8 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Oklahoma

If you want a downtown strip that stops you mid-step, you will find a couple of gems in Oklahoma that blend vintage charm with modern aesthetic elements. You will find spaces that still retain their original brick paving and charm-soaked streets speckled with artisan coffee shops, one-of-a-kind museums, and small home-style restaurants. Starting with Guthrie, one of the most beautiful small towns in the South, discover below the 8 prettiest downtown strips in Oklahoma.

Guthrie

Guthrie is among the most historically significant towns in Oklahoma, especially for having once served as the territorial capital. That aspect of its history and heritage is prominent and can be best appreciated while strolling through the downtown strip, a stunning area that encompasses approximately 400 city blocks. No wonder Guthrie boasts the largest urban Historic district in the United States. It is a pleasure to trace the town’s footprints at the 6 museums that tell its story, including the one-of-a-kind Oklahoma Territorial Museum. The Carnegie Library, which is set on grassy, peaceful grounds with trees, is the oldest in Oklahoma. You will see interesting old remedies at the Oklahoma Frontier Drug Store Museum, which has a lovely apothecary garden next door, and enjoy delicious onion rings at Stables Cafe, a nostalgic space with tons of memorabilia to look at while enjoying food.

Claremore

If you know something about Route 66, it is that it rewards those with a sense of adventure and an appreciation of America’s history. Of course, the Mother Road also features some quirky landmarks and reveals a decent number of beautiful small towns, including Claremore, a neat Tulsa suburb best known as the home of Will Rogers. The Cherokee Kid, as Rogers was nicknamed, was one of America’s most celebrated humorists and known for many of his pithy quotes, including “Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” Claremore’s historic Main Street is laced with unique restaurants like Gibby’s South In Your Mouth, which serves Cajun-style dishes such as frog legs, fried gator, and catfish. It has nice decor and plays soft jazz, things that can make patrons feel they are in New Orleans. You can visit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, have a cone at Braum's Ice Cream & Dairy Store, or check out the J.M. Davis Gun Museum, which boasts the largest privately-held firearms collection in the world.

Pawhuska

Life on the Prairies is best experienced at places such as Pawhuska, a small, beautiful town that brims with charm and is filled with so much color and character. Just an hour from Tulsa, Pawhuska has recently been drawing attention, especially because of the initiatives of Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond, who has catapulted the town to national fame through her blog and business interests. You will find a unique, tribally run museum (The Osage Nation Museum), the beautifully restored Constantine Theatre, which started as the Pawhuska House Hotel in the 1880s, and The Pioneer Woman Mercantile, the wildly famous restaurant that the Drummonds opened in downtown Pawhuska in 2016. "The Merc" serves fresh-made pastries, excellent coffee, and a variety of delicious comfort foods.

Tishomingo

To some, like the famous American songwriter and fashion designer Gwen Stefani, life on a ranch needs getting used to. To others, the space and cowboy-style freedom typical of ranches is life at its purest. Tishomingo is beautifully nestled in the heart of southern Oklahoma’s Chickasaw Country and is well-known for its ranching culture. Today, the town doubles up as the Chickasaw Nation’s Historic Capital and brims with interesting Chickasaw architecture, cozy Main Street boutiques, and live country music venues such as Ole Red, owned by Stefani’s celebrity husband, Blake Shelton. Ole Red opened in 2017 and hosts live music four nights a week at The Doghouse, its adjoining music hall. You can learn about the Chickasaw people at the Chickasaw Council House and Museum, snap a picture of the stately Chickasaw National Capitol Building, which is just steps away, and finish with some grilled oysters at Snapper’s.

Chandler

Restaurants with patios line Chandler’s downtown strip, a fun, upbeat stretch that features live music almost every night. Chandler is tastefully positioned along a scenic hilltop along the Mother Road and boasts vintage storefronts reminiscent of Oklahoma’s slower and simpler era. The Chandler Armory, which features the only brick outhouse in Oklahoma, is a splendid example of Works Progress Administration (WPA) architecture. Its building and history predate the First World War. Today, the building houses the Chandler Route 66 Interpretive Center, a conference center, and a cute exhibition hall. There is the Museum of Pioneer History, whose upstairs military exhibit will make your heart glow with American pride and deepen your respect for the grit and sacrifice of those who made the idea of freedom possible. Finish with a mood-lifting show at the historic H & S Theatre, housed within a beautiful 1920s architectural gem.

Perry

Perry’s downtown strip, especially the circle around Courthouse Square, looks like a picture plucked straight from the late 1800s. The Perry Courthouse Square District, with its red bricks and stones, represents a variety of architectural styles, some of which were designed by renowned Oklahoma architects. The best part is that some streets within the district still retain their original brick paving. Other points of interest include the Perry Carnegie Library, which boasts an awesome children's section; Yankee Dime Antiques, a friendly establishment with lots of interesting finds and knick-knacks; and the highly rated 611 Bakehouse, a cozy, upbeat coffee shop with a lovely assortment of drinks and smoothies to enjoy. It is just across the street from the majestic Noble County Courthouse.

Okmulgee

Okmulgee may not be as famous as Guthrie, but its downtown strip, which features majestic Creek‑Nation-era architecture, is the kind of gem that quietly dazzles those lucky enough to wander its streets. The town is steeped in Native American culture and serves as the capital of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Nothing feels rushed in a community that offers a mix of cultural heritage and whose downtown was recognized in 2002 as one of the top five Great American Main Streets in the country. The Creek Council House Museum, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation's seat of government from 1878 until 1907, showcases interesting aspects of Creek governance, traditions, and artwork. Next to it is the Orpheum Theater, whose history goes back more than 100 years. Just don’t skip Daddy B's, a cool place to sit down with some tender ribs and fried okra.

Durant

In the 1830s, Pierre Durant and his family traveled down the Mississippi on the way to the southeastern part of the Choctaw Nation. His grandson, an enterprising early-day minister, later founded the quaint little town that bears his name. You will find a well‑preserved downtown, Late‑Victorian storefronts, and fun-filled seasonal events like the Magnolia Festival, which celebrates the town’s heritage as the “City of Magnolias.” Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Headquarters is a splendid building with a nice gift shop in the lobby, while the Grand Theater - Choctaw Casino & Resort is an intimate venue for a rip-roaring afternoon show. Spend some time at the Choctaw Cultural Center, whose architecture is as impressive as the exhibits that draw visitors from every nook of the state.

The Takeaway

If you think all downtown strips have the same boring cookie-cutter elements, wait until you set foot in some of Oklahoma’s prettiest small towns. Whether you pick Guthrie or Chandler, you will be mesmerized by lively downtown strips with color and character, which feel more like living storybooks than concrete corridors. Think of eye-catching architecture, historic theatres, and majestic courthouses.