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Discovering Oklahoma |
I’m lucky. My mom was born in northwest Oklahoma, so I feel like I’ve always known about the cool things to do in that part of the state. If my family wasn’t from there, I don’t know if I ever would have ventured that way. I’m glad things are the way they are!
One of the cool little secrets of northwest Oklahoma is the artesian well near Cherokee, in Alfalfa County.
I’ve always had an interest in the American Civil War.
There’s so much fascinating history there. The figure of Abraham Lincoln…the freeing of the slaves…Gone with the Wind and Lee and Grant and Confederate money not worth the paper it was printed on. Brother against brother. Since I was a kid I’ve always wanted to know more. I also always wanted to see a battle reenactment, but I knew I’d have to go to the “real” south to see one. This is Oklahoma. We’re barely the south.
Then I learned about the Battle of Honey Springs, which took place near present-day Rentiesville.
We recently visited the little town of Henryetta, and made a stop at their Territorial Museum. We’d been to Henryetta before – it’s a halfway point to our relatives’ home – but I didn’t know they had anything more than an impressive Troy Aikman display at the local McDonald’s.
From the outside, the Territorial Museum is absolutely adorable. it’s in a old schoolhouse, and looks so small its hard to imagine there’s much museum inside. But the historical society has definitely figured out how to put a lot in a little.
I have always loved Oklahoma history and interesting places. I was a teenager when I ordered my first free Oklahoma Travel Guide and starting planning small trips around our home. My dad took a state map, drew a large circle around our town, and told me we could visit anywhere within the circle. It was a good size for a one-day excursion, but we never got to visit one of the most fascinating sites I knew of – the Heavener Runestone State Park.
The parkwas built to surround the Heavener Runestone – a large stone inscribed with what many believe is proof of Vikings in early Oklahoma. A definitive origin for the markings has been disputed, but it was intriguing enough for me to want to visit. Other rocks with similar markings have also been found, and those stones (or replicas) are also on display.
We took the Talimena Scenic Drive last weekend. I can see why this is such a popular drive.
The weather was changing when we drove, and a cold front came through, but we still got a good look at the changing leaves before fog rolled in.
We started in Talimena, and visited the rest stop there and got some pictures.
Every year, there’s a lot of haunted houses around Halloween. I used to work at the one in Bricktown. I’ve been to the one at Frontier City a couple of times. But I think my favorite one is hidden in the little town of Bridge Creek.
When I was a kid, it seemed like there were butterflies everywhere. White ones, yellow ones, spotted ones…and the monarchs. I loved to get one to sit on my finger, the wings slowly opening and closing until it few away.
I don’t think I see as many butterflies anymore – and definitely not as many monarchs.
You can see them again in an historic rural Oklahoma area though.
In between the towns of Washington and Cole, in McClain County, sits a building marking the Jerusalem Community Heritage Center and Park. It marks a former black community. Many residents moved away around World War II. Recently, people who live nearby decided to clean up the area, which includes an old cemetery and historical markers.
Did you know that the town of Blanchard has a splash park?
I might not know if I didn’t live near it.
We’ve been to others, and we’ve been to bigger, but I sure like this one.
Do you know Cactus Jack’s?
I didn’t until I was looking for something different for my daughter’s birthday. She was turning 12, and I wanted something fun that wouldn’t break the bank. I found out that I really like Cactus Jack’s.
I took my eldest to a 4-H summer sewing camp in Chickasha.
Now Chickasha is just far enough from me that it didn’t make sense to go home. The camp was four hours long. I had two smallish kids with me.
One day it rained. We hit the library. Now, it was all right, but I’ve been spoiled by our favorite library, at Mustang, and so the kids area didn’t last us nearly long enough at Chickasha.
Then we headed for the parks.
