Westport OklahomaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Westport, Oklahoma.
1. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
TRIBUTE TO BOMBING VICTIMS
The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum stands as a solemn tribute to those who were killed in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Visitors can explore both the outdoor memorial with its symbolic chairs representing each victim and the museum which chronicles the events, aftermath, and impact of the tragedy. The memorial creates a powerful and tasteful experience that helps visitors remember and reflect on this important moment in American history.
2. Bricktown
HISTORIC ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT
Bricktown is Oklahoma City's premier entertainment district, converted from former warehouses into a vibrant urban center. Visitors can enjoy canal boat rides, numerous restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment venues throughout this walkable district. The area comes alive especially at night with its distinctive brick architecture illuminated and bustling with activity.
3. The Cave House
UNIQUE ARCHITECTURAL LANDMARK
The Cave House is an eccentric architectural wonder in Tulsa that was originally built as a restaurant in the 1920s. The building features unusual cave-like structures and passageways that make it one of Oklahoma's most distinctive landmarks. Today, it operates as a private residence that offers tours by appointment, allowing visitors to explore its quirky charm and intriguing history.
4. Will Rogers Memorial Museum
CELEBRATING OKLAHOMA'S FAVORITE SON
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum showcases the inspiring life of Oklahoma statesman Will Rogers through exhibits featuring art, documents, and artifacts detailing his multifaceted career as a trick roper, actor, and writer. Visitors can watch Rogers' films in the on-site theater where his movies play continuously throughout the day. The museum grounds also include Rogers' tomb, which is carved with his famous quote: 'I never met a man I didn't like.'
5. Round Barn
HISTORIC ROUTE 66 LANDMARK
The Round Barn in Arcadia is a wooden circular structure built in 1898 that stands as the only wooden round barn left in Oklahoma. Originally housing livestock and hay while doubling as a community center for dances, this architectural marvel predates Route 66 itself and has become one of the route's most recognizable landmarks. After falling into disrepair and suffering a roof collapse in 1988, the barn was fully restored by volunteers and now houses Route 66 memorabilia and a gift shop.
6. Price Tower
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT MASTERPIECE
Price Tower is a 19-level, 221-foot high skyscraper designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, notable for being the only skyscraper of Wright's design ever constructed. Originally commissioned as a corporate headquarters for Harold Price's oil company, the tower now houses the Price Tower Arts Center with various art exhibits and attractions. This architectural masterpiece represents one of only two vertically-oriented Wright buildings in existence worldwide.
7. Quartz Mountain State Park
DESERT MEETS LAKESIDE PARADISE
Quartz Mountain State Park offers a unique juxtaposition of desert-like landscapes with refreshing lakeside views in southwestern Oklahoma. Visitors can enjoy rock climbing on distinctive geological formations, boating and swimming in the lake, or simply relaxing along the shores. With over 100 campsites available within the park, it serves as an ideal destination for extended exploration of this beautiful natural setting.
8. Oklahoma History Center
STATE'S PAST COMES ALIVE
The Oklahoma History Center serves as the state's premier resource for exploring Oklahoma's rich and diverse historical heritage. The museum features extensive exhibits covering topics from Native American cultures to pioneer settlements, oil booms, and modern development. Interactive displays, artifacts, and multimedia presentations create an engaging experience that brings the state's past to life for visitors of all ages.
9. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
MOTHER ROAD MEMORABILIA
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum celebrates the iconic 'Mother Road' that played a crucial role in American transportation history and culture. Exhibits chronologically guide visitors through the decades of Route 66's heyday, showcasing vintage cars, historic photographs, and authentic memorabilia. The museum effectively captures the spirit and nostalgia of this legendary highway that connected Chicago to Los Angeles and passed through the heart of Oklahoma.
10. Honey Springs Battlefield
CIVIL WAR HISTORIC SITE
Honey Springs Battlefield preserves the site of the largest Civil War battle fought in Indian Territory on July 17, 1863. This significant engagement involved Native American soldiers fighting on both Union and Confederate sides, making it an important location for understanding the complex role of Indian Territory during the Civil War. Visitors can walk interpretive trails, view reconstructed features, and learn about this pivotal battle through exhibits that detail the strategies and outcomes of the conflict.
11. Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue
HONORING FRONTIER WOMEN
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue pays tribute to the strength and determination of the women who helped settle the American frontier. The 17-foot bronze statue, unveiled in 1930, depicts a confident pioneer woman walking forward with her son while looking toward the horizon. The accompanying museum features exhibits on women's experiences during the settlement period, highlighting their contributions to homesteading, education, medicine, and community building throughout Oklahoma's early history.
12. Sod House Museum
ORIGINAL PRAIRIE DWELLING
The Sod House Museum preserves the only remaining authentic sod house from Oklahoma's territorial period, built by homesteader Marshall McCully in 1894. This remarkable structure, constructed from prairie sod cut into blocks, stands as a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of early settlers who adapted to life on the treeless plains. Visitors can step inside this primitive dwelling to gain insight into the challenging living conditions faced by Oklahoma's pioneering families.
13. Philbrook Museum of Art
MANSION TURNED ART MUSEUM
The Philbrook Museum of Art is housed in an Italian Renaissance-style villa that was once the home of oil magnate Waite Phillips before being gifted to the city of Tulsa in 1938. The museum features an impressive collection spanning 5,000 years of art from around the world, including significant Native American, European, Asian, and contemporary pieces. Surrounding the museum are 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens that blend formal European designs with native Oklahoma terrain, creating a perfect harmony of art and nature.
14. Chickasaw Cultural Center
NATIVE HERITAGE CELEBRATED
The Chickasaw Cultural Center offers an immersive experience into the history, culture, and traditions of the Chickasaw Nation. Spanning 109 acres, this world-class facility features interactive exhibits, traditional village reconstructions, demonstration gardens, and the Chikasha Poya Exhibit Center with state-of-the-art displays. Visitors can participate in cultural demonstrations, sample traditional Chickasaw cuisine at the Aaimpa' Café, and enjoy performances that bring the rich heritage of this resilient Native American nation to life.
15. Cherokee Heritage Center
TRIBAL HISTORY PRESERVED
The Cherokee Heritage Center serves as the premier cultural center for Cherokee tribal history, featuring the Ancient Village that recreates Cherokee life in the 1700s before European contact. The center includes the National Museum of the Cherokee Indian, which houses significant artifacts and exhibits chronicling the tribe's journey from prehistoric times through the Trail of Tears to present day. Visitors can explore Diligwa, a recreated 1710 Cherokee village, where cultural demonstrations and interpretive programs offer authentic insights into traditional Cherokee lifeways.