Immerse yourself in our collective history

Oklahoma City is fortunate to have world-class institutions that provide a better historical understanding of the cultures that helped drive Oklahoma City’s early development. The first is the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Since 1955, the museum has collected and displayed Western art and artifacts to help preserve the legacy of the American West.

With multiple exhibits, art and sculpture galleries, the 17-foot-tall “End of the Trail” sculpture by James Earle Fraser and a replica of a Western town called Prosperity Junction, it’s easy to see why the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is considered to be one of OKC’s most unique attractions. The museum’s permanent galleries and rotating exhibitions make it easy to learn more about cowboy culture and gear, Native American history, Western performers, settling the frontier and more.

The museum hosts several fun annual events, including its chuck wagon festival (held in May every year), which offers a family-friendly way to introduce kids and adults alike to what life was like on the frontier. The museum also hosts a variety of ongoing events sure to please all ages – everything from movie nights and happy hours to guided tours and day camps.

The newest addition to Oklahoma City’s cultural offerings is the First Americans Museum, which will celebrate its grand opening Sept. 18-19. The FAM allows visitors to experience the collective histories of the 39 distinctive First American Nations located in Oklahoma.

The museum was designed in close collaboration with the tribal nations of Oklahoma, Native scholars and knowledge givers from the tribes, which allows FAM to tell the history, culture and stories of Oklahoma’s First American Nations from a distinctly Native perspective. From the exhibitions to the on-site restaurant, attendees can expect to engage with living stories, cultures and arts, from the traditional to the contemporary.

Admission to the grand opening event is $5 per person, per day, and will include performances from Indigenous artists including the U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. Learn more at www.famok.org.