What is a Landmark?
Art museums, ancient Indian cabins, battlefields and state parks: all that and more await in Oklahoma, also known as the Sooner State. We’ve gathered some of the most important and iconic natural, historic, and cultural landmarks to put on your list for your next visit.
What are Some Famous Landmarks in Oklahoma?
1. Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center
2. Cherokee National Capitol
3. Chickasaw National Recreation Area
4. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
5. Honey Springs Battlefield
6. Sequoyah’s Cabin
7. Philbrook Museum of Art
8. Boston Avenue United Methodist Church
9. Price Tower
10. Quartz Mountain State Park
Oklahoma Landmarks
Here are ten absolutely unmissable landmarks in the state of Oklahoma!
1. Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center
With its dramatic rock formations, towering mountains, vibrant evergreen forests and waterside views, there’s a reason that Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center is one of the most commonly visited natural landscapes in all of Oklahoma — and one of the most iconic landmarks for any road trip through the state. The park’s 26-mile David Boren Trail makes for excellent hiking and biking opportunities (and a four-mile stretch of it is also open to equestrian traffic), and the park also includes a full-sized 18-hole golf course. The on-site nature center offers unique and entertaining programs and events such as arts and crafts classes and nature films. Plus, you can camp right there on-site, whether you’re traveling by RV or car camping!
Things to do near Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center: Located in the lush southeastern corner of the state, Beavers Bend State Park and Nature Center is surrounded by plenty of beautiful natural landscapes to explore, such as the McCurtain County Game Reserve. It’s also within easy reach of the urban conveniences of Broken Bow and Idabel; here are some nearby RVshare vehicles to consider for your adventure.
2. Cherokee National Capitol
Also known as the Cherokee National Courthouse, the Cherokee National Capitol was first completed in 1869 and served as the capitol building for the Cherokee Nation from that year through 1907, which was when Oklahoma achieved official statehood. Today it’s the site of the Cherokee nation’s supreme court and judicial branch of government, but this important site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1966 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. Along with its historical and cultural cache, the brick building is also simply a stately artifact of the 19th and 20th centuries to admire.
Things to do near the Cherokee National Capitol: Located in the town of Park Hill just a few miles south of Tahlequah, the Cherokee National Capitol is within easy driving distance of the Cherokee State Game Refuge and the Cookson Hills State Game Refuge. Here are some local RVshare rentals to look into.
3. Chickasaw National Recreation Area
Tucked into the scenic foothills of the Arbuckle Mountains, the Chickasaw National Recreation Area spans nearly 10,000 sweeping acres, and includes the lands once known as Platt National Park and Arbuckle Recreation Area. The wilderness was named in honor of the Cherokee Native Americans who lived here before they were relocated by white people in the 1800s, and who also sold more than 600 acres of this land to the federal government thereafter. Today the park is known not only for its historical legacy and story but also for the stunning array of outdoor recreation opportunities it offers.
Things to do near the Chickasaw National Recreation Area: Located in south-central Oklahoma just outside of the city of Sulphur, this Recreation Area is within easy driving distance of the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Murray State Park, amongst other destinations. Here are some local RVshare rental options.
4. Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
Many of us remember where we were when the news of the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995 began to roll in. The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is a site set aside to commemorate and honor the lives of those who were lost in that terrorist attack, as well as survivors, rescuers, and others who were affected. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places the same day it was opened back in October of 1997, the museum was formally dedicated on the fifth anniversary of the bombing in the year 2000. While the memorial and museum have many interesting features, one of the most iconic and inspiring is the Survivor Tree, an American elm located on the north side of the memorial which sustained serious damage during the attack, but nonetheless survived.
Things to do near the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum: Nestled in the heart of Oklahoma City right between downtown and midtown, this destination is very close to other area must-visits like the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and the Oklahoma Museum of Telephone History. Plus, there are some great RV campgrounds in the area… and some wonderful local RVshare vehicles to bring to them!
5. Honey Springs Battlefield
Otherwise known as the Affair at Elk Creek, the Battle of Honey Springs took place on July 17, 1863, marking an important victory for the Union forces in their quest to gain control of Indian Territory. It was a unique battle in the Civil War for a number of reasons: firstly, it was the largest skirmish in what would later become the state of Oklahoma, and secondly, on both sides, white men represented the minority of participants. Native Americans fought on both sides, and African American combatants aided the Union forces. Today, this battlefield is both listed on the National Register of Historic Places and listed as a National Historic Landmark.
Things to do near Honey Springs Battlefield: Although it’s located in what might feel like the middle of nowhere, Honey Springs Battlefield is actually a very short drive from the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame in nearby Rentiesville, as well as Lake Eufaula State Park, Greenleaf State Park and other wildernesses. It’s also only about an hour from Tulsa! Here are some nearby RVshare rentals to consider exploring the area with.
6. Sequoyah’s Cabin
You may not have heard of Sequoyah, a Native American who lived in this cabin in the early 1800s — but you should have! Sequoyah was responsible for creating the written language of the Cherokee people, creating a Cherokee syllabary that is still in use today. Sequoyah’s Cabin was built in 1929 and housed Sequoyah while he was teaching his written language system to Cherokees who lived in the western reaches of the territory, and was then acquired by the Oklahoma Historical Society in 1936. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966 and considered a National Historic Landmark since 1965, this one’s certainly an important spot to put onto your list of must-sees in Oklahoma.
Things to do near Sequoyah’s Cabin: Located outside of the small town of Atkins close to the border of Oklahoma and Arkansas, it would be fair to say this landmark is quite remote… though it’s still less than two hours from Tulsa. Here are some RV campgrounds in the greater Tulsa area as well as some local RVshare rentals to consider.
7. Philbrook Museum of Art
Waite Phillips — and his wife Genevieve, who shared this space with him as a home when they were alive — was not an artist. Rather, he was an oil pioneer. But the big money brought in by that business gave him the leverage to be the philanthropist, which is how today his 1920s villa is home to this expansive and important art collection, which focuses on Native American art and artisan items like basketry, pottery, and jewelry. The Philbrook Museum of Art was first opened in 1939 and also began offering studio art classes in 1940, though today the space is more focused on display with certain community events such as lectures and curator tours. Be sure to take a walk around one of the museum’s well-manicured gardens as well as enjoying its interior attractions.
Things to do near the Philbrook Museum of Art: Located in Tulsa proper, the Philbrook is nearby to the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum, Gathering Place riverfront park, and Woodward Park, which features a Victorian conservatory and arboretum. Here are some great campgrounds in the area, as well as nearby RVshare rentals.
8. Boston Avenue United Methodist Church
Don’t let its name fool you: the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church is located in none other than the thriving city of Tulsa, and cuts an imposing and iconic figure against the city skyline. Dating back to 1929, this building offers a stunning example of art deco architecture and also features striking interior details. Uniquely, the structure was designed by Adah Robinson, an art teacher at Tulsa’s Central High School, and Bruce Goff, a former student of Robinson’s who also designed her home and studio. It is also a functioning house of worship today.
Things to do near the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church: Another Tulsa landmark, this church is located in a district of the town where many churches exist, such as the Holy Family Cathedral and the First Christian Church. Need to get out of town for a while? Check out nearby Keystone State Park or these area RV campgrounds — and some great local RV rentals to take to them.
9. Price Tower
A landmark tower measuring nineteen levels and 221 feet high, this skyscraper was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and was built to the specifications of his design in 1956. It’s the only skyscraper of Wright’s design ever brought to fruition, and one of only two existent vertically-oriented Wright buildings in the world — the other being the S.C. Johnson Wax Research Tower in Racine, Wisconsin. The tower was commissioned by Harold Price as a corporate headquarters for his oil company, and today is part of the series of art exhibits and tourist attractions hosted by Price Tower Arts Center. You can visit, stay, and dine on-site, all within easy reach of the other attractions of downtown Bartlesville.
Things to do near Price Tower: If you visit this landmark, you’ll surely want to pay a quick visit to the nearby Phillips Petroleum Company Museum — since this company did take ownership of the tower in the 1980s. An easy day’s drive north of Tulsa, this area is also close to Osage Hills State Park. Here are some local RVshare rentals.
10. Quartz Mountain State Park
Last but not least, we journey west into the more desert-like areas of Oklahoma to get to Quartz Mountain State Park — whose cactus-studded landscapes and refreshing lakeside views are something of an oasis. While rock climbers take to the unique geological formations that characterize the area and boaters take to the lake for paddling or plain old swimming, many others simply enjoy languishing along the shores and enjoying the sunshine, shade, and beautiful views that juxtapose desert landscapes with waterfront relaxation. (Bonus tip: be sure to stay up one night to go stargazing. This place has great dark skies!)
Things to do near Quartz Mountain State Park: This southwestern Oklahoma location is only a short trip from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, and other resources can be found in area communities like Magnum and Altus. Here are some nearby RVshare rentals to consider.
Planning an RV Trip to Oklahoma
An RV trip is the perfect way to see all the incredible landmarks Oklahoma has to offer — and we’ve got you covered on all the details you need to make it happen!
For starters, here are some of the best rental RVs in the state of Oklahoma, as well as the best state parks and campgrounds (as well as campgrounds around Tulsa and Oklahoma City, specifically). We’ve also penned guides to the state’s biggest cities: Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Edmond.
Enjoy your trip — we can’t wait to hear all about it!
