Chickasaw Cultural Center

The Chickasaw Cultural Center, located in south-central Oklahoma in the heart of the Chickasaw Nation, is a world-class museum complex devoted to the celebration of Chickasaw history and culture.  Using modern technology and richly theatrical environments, the Chickasaw Cultural Center will immerse visitors in the vibrant, ongoing story of the Chickasaws.  Located on 109 acres of rolling hills, woodlands and streams adjacent to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area near Sulphur, this museum complex features more than 96,000 sq ft of indoor space, including an exhibit center, the Holisso Research Center and a large-format theatre.  An amphitheater, sky terrace, traditional village and several water features are also featured on the grounds of the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center, located in south-central Oklahoma in the heart of the Chickasaw Nation, is a world-class museum complex devoted to the celebration of Chickasaw history and culture.  Using modern technology and richly theatrical environments, the Chickasaw Cultural Center will immerse visitors in the vibrant, ongoing story of the Chickasaws.  Located on 109 acres of rolling hills, woodlands and streams adjacent to the Chickasaw National Recreation Area near Sulphur, this museum complex features more than 96,000 sq ft of indoor space, including an exhibit center, the Holisso Research Center and a large-format theatre.  An amphitheater, sky terrace, traditional village and several water features are also featured on the grounds of the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

Begin your journey in the Chikasha Poya Exhibit Center, where guests are invited to experience a 20-minute HD film in an orientation theater designed to resemble an 18th century, 1,200 sq ft council house.  As the film comes to close, the screen rises and visitors walk beneath a rock ledge and over a stream to the Spirit Forest, an interactive exhibit featuring native plants, animals, 60 sensors and 176 theatrical lights.  Exhibits on ancient ancestors, mounds and artifacts and the separation of the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations are continued in separate galleries. 

Visitors will experience the removal of the Chickasaws to Indian Territory in a long corridor lined with sculptures of animals, people and vehicles.  Changes in light stimulate the changing seasons and recreate a moment in time during removal.  Text, photos and objects pertaining to pre-allotment and allotment periods will be interspersed throughout the exhibit galleries.  A variety of language learning stations are also featured, as well as a stomp dance gallery featuring holograms and a glowing campfire.

Visit the large-format Anoli' Theater and witness the story of the Chickasaws unfold on a 40' x 60' screen, or make your way to the Aaimpa Cafe for menu items inspired by traditional Chickasaw fare, such as pashofa, grape dumplings and Indian fry bread.  Venture outside and explore demonstration gardens and an educational village featuring a number of traditional Chickasaw dwellings.  Throughout the Chickasaw Cultural Center, visitors will be encouraged to explore important aspects of Chickasaw life, including nature, spirituality, family, learning and law through a variety of exhibits as well as human storytellers and guides.