One of our state’s great resources is the Oklahoma History Center in OKC. We had not been there in a few years and were pleased to see the new exhibits and the growth of the Red River Heritage Garden.
I spent several years following the progress of the center online. The building itself is 215,000 square feet and the grounds encompass 18 acres. There are exhibits exploring Oklahoma’s culture, unique geology, commerce, aviation, history, and transportation. We especially enjoyed Oklahoma Driven (ODOT) and the “made in Oklahoma” displays. Other current exhibits include HeeHaw , Oklahoma Cartoonists, Caddo Leadership and Community (the tribe, not my favorite town), and Tierra De Mi Familia- Oklahoma (the Land of My Family).
And I am thrilled that one of the current special projects that the OHS is working on is the recovery of the steamboat Heroine, which sank in the Red River near Hugo in 1838. I’ve read about it, attended a workshop about its discovery, and seen some of the artifacts. Fascinating find for our state!
Outside, the quarter mile walking trail displays native plants, statues, and a wonderful view of the capitol and other downtown buildings. Plants are clearly labeled and I plan to buy a desert willow now that I’ve seen one!
If you are in OKC this summer be sure to stop by. We spent three hours at the center and could have spent at least another hour if we had watched more of the videos, so expect to be there for a while. There are plenty of areas for resting and even a café upstairs. One note for us older folks- two of the galleries were very cold and I would have been more comfortable with a light sweater or sweatshirt.
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