Oklahoma Trails
Whether your a history buff, antique collector, or looking for a classic American road trip, you'll find that Oklahoma is home to an amazing variety of attractions and activities. From experiencing rich American Indian Culture, exploring Antique hot spots, and leaving your cares in the rearview on the perfect Route 66 road trip, we’ve curated your itinerary to include the best stops along three extraordinary Oklahoma trails. Here’s your stop by stop guide to discovering the Land of Whats New.
Discovering American Indian Culture
Stop 1: Standing Bear Park
Our first stop on our journey through Native American history is Standing Bear Park, in Ponca City. Standing Bear Park, Museum & Education Center honors Native Americans with a 22-foot bronze statue of Ponca Chief Standing Bear, who is famous for making a landmark speech before a U.S. District Court stating all American Indians deserved the same recognition and protection under the law as white men. This outstandin sculpture sits on a 63-acre park that boasts a walking trail among native grasses and wildflowers, a peaceful memorial grove, a pond and outdoor interpretive center. These elements come together to tell the history of American Indians in Oklahoma.
standingbearpark.com/
Stop 2: Gilcrease Museum
Located in Tulsa Oklahoma, The Gilcrease Museum contains one of the world's most comprehensive collections of Western American art. This nationally celebrated institution features extensive exhibits on America's prehistory, settlement and expansion. See more than 13,000 works of art and one of the country’s most extensive collections of rare books, documents maps, and unpublished material related to the history of North America. Gilcrease Museum's grounds match the artistry within as themed gardens have been developed on 23 of the museum's 460 acres. Garden tours are available to make the most out of your time on the beautiful museum grounds.
gilcrease.org/
Stop 3: Cherokee Heritage Center
Resting on 44 heavily wooded acres tucked away in the Oklahoma foothills of the Ozark Mountains, is the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah. The center honors the rich Cherokee history and culture of the region. Experience early 18th century life through interpretive stations, residential sites and more. Walk through 14 stations that detail the historic landscape in 1710 and demonstrate a range of cultural practices like stick ball, basket making, flintknapping and blow gun making. Inside the center, visit the Trail of Tears exhibit to witness life-size sculptures in an emotional portrayal of the Cherokee removal to Indian Territory and a timeline of the events.The Cherokee Heritage Center is devoted to the preservation and promotion of Cherokee history and culture through several annual events and two competitive art shows.
cherokeeheritage.org/
Stop 4: Chicksaw Cultural Center
The Chickasaw Cultural Center is a world-class museum complex devoted to the celebration of Chickasaw history and culture. Using modern technology and richly theatrical environments, the Chickasaw Cultural Center will immerse visitors in the vibrant, ongoing story of the Chickasaws. Located on 184 acres of rolling hills, woodlands and streams near Sulphur, this museum complex features more than 96,000 sq ft of indoor space, including an exhibit center, the Holisso Research Center and a large-format theater. An amphitheater, sky terrace, traditional village and several water features also reside on the grounds. For an experience that awakens all of your senses head to the Aaimpa Cafe for menu items inspired by traditional Chickasaw fare, such as pashofa, grape dumplings and Indian fry bread.
chickasawculturalcenter.com/
Digging Through Oklahomas Top Antiquing Hubs
Stop 1: Blue Heron Mercantile Antiques
To kick off your antique hunt head to the Blue Heron Mercantile in Jenks, Oklahoma just outside of Tulsa. At this specialty antique store, peruse over 2,500 square feet packed with Early American era antique furniture, smalls and accessories. Since 1980, the owners of Blue Heron have been searching high and low, building one of the best selections of pre-1860 furniture in Oklahoma. Although it's constantly changing, expect to find classics such as harvest tables, store counters, stoneware, cupboards, pie safes and painted dry sinks in the shop's expertly curated collection.
blueheronantiqueshop.com/
Stop 2: Sanford & Sisters
Dedicate an afternoon to shopping at Sanford & Sisters in McAlester, and come home with some great bargains from this unique chic decor shop. Sift through yesterday's treasures at this antique shop while also taking a look at today's fashion finds. You can select from a variety of home design pieces like vintage tables and chairs, wall art, ornate china and more. At Sanford & Sisters, try on a few fashion pieces, too, like colorful blouses, graphic tank tops and Aztec-print dresses.
Stop 3: Antiques Etc.
Step into Antiques Etc. in Ardmore and you can easily pass hours shopping row after row of one-of-a-kind antiques and vintage finds. This sprawling store presents a collection of interesting items from an assortment of vendors. The variety of vendors at Antiques Etc. ensures they have something for every taste and style. Shop row after row of antique brooches, jewelry, flags, magazines, books, mirrors, clocks, tables, chairs, baskets and more. Treasures range from vintage items that have been re-purposed to antiques that have been beautifully restored. Selected by Best Things Oklahoma as one of the ten best antique stores in Oklahoma.
antiques-etc.biz/
Stop 4: 23rd Street Antique Mall
Finally, end your antiquing adventure in Oklahoma City at the 23rd Street Antique Mall, Oklahoma’s premier antique store. Whether seeking a rare piece of furniture, a unique gift or a collectible piece of art, you can find it all at 23rd Street Antique Mall in Oklahoma City. Stop in and browse an 11,000-square-foot showroom featuring 70 dealers, packed with some of the finest furniture and collectibles in the city. Dealers at this mall sell items from as early as the 1700s up to the 1950s. Vintage jewelry, glass, lighting, pottery and American Victorian furniture are just a few of the items you can expect to find at 23rd Street Antique Mall. The sprawling store boasts everything from antique accessories to Native American artifacts.
antiques23.com/
Driving Route 66, The Mother Road
Stop 1: Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
Begin your quintessential Route 66 road trip in Clinton, Oklahoma at the state's official showcase of Route 66. Focusing on transportation and the complete history of Route 66, exhibits at this museum begin with "the world's largest curio cabinet" offering special treasures collected from along the route. Along the way, visitors will see vehicles and hear music while experiencing the history and culture of each decade concerning road construction, transportation, lodging, restaurants, garages, curio shops, attractions and other artifacts, graphics and videos. At the end of their trip down the "Main Street of America," visitors catch their breath in the theater before stopping in the "Curio" gift shop with its wide selection of signs, books, videos, clothing, toys, games and other mementos.
okhistory.org/sites/route66.php
Stop 2: Lucille’s Roadhouse
Time to fill up the tank by heading to Lucille’s Roadhouse. This nostalgic Route 66 restaurant in Weatherford will transport you back to a 1950s diner with polished chrome, glass brick and colored lighting. Lucille's Roadhouse serves a variety of authentic diner food including hand-breaded chicken fried steak, pork chops, hamburgers, homemade mashed potatoes, french fries, and much more. In addition to the diner, Lucille's features an upscale steakhouse serving delicious hand-cut Angus beef steaks and other great grill dishes. Come to Lucille's to experience a taste of Route 66 and don't miss their incredible 16 beers on draft, featuring four major Made In Oklahoma breweries and their daily specials.
Stop 3: POPS
A trip down historic Route 66 in Oklahoma isn't complete without a stop at the unique and colorful POPS. Located in Arcadia east of Clinton, POPS is an iconic addition along the Mother Road. Its ultra-modern architecture of red rock and steel trusses is a draw for visitors from across the nation. A four-ton, 66-foot sculpture of a soda bottle covered in dazzling multi-colored LED lights in front of POPS can't be missed and pays tribute to the main attraction at POPS: over 600 kinds of soda. From berry soda to classic cola, POPS has it all. After a visit to POPS, you're sure to greet Route 66 with a smile.
pops66.com/
Stop 4: Coleman Theatre
For your final stop, continue east on the historic Route 66 to visit the Coleman Theatre, an iconic piece of Oklahoma history. From the day it opened in 1929, this legendary theater has been entertaining audiences with impressive theatrical productions and structural beauty. The elegant Louis XV interior includes gold leaf trim, silk damask panels, stained glass panels, a carved mahogany staircase, a 2,000-pound chandelier, decorative plaster moldings and railings. Over the years the Coleman Theatre has been renovated and is every bit as beautiful as it was in 1929. The theater presents a variety of exceptional entertainment year-round. Entertainment at the theater includes ballet, opera, silent films, jazz and dance bands as well as community pageants and events.
https://thecolemantheatre.org/
