Oklahoma City

On April 22, 1889, at high noon, a starting shot rang out and around 10,000 people stormed onto the newly opened land – by evening, Oklahoma City existed. A trip to Oklahoma City takes you back to this pioneer era, to Native American cultures, to Route 66, and to a moving memorial. For a city break in the heart of the Great Plains, "OKC" is surprisingly diverse.

A City in a Day

The 1889 "Land Run" opened the so-called Unassigned Lands in Indian Territory to white settlers, after numerous nations such as the Cherokee, Creek, and Choctaw had previously been forcibly relocated here. In 1910, Oklahoma City became the state capital, and in 1928 a major oil discovery made it wealthy – to this day, oil pumps even stand on the grounds of the Capitol. On April 19, 1995, a bombing destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people. Since the 2000s, the city has reinvented itself with investments in the canal, parks, and downtown, and the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team has become the pride of the region.

Sights in Oklahoma City

The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a quiet, powerful place: 168 empty chairs made of bronze and glass honor the victims, two gates mark the minute before and after the explosion, and a museum tells the story of the attack and the rescue efforts. In Bricktown, a former brick warehouse district, a canal with water taxis runs past restaurants, bars, and the baseball stadium. Scissortail Park in the city center is a large new public park with a lake, stage, and farmers market, and right next to it are the Myriad Botanical Gardens with a cylindrical greenhouse. The Oklahoma State Capitol, one of the few capitols with an oil well out front, is open for tours.

Museums and Culture

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum displays paintings by Remington and Russell, a re-created prairie town, and rodeo gear. The First Americans Museum, which opened in 2021, is dedicated to Oklahoma's 39 tribal nations and tells their story from their own perspective. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art holds one of the largest collections of glass art by Dale Chihuly. In Stockyards City, the world's largest stocker and feeder cattle market, livestock auctions take place on Mondays and Tuesdays, surrounded by western shops and steakhouses. Route 66 runs through the city, and the best-known stop is Pops in Arcadia with its giant LED soda bottle.

Neighborhoods, Dining, and Nightlife

Midtown Oklahoma City, north of the Central Business District, has grown into a lively residential neighborhood with restored buildings, cafés, and restaurants. The Plaza District with its murals and boutiques, the Paseo Arts District with galleries in Spanish-style buildings, and Automobile Alley with bars in former car dealerships are ideal for strolling. Restaurants in Oklahoma City serve classic steaks, chicken fried steak, and the fried onion burger, a regional specialty dating back to the Depression era. Thanks to the large Vietnamese community, Classen Boulevard in the Asian District has excellent pho.

Sports and Recreation

The Oklahoma City Thunder play at Paycom Center in downtown, and the atmosphere at home games is legendary. Along the Oklahoma River, the Riversport center has become a paradise for rowers, kayakers, and whitewater fans, complete with an artificial rafting course and a high ropes course. In spring, the Festival of the Arts downtown draws crowds with crafts and food stalls. Lake Hefner in the northwest is ideal for cycling and for watching the sunset at the lighthouse.

Getting Around, When to Go, and Day Trips

Will Rogers World Airport is about 15 minutes southwest of downtown. The OKC Streetcar connects Bricktown, Midtown, and Automobile Alley; otherwise you'll need a car or ride-hailing. The best times to visit are spring and fall, though spring falls within tornado season, so keep an eye on severe weather warnings. Summer is hot. Day trips lead to the Wichita Mountains with bison and longhorns, to Guthrie with its historic downtown, and along Route 66 to Tulsa.