breadth.
The museum boasts a beautiful garden, designed around its mansion. These spacious landscaped grounds include pathways, bridges, sculpture walks and much more – the result is a peaceful haven well worth the trip! Landscape designers were inspired by Italian gardens when creating this tranquil space – well worth your visit.
Tulsa visitors shouldn’t miss visiting the Gilcrease Museum, home to one of the nation’s finest collections of Western and American Indian art. Built on Thomas Gilcrease’s estate, he donated his vast collection to Tulsa in 1937 as part of his generosity.
Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve near Tulsa offers visitors an unforgettable experience. Once an oil baron’s ranch retreat, it has since been converted to a park and wildlife preserve where bison, longhorn cattle, elk and other species roam freely across 3,700-acre property. In addition to bison and longhorn cattle roaming freely on this 3,000-acre property are bison, longhorn cattle, elk and many other species roaming freely across it all! Additionally there is Western artifacts as well as Colt firearms as unique collection of Native American items including sculptures paintings baskets; but most impressive of all is its first skeleton museum display which features over 300 bones!
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
The University of Oklahoma’s Fred Jones Museum of Art stands out among America’s premier university art museums with a comprehensive collection that spans centuries and cultures – from Renaissance masterpieces to groundbreaking contemporary creations by visionaries like Dali. Additionally, exhibitions and programs at this landmark venue explore an array of artistic styles and cultures throughout the year – making it a wonderful resource for art enthusiasts from every walk of life.
Permanent collections at the museum include the Weitzenhoffer Collection of French Impressionism, 20th-century American painting and sculpture, traditional and contemporary Native American art, ceramics, photography, as well as Asian art from 16th century to present day. Furthermore, special exhibits offer visitors opportunities to experience various art forms.
Oklahoma City boasts numerous world-renowned museums, but there are several lesser-known attractions that should also be on every art lover’s itinerary. An example is Oklahoma City’s Cave House – built during the 1920s as both a restaurant by day and speakeasy by night; even including an underground tunnel connecting directly with its front doors!
Oklahoma City offers another lesser-known but fascinating museum: the Museum of Osteology. Boasting one of the world’s largest skeleton collections publicly displayed, this unique attraction will capture visitors from all around.
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Oklahoma offers an engaging cultural scene for travelers who appreciate art. Visit museums such as the Philbrook Museum of Art or Gilcrease Museum to discover Oklahoma’s rich heritage; while music lovers can learn about some of Oklahoma’s notable musicians like Blake Shelton or Reba McEntire at either American Banjo Museum or National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Oklahoma City’s Myriad Botanical Gardens provide travelers looking to escape urban areas with lush, peaceful spaces that exude serenity. Once known as Crystal Bridge, this 15-acre botanical garden now known as Myriad offers visitors an oasis of verdant spaces that exude an inviting sense of serenity and boasts various plants and flowers from its indoor and outdoor areas as well as concerts, bulb displays, movies screenings classes as well as children’s festivals – perfect for travelers in need of an escape!
Downtown Oklahoma City offers this urban oasis as an impressive urban retreat that’s equally impressive in winter as in summer. Devon Square provides outdoor ice skating while Crystal Bridge Conservatory houses an indoor skating rink for indoor ice skating enthusiasts.
While you’re visiting the Gardens, be sure to stop and admire some of the works of art on display. Gateway by Hans Van de Bovenkamp can be found on a raised berm in the northeast corner, while Robin Orbach’s Childhood Is Everlasting can be found adorning the southwest side of Park Lake. At its center lies Light as a Feather by StudioKCA for extra enlightenment.
Oklahoma City attractions that draw crowds of visitors include the Science Museum of Oklahoma, which features interactive exhibits like exploring your own body’s heat patterns and designing your own animal in a digitally simulated forest. Plus, CurioCity and Kirkpatrick Planetarium admission is included!
Chickasaw Country Art Gallery
The Chickasaw Country Art Gallery features stunning bronze statues, acrylic artworks, sketches and quilts from world-renowned Chickasaw artists such as Mike Larsen. He’s known for immersing himself into historical events to produce paintings and sculptures which reflect them, with Joanna Underwood creating sculptures featuring birds often found in Chickasaw art and Billy Hensley capturing its beauty on canvas – including capturing its sacred meaning for Chickasaw people like Mike Larsen does with paintings like Gar Fish Painting by capturing it perfectly on canvas!
The gallery also houses a retail shop featuring handmade works such as jewelry, pottery and paintings by Chickasaw artisans as well as clothing that is available for purchase. In addition, it serves as an information hub for tourists interested in exploring Chickasaw Country.
Travelers seeking to experience Native American art should head to Oklahoma’s Chickasaw Nation, an unassuming destination offering outdoor adventures of every sort. Noodling — hand catching catfish — at Lake Murray to staying in a floating cabin at Turner Falls Park with waterfalls and natural swimming pools can all be found here – offering something to please outdoor enthusiasts of every stripe.
History enthusiasts should visit Chickasaw Nation Fort Smith and Flower Bluff Manor for a ghost tour, an old home where a murder occurred in 1896. Cultural enthusiasts may want to attend an Indian Summer Festival or watch one of the shows at Chickasaw Performing Arts Center Davis.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
Oklahoma City Museum of Art should be on any visitor’s itinerary in Oklahoma State. With world-class artwork on display from contemporary, Asian, European, and Dale Chihuly glass sculpture collections – many visitors to Oklahoma City have noted these sculptures among their top highlights of visiting – this museum provides visitors with an unforgettable experience.
OKCMOA not only boasts impressive art collections but also offers special events and activities, such as Third Thursdays (an opportunity for local artists to meet and greet members of the public), free admission on certain days throughout the year and educational programs.
Oklahoma City area attractions that stand out include the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, boasting one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of Western art. Here you can learn about its legacy of tragedy and triumph while witnessing how art has helped define an original American culture.
Gaylord-Pickens Oklahoma Heritage Museum provides visitors with an interactive experience showcasing Oklahoma’s history. Here you will have an opportunity to meet some of those who have shaped its course and gain more of an understanding of Oklahomans who have made their mark on society.
Whoever wishes to learn more about Route 66 can visit the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Here, they can explore its entire history – images, myths and tales from travelers along its course as well as experience a slice of Oklahoma’s past at their 1950s diner!
