Oklahoma City：A Sightseeing Destination Teeming with History and Culture

Oklahoma City is the capital city of the state of Oklahoma, United States which is located in the Frontier Country region of the state. It is the principal city in Oklahoma in terms of the state's culture, politics, and economy. Because of this, there are a lot of sightseeing attractions worth visiting in the city. Here are some of the attractions you need to see when you are sightseeing in Oklahoma City.

1. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum

The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is a memorial in Oklahoma City that pays tribute to all of those who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. The memorial consists of various spots which could be visited any time of the day. One of which is the Gates of Time, a twin bronze gates frame which marks the entrance to the Outdoor Memorial. It also features a reflecting pool, the Field of Empty Chairs, Survivor's Wall, and the Memorial Fence, among others.

2. National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

Photo by Dave Stone

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a cultural gallery in Oklahoma City which features more than 28,000 American Indian and Western artifacts and artworks. It also has the world's most extensive collection of American rodeo photographs, including saddlery, barbed wire, and early trophies. The museum focuses on the preservation of the American West heritage by displaying collections that would allow sightseeing tourists to gauge on the history and culture of the Western and American Indian people.

3. Museum of Osteology

Photo by Ayleen Dority

The Museum of Osteology is a private museum in Oklahoma City which is devoted to the study of bones and skeletons. As a matter of fact, this extensive museum exhibits more than 350 skeletons from various animal species all over the world. There are around 7,000 more specimens which are part of the collection. However, they are not on display. Due to their collection, the museum is recognized as having the world's largest private collection of osteological specimens.

4. Science Museum Oklahoma

The Science Museum Oklahoma is an institution in Oklahoma City dedicated to different fields of Science. It is the home to the Kirkpatrick Planetarium and other galleries. Among the sections in the museum where sightseeing tourists could visit is the Destination Space. This is the portion which preserves the contributions of the locals of Oklahoma City to aerospace. It is also the home of the Oklahoma Aviation and Space Hall of Fame which displays full-scale models of Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury capsules.

5. Oklahoma City Zoo

Photo by Paul L. McCord Jr.

The Oklahoma City Zoo is a zoo that is located in the Adventure District of Oklahoma City. It covers around 48 hectares of land where more than 1,900 animals call it their home. It has various exhibits including the Expedition Asia, an Asian-themed section, which is home to a herd of Asian elephants. It also has a Children's zoo where children can play while connecting themselves with nature. There is so much to explore while sightseeing in the Oklahoma City Zoo.

6. Centennial Land Run Monument

Photo by Serge Melki

The Centennial Land Run Monument pays tribute to the opening of the Unassigned Land in the territory of Oklahoma with the Land Run of 1889. Completed in 2015, the sculpture is one of the world's largest bronze sculptures. Designed by artist Paul Moore, the sculpture features 45 heroic personalities of land run participants which are shown to be in a race to claim new homesteads. The monument is an ideal sightseeing destination if you want to know more about the history of Oklahoma City.

7. Oklahoma City Museum of Art

Photo by commons.wikimedia.org

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is a museum that is located in Oklahoma City. It features an extensive collection including a special exhibition of traveling artifacts, a theater showing a selection of independent, foreign, and classic films each week, and a collection of Chihuly glass. The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is another sightseeing attraction in Oklahoma City which allows tourists to be enlightened with the different artworks and masterpieces of the locals of Oklahoma City, and other notable artists from all over the world.

8. Myriad Botanical Gardens

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The Myriad Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden that is located in Oklahoma City. It is the home to multiple sections of landscaped areas that are surrounding a sunken lake. One of the most prominent features of the garden is the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory, a museum where living plants including tropical plants and flowers, towering palm trees, and some exotic animals could be observed. The Myriad Botanical Gardens also offers several educational opportunities to people about the state of the rainforest, gardening, and many more.

9. 45th Infantry Division Museum

Photo by Paul L. McCord Jr.

The 45th Infantry Division Museum is a historical museum in Oklahoma City which allows sightseeing tourists to witness the most extensive collection of military firearms in the country. With a lot of artifacts from the World War II and other exhibits on the early military history of Oklahoma City, visitors could be educated well on the history of the place. A visit to the 45th Infantry Division Museum is free. The museum is open from Tuesday to Friday every week.

10. Oklahoma History Center

Photo by commons.wikimedia.org

The Oklahoma History Center is another historical museum in Oklahoma City which features and preserves the history of Oklahoma from the ancient Native American tribal period to the present day. It features several galleries which explore different stages of the history of Oklahoma City. When sightseeing around the attraction, tourists could visit the Inasmuch Gallery which displays the artistic achievements of Oklahoma. They could also visit the ONEOK Gallery which provides visitors with an opportunity to delve into the historic past of the state. There are other galleries and exhibits where sightseeing tourists could visit.

◎ Closing

Indeed, Oklahoma City is teeming with an interesting history that is worth discovering. By sightseeing on the different attractions that were presented above, you do not only add to your knowledge of the history of Oklahoma City, but you immerse yourself in the past as well.

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