7 Best Museums In Oklahoma

Oklahoma is home to over 500 museums, each offering visitors a diverse range of experiences that celebrate heritage, creativity, and innovation. Whether discovering exhibits that date back billions of years at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, exploring a world-class museum surrounded by nature at the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, or learning about space exploration at the Stafford Air and Space Museum, Oklahoma’s museums cater to visitors of all ages and interests.

Science Museum Oklahoma

Located in the Adventure District of Oklahoma City is the Science Museum Oklahoma, with over 500 exhibits to explore. Visitors can expect a full day of entertainment. Exhibits range from engineering, industry, and biology to space exploration and physics, making it a great place for discovery. The museum is approximately 390,000 square feet, offering immersive areas, science shows, and hands-on exhibits. Popular exhibits include CurioCity, a 20,000-square-foot cityscape, Destination Space, highlighting the role of Oklahoma in NASA history, and Finity, a 25-foot-tall interactive sculpture located outside in Founder’s Plaza. The museum also features a range of programs, including overnights, camps, and teen apprentices.

Visitors are also welcome to attend one of the events held in the museum, such as Love’s Planetarium Show, where visitors can learn about the universe and see the stars in a world-class planetarium, or Tinkering Activities, where participants explore various materials and engage in experiments. After a full day at the museum, head over to nearby Leo’s BBQ, a restaurant that is a favorite among barbecue lovers. The menu features delicious sandwiches and desserts, light dinners, and meat by the pound. Those feeling lucky can visit Remington Park, a racetrack and casino open 24 hours a day.

Stafford Air and Space Museum

The Stafford Air and Space Museum in Weatherford is believed to be one of the most comprehensive and finest space and air museums in the central United States. In 2010, the museum became a Smithsonian Affiliate, meaning it shares resources, such as access to educational programming, traveling exhibitions, and millions of artifacts. Named after NASA astronaut and Weatherford native Thomas P. Stafford, the museum provides visitors a chance to immerse themselves in everything space and air-related. This 63,000-square-foot space features over 3,500 artifacts on display. Explore topics such as early and modern aviation, rocket engines, and see a full-scale replica of Sputnik, Explorer I, space hatches, astronaut uniforms, and gadgets.

There are numerous interactive exhibits for people of all ages, including the F-16 Interactive Display, to learn about the F-16 through touch-screen, the Radial Engine, to learn how an actual radial engine works, and the Lunar Module Simulator. A particularly popular exhibit is the ‘Tweety Bird Cockpit,’ where visitors can climb inside a cockpit. Located nearby is Rader Park, where visitors can enjoy the fresh air, walk around, and play a round of golf on an 18-hole course. Grab something to eat at Lucille’s Roadhouse, a Route 66-themed restaurant, offering a 1950s diner vibe and featuring an upscale steakhouse.

Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve

The Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve, near the town of Bartlesville, offers two distinct and equally amazing experiences; it is both a wildlife preserve and a world-class art museum. Located in the Osage Hills, this hub for entertainment and education is identified as a North American Reciprocal Museum and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Previously a ranch retreat, this 3,700-acre wildlife preserve contains several nature trails, as well as over 30 different wildlife species. During seasonal hours, guests can visit the mountain man camp, historic lodge, and the animal barn. The 50,000-square-foot museum contains a world-class collection of aviation history, artifacts, art, and more.

The museum has one of the most unique collections of Western and Native American art and artifacts, as well as one of the largest Colt Firearms collections in the world. The display features firearms from the post-World War II era, a collection of Winchester rifles, and some of the first revolving cylinders created in the United States. In Bartlesville, approximately 15 minutes from the museum, individuals can book a room at the Osage Casino Hotel, an upscale property with two restaurants and a bar. Take the kids to Bartlesville Kiddie Park, an outdoor attraction with a variety of rides for the whole family.

Philbrook Museum of Art

Enjoy a unique experience by visiting the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. Situated in the former 1920s ‘Villa Philbrook,’ this art museum also includes expansive 25-acre formal gardens. Explore the grounds and gardens, with plenty of outdoor areas for viewing nature. The museum contains a wide range of collections such as Modern and Contemporary Art, Ancient Art, African Art, Native American Art, Decorative Art, and Renaissance Art. Exhibitions in the museum are constantly changing and evolving, making each visit a different experience. Past exhibitions have covered a wide range of topics such as Samurai Armor, Patrick Gordon paintings, Rembrandt to Monet, and the work of Robert Peterson.

Visitors can take public guided tours of the galleries and gardens on the weekend. Attend one of the museum's events, such as Storytime at Philbrook, Films at the Museum, Docent-Led Tours, and more. There are plenty of things to see and do near the Philbrook Museum of Art. Those who need a pick-me-up can grab a cup of coffee at Shades of Brown Coffee and Art, a rustic shop that features local art and delicious drinks. Spend some time outside at Woodward Park and Gardens, a 45-acre park, arboretum, and botanical garden located three miles from the downtown area.

Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, in the town of Norman on the University of Oklahoma campus, is a 198,000-square-foot facility, housing over 10 million objects. Walk around and discover in-depth exhibits that chronicle cultural, geographical, and natural history dating back 4 billion years. The most popular exhibit of the museum is the Hall of Ancient Life, showcasing the Ice Age, prehistoric creatures, and dinosaurs. Other exhibits include the Hall of World Cultures, containing ancient artifacts from a wide range of cultures, the Hall of Natural Wonders, featuring the sights and sounds of the natural landscapes of Oklahoma, and the Hall of People of Oklahoma, tracing the 30,000-year history of people in the state.

Throughout the year, the museum also hosts numerous educational programs for youth, such as Curiousiday: Full STEAM Ahead, Spring Break Explorers Camp, and Birdwatching. Being located on the University of Oklahoma campus, this museum is close to a number of popular restaurants, bars, hotels, and attractions. At the nearby Historic Campus Corner, visitors can get a room at the NOUN Hotel, a popular boutique lifestyle hotel with luxury accommodations. Grab something to eat at Couch Restaurants, a large dining facility open to the public, with 14 unique dining concepts within the university campus.

Oklahoma City Museum of Art

One of the leading institutions of art in the area, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, is found within the Donald W. Reynolds Visual Art Center. Every year, the museum sees over 100,000 visitors from across the world looking to explore iconic pieces of art. Popular works include John Sloan's Two Black Crows (1924), John Steuart Curry's Sunset (1934), Kehinde Wiley’s Jacob de Graeff (2018), and sculptures by Auguste Rodin. The museum features original selections such as Storytelling in Art, Landscape Painting, Maritime Art, American Surrealism, and more. The permanent exhibitions include one of the world's largest public collections of Dale Chihuly glass. This visually stunning collection contains the Waterford Crystal Chandelier, created from blown lead crystal, and a large Ikebana Boat, filled with glass shapes and flowers.

What makes this museum special is its focus on films. At the museum’s 230-seat Samuel Roberts Noble Theater, visitors can view some of the finest classic, independent, and foreign films. After spending the day at the art museum, head to nearby Clarity Coffee, a sleek café that serves specialty drinks such as a Salted Caramel Mocha and Oatmeal Latte. Those wanting to spend some time outside can visit the Myriad Botanical Gardens, a 15-acre, natural landscape in the center of the downtown area.

Museum of the Great Plains

In Lawton, Oklahoma, is the Museum of the Great Plains, a premier history museum. Featuring the natural and cultural history of the Great Plains region, the museum offers various exhibits that date back to the Paleo-Indian period. There are several popular self-directed activities and interactive exhibits that allow visitors to experience a multitude of unique adventures. These include the Discovery Area/Children’s Zone, where youth are able to experience hands-on exploration, such as trying on pioneer-era clothing or digging for replica fossils.

A particularly impactful exhibit is the Terrible Tuesday Tornado Theater, where guests are able to see archived video and hear from tornado survivors in an immersive experience. After visiting the museum, relax at nearby Elmer Thomas Park, a large green space with walking trails, a playground, picnic areas, and a pond. Grab a drink at the Bricktown Brewery, with plenty of unique local beer and great food.

The Best Museums in Oklahoma

Each museum offers visitors something unique, and their close proximity to hotels, restaurants, and other cultural attractions makes them ideal destinations for a memorable vacation. From hands-on learning experiences to world-class art collections, these seven museums represent some of the best in Oklahoma, highlighting themes such as scientific discovery, space exploration and aviation, Native American history, and Western art. Family-friendly exhibits are plentiful, offering kids opportunities to engage with interactive displays, educational programs, and activities designed to inspire all ages.