This was not on our original stop point for places to see in Oklahoma.  However, when we decided to go to the pool at 3pm and with the rain storms popping up in the late afternoons, I decide this would be a good place to see for a few hours.  Not to mention it was largely indoors and COOL! 

Like many things you don’t expect, this turned out to be one of the great things we saw in Oklahoma!  The museum was really great, and talked about all kinds of things pertaining to cowboys and the heritage associated with ‘winning’ the West.  The artwork was incredible, the gardens, where remains of famous bulls and horses lay, was spectacular!  They had a rodeo pit you could walk down in and learn about the rodeo, and a hands on room for the kids to play ‘cowboy’ in.  However, without a doubt the kids favorite place was the life sized western town set up inside the museum.  It was so cool.

All over Oklahoma you see the name “Sooners”.  Well, the ‘Sooners’ were the pioneers who rushed (and essentially cheated) the land run to lay stakes to their land first. 

Buffalo Bill

The hands on building for the kids had a room with life sized Lincoln logs, cowboy dress up clothes, a pioneer playhouse complete with campfire and cookware!

Below you can see the American Rodeo.  At the time we didn’t know how relevant this exhibit was...because two nights later we found ourselves at the real rodeo!! 

Link to Rodeo Page

Lots of informative plaques around the museum told all sorts of information about a lot of different things. 

 

It was an unexpected pleasure to find this great museum on a hot summers day!