An 1896 Cheyenne encampment in El Reno, Oklahoma Territory.
Photo by: Christopher Stotz (Courtesy of Oklahoma Historical Society)

History and Historical Sites

From Indian heritage and Viking explorers to land runs and oil booms, Oklahoma has a history unlike any other state. Historical sites throughout the State honor Oklahoma's original residents, settlers and a wide variety of history making people and events.

Connect with the past at a living history event, while you watch re-enactments on Civil War battlefields, learn traditional crafts or meet re-enactors playing fur traders who lived in Oklahoma long before settlers moved in. Attend a powwow to experience the pageantry and fellowship among our Native peoples as they gather to celebrate traditions and hold dance competitions.

Visit the Washita Battlefield National Monument to learn the history surrounding Custer's surprise attack on the peaceful Southern Cheyenne village of Chief Black Kettle and then walk along the shores of the Washita River where the massacre took place. Trek to the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center to discover the rich history of the famous cattle trail that spanned Oklahoma, or see the last standing original sod house on the prairies of Oklahoma and learn more about pioneer life at the Sod House Museum.

From oil barons to cowboys, the rich heritage of Oklahoma offers one fascinating journey after another for history buffs.

 
Historical Maps

History and Historical Sites Listings


History and Historical Sites Articles

You have an inkling that your relatives may have lived through the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma and you’d like to learn more, but where do you start? We’ll point you to the top places in Oklahoma to research Dust Bowl era ancestors. read more

More than 90 Native American attractions, museums and shopping destinations await you in Oklahoma. As you explore them, you’ll learn about Native American people, their past, present and future. read more

Journey deep into the heart of southwest Oklahoma for an earthy mix of Oklahoma kitsch, American Indian and Western history and nature's pageantry. read more

A journey along the Choctaw and Chickasaw Heritage Corridor explores poignant tales of chaos and change, survival and triumph, in the history of two American Indian nations. read more

The only activity that just might be better than travel is time travel, and during Oklahoma summers, you can beat the heat by hopping through history… all without leaving your own familiar space and time. read more

Travel to a time when Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps construction projects infused Oklahoma communities with optimism for the future. read more




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