Your Trip to Oklahoma City: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next 48-Hour Itinerary Day Trips From Oklahoma City Food to Try Best Restaurants Nightlife Guide Best Time to Visit Weather & Climate Neighborhoods to Know Best Hotels Top Things to Do Best Museums Your Trip to Oklahoma City: The Complete Guide close Overview United States Oklahoma Oklahoma City The 10 Best Museums in Oklahoma City By Amy Lynch Amy Lynch Instagram LinkedIn Indiana University Amy is an Indianapolis-based freelance writer specializing in Midwestern food and travel content. She is vice-president for the Midwest Travel Journalists Association, Inc. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Published on 11/09/20 Share Pin Email Stephen Saks / Getty Images Brimming with history and culture, Oklahoma City’s many museums celebrate the Modern Frontier by bringing the past solidly into the present. From the city’s strong Native American and Western heritage to world-class art, quirky niche collections and local perspectives, OKC maintains a diverse collection of museums that educate, honor and entertain. Here are the 10 of the best to visit during your trip to the Oklahoma capital: 01 of 10 Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum Richard Depinay / Getty Images View Map Address 620 N Harvey Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-235-3313 Web Visit website The landscape and fabric of Oklahoma City changed forever on April 19, 1995 when a massive explosion at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building took the lives of 168 people, the most defining moment in the city’s recent history. The Field of Empty Chairs memorial that now stands on the site of the bombing just south of a reflecting pool and the corresponding museum strives to educate guests on the impacts of domestic terrorism through somber exhibits juxtaposed with inspiring stories of hope and survival. An admission fee is required to enter the museum, but visitors are welcome to explore the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial features free of charge, year-round. 02 of 10 Oklahoma City Museum of Art Courtesy of Oklahoma City Museum of Art View Map Address 415 Couch Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-2214, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-278-8233 Web Visit website Known for its dazzling collection of glass works by renowned artist Dale Chihuly, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art—OKCMOA to the locals—is right at home in the city’s burgeoning Arts District. The museum first took shape back in the 1940s, settling into its current digs at the Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center in 2002. The permanent collections have pieces sourced from across the globe, highlighting European, Asian, American, and postwar abstract expressionist art. In addition to the boast-worthy Chihuly glassworks, guests can enjoy Brett Weston photography and definitive works by Washington Color artist Paul Reed. Other on-site amenities include the Samuel Roberts Noble Theater, a rooftop terrace, a cafe, and a gift shop. 03 of 10 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum John Elk / Getty Images View Map Address 1700 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73111-7997, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-478-2250 Web Visit website Get along to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and savor a taste of the Old West through intriguing gallery exhibits and hands-on activities. Since 1955, the museum has collected, preserved, and displayed art, artifacts, and cultural items that exemplify OKC’s Native American and Western heritage like classic and contemporary paintings; sculpture; firearms; and a vast array of American Rodeo photographs, memorabilia, and trophies. 04 of 10 Oklahoma Railway Museum View Map Address 3400 NE Grand Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73111-4417, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-424-8222 Web Visit website Spend a morning or afternoon appreciating America’s locomotive history with a visit to this train-themed destination. Exhibits include passenger cars, freight cars, and a steam engine. There are fully functional trains providing seasonal 40-minute rides on the first and third Saturday of each month. The museum is open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; admission is free, but there is a charge if you want to ride the rails. Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 Science Museum Oklahoma Courtesy of Science Museum Oklahoma View Map Address 2020 Remington Pl, Oklahoma City, OK 73111, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-602-6664 Web Visit website This STEM-based attraction captures young imaginations with 8 acres of space filled with interactive exhibits and activities. The museum has certainly grown to keep pace with the times since its founding in 1958, and is proud to offer a comprehensive educational science experience to foster a better understanding of the world, and the universe, we live in. CurioCity provides a 20,000 square-foot play space for kids to explore, the Tinkering Garage keeps little techies and budding engineers busy, and the newly improved Kirkpatrick Planetarium hosts live shows and full-dome movie screenings. 06 of 10 21C Museum Hotel Courtesy of 21C Museum Hotel View Map Address 900 W Main St, Oklahoma City, OK 73106, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-982-6900 Web Visit website You don’t need to be a guest of the hotel to come in and check out the contemporary exhibits at 21C—the full-fledged art museum portion of the premises is open to the public and free to visit 24/7. A 16-foot “Woozy Blossom” installation by Matthew Geller wafts continuous fog onto Main Street outside letting you know you’ve arrived while rotating exhibits and site-specific art set the stage for overnight stays steeped in unique flavor. For an even deeper dive, docent-led tours are offered Wednesdays and Fridays at 5 p.m. Keep an eye out for the brand’s signature purple penguins as they migrate throughout the property. 07 of 10 45th Infantry Division Museum View Map Address 2145 NE 36th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73111, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-424-5313 Web Visit website The largest state-managed military museum in the country, this patriotic attraction traces the Oklahoma lineage of our country’s servicemen and women from 1541 all the way through Desert Storm. Exhibits within the WPA-built Lincoln Park Armory facility detail one of the first National Guard units called up for World War II. The unit served in France and Berlin, helped liberate Dachau, and later, served in the Korean War. Notable collections cover American Military Weapons; World War II cartoons; and upwards of 60 military vehicles, heavy artillery, tanks and aircraft. The museum is free to visit, but donations are welcomed to support its operation. 08 of 10 Museum of Osteology Courtesy of Museum of Osteology View Map Address 10301 S Sunnylane Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73160, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-814-0006 Web Visit website Make no bones about it, this intriguing facility dedicated to the study of skeletal systems is definitely worth a look, and the only museum of its kind you’ll find. From prehistoric dinosaurs to modern humans, mice to whales and all manner of vertebrates in between, the Museum of Osteology maintains more than 800 specimens from around the world for curious visitors to marvel at. Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Oklahoma History Center Courtesy of Oklahoma History Center View Map Address 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-7917, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-522-0765 Web Visit website Get a crash course in Sooner State history at this Smithsonian-caliber museum aptly located across from the Oklahoma State Capitol. The building facade makes a grand first impression and once inside, visitors get an immersive look at the state’s proud history through displays that touch on geography, industry, art, Native American culture, and military artifacts stationed across five galleries and a research center. The Red River Journey and Meinders Foundation Heritage Gardens outdoor experience allow visitors the chance to observe a sampling of the indigenous Oklahoma landscape accented by statues, flags, and art installations. 10 of 10 American Banjo Museum Courtesy of American Banjo Museum View Map Address 9 E Sheridan Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA Get directions Phone +1 405-604-2793 Web Visit website If you’re a picker, a grinner, a strummer, or just an avid listener, the American Banjo Museum fetes this humble instrument through hands-on displays, collections, and, of course, music. The 21,000-square-foot facility holds more than 400 items all told, from printed music, photos, and memorabilia to audio and video recordings and actual instruments, making it the largest public collection of banjos on display in the world. The American Banjo Museum’s Hall of Fame has recognized the true masters of the instrument with an annual induction ceremony every year since 1998. 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