7 Must-Visit Museums in Oklahoma City (2024)

With countless tourist destinations, Oklahoma City is a renowned place for museums. It has been offering an array of options to choose from, to travel enthusiasts and will continue to do so. This city offers amazing museums that you should probably check out before planning your trip to Oklahoma City.

7 Must-Visit Museums in Oklahoma City

Some of the prominent museums to visit in Oklahoma City are mentioned below:

1. 45th Infantry Division Museum

Situated in north-eastern Oklahoma City, the 45th Infantry Division Museum is a short drive west on N.E. The 45th Division is the museum’s key focus, and Oklahoma’s army legacy is also memorialized there. A 15-acre yard for military vehicles is discovered by tourists. In the park, you can find more than 60 tanks, armored cars, planes, and artillery pieces on exhibit. These World War II vehicles as well as Patton tanks and artillery from the Cold War have been included.

Timings: Monday to Friday– 9 am to 4:15 pm; Saturday– 10 am to 4:15 pm; Sunday– 11 am to 4:15 pm.

2. American Banjo Museum

If you are a music enthusiast, then the Banjo Museum is an ideal spot for you to discover more about Music in Oklahoma city. Previously referred to as the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame, the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame honors individuals, bands, or businesses who have made noteworthy contributions to banjo performances, learning, production, and banjo publicity. The American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, houses the hall of fame. The American Banjo Museum, which replaced the National Four-String Banjo Hall of Fame Museum in 2009, began to broaden its scope to include all banjos.

Timings: Monday– closed; Tuesday to Saturday– 11 am to 6 pm; Sunday– 12 pm-5 pm.

3. Science Museum Oklahoma

Oklahoma City stores something for everyone, if you are someone who is interested in technology, then the Science Museum would suit your wish. This is a scientific museum called Science Museum Oklahoma. The museum is host to the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, and several professional exhibits. The building is one of the biggest science museums in the country with a total square footage of about 390,000. It was founded in 1958 as the Kirkpatrick Planetarium and underwent significant expansions in 1980, 1985, 2000, and 2007.

Timings: 9 am-5 pm; Saturday– 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday– 11 am to 6 pm.

4. National Softball Hall of Fame

Situated in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District is a softball museum called the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum. It contains amazing stadiums that would interest each one of you even if you are not a sports person, it includes the Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium, site of the biennial Women’s College World Series and the World Cup of Softball.

Timings: Monday to Friday– 9 am to 6 pm; Saturday and Sunday– 10 am to 4 pm

5. The American Pigeon Museum and Library

The greatest collection of racing and elegant pigeon memorabilia in North America is kept at the American Pigeon Museum & Library in Oklahoma City. Here you can discover about many different pigeon species, racing and homing pigeons, and the fascinating history related to pigeons, including their employment in the military, by visiting the World of Wings Pigeon Museum. This museum houses a sizable collection of vintage pigeon gear, including transporters, letter holders, bands, trophies, plaques, artworks, and photos. It also has a collection of gear used by the army pigeon corps during World Wars I and II. The American Pigeon Museum & Library is situated on beautiful grounds next to Deep Fork Creek. Don’t miss the residential gardens with a plethora of trees, shrubs, and blooms, as well as the live pigeon exhibitions, pigeon chambers, and gardens.

Timings: Monday to Thursday– Closed; Friday– 1 pm-5 pm; Saturday– 10 am to 4 pm; Sunday– 11 am to 3 pm.

6. Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum

The Oklahoma State Firefighters Association owns and runs the museum recognized as the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum. The museum, which is housed at N.E. 50th Street in Oklahoma City, is supported by the membership fees collected from more than 8,000 firemen. The museum is solely dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of vintage firefighting equipment and machinery. It houses the oldest fire station constructed in Oklahoma Territory, going back to 1864, as well as a fascinating collection of vintage equipment that dates to the middle of the 18th century. There are many objects on display from Benjamin Franklin’s oldest fire brigade in the country. The largest patch collection in the world as well as the iconic mural The Last Alarm are also on display.

Timings: Monday to Saturday– 9 am to 4:30 pm; Sunday– 1 pm to 4:30 pm.

7. First Americans Museums and its Collection

Here you will have the opportunity to learn about the combined history of 39 unique First American Nations in one location. The First Americans Museum (FAM) will showcase the First Americans’ rich cultural diversity, traditions, and accomplishments. FAM is located across from the city center along the Oklahoma River. Modern exhibits on First American history, heritage, and art pieces are featured in the 175,000 square foot museum, along with live public and educational programs, a family discovery center with engaging activities for kids, a full-service eatery cuisine with a Native American influence, and a museum store with genuine, one-of-a-kind artisan crafted goods made by top First American artists.

Timings: Monday to Friday– 10 am to 5 pm; Tuesday– closed; Saturday and Sunday– 11 am to 5 pm.

8. Porcelain Art Museum

The World Organization of China Painters has its head offices in this museum in Oklahoma City. The center houses a magnificent collection of hand-painted China from all over the world, as well as a library database and classrooms where students can learn how to paint China.

Timings: Monday to Thursday– 8 am to 4 pm; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday– Closed.

9. Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum

Located in the downtown of the city, the Oklahoma City National Memorial is a monument in the United States that remembers those who died as a result of the bombing in the Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, as well as those who were injured. The place was also formally added to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service employs workers to assist in interpreting the memorial for tourists while the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation oversees its administration. Don’t forget to set aside time to stroll to this lovely museum, which displays the legacy of those who perished in the explosion.

Timings: Monday to Saturday– 9 am-5 pm; Sunday– 12 pm to 5 pm.

10. Oklahoma History Center

The Oklahoma History Center has incredible stories about Oklahoma. The 18-acre (7-hectare) grounds of the museum, which is run by the Oklahoma Historical Society, provide a comprehensive view of the region’s rich and varied past. Discover Oklahoma’s historical, economic, environmental, and political background by pursuing several galleries, special exhibits, and outdoor spaces. Here you get to know about the state’s everlasting emblems and myths, including tales of the Wild West and artistic achievements, in the Inasmuch Foundation Gallery, which is located on the first floor of the center. At the ONEOK Gallery, you may see artwork from each of Oklahoma’s 39 American Indian cultures. Learn more about the Native American nations’ ancestral territories in the state.

Timings: Monday to Saturday– 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday– closed.

11. National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum

At the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, the characters, customs, and history of the American West are preserved for future millennia. The museum, which was founded as a Western art gallery and cowboy hall of fame, today features a variety of antiques, records, and interactive displays. Learn about the traditional traditions and artifacts from the pioneer era that depict the American West.

You will discover the historical exhibits at the museum, which offer travelers of all ages an appreciation of the history of the American West. The American Rodeo Gallery highlights the thrilling local sport of the area, while the American Cowboy Gallery highlights ranching and working cowboy history. The Weitzenhoffer Gallery of Fine American Firearms features a large stash of vintage guns.

Timings: Monday to Friday– 9 am-5 pm; Saturday– 9 am to 6 pm; Sunday– 11 am to 6 pm.

12. OKC Rattlesnake Venom Museum

In Historic Stockyards City, you should certainly pay a visit to the OKC Rattlesnake Museum to see poisonous snakes inside glasses. This Oklahoma City Museum welcomes visitors of all ages to get a close-up view of deadly rattlesnakes’ native to Oklahoma as well as those from other parts of the country. This free neighborhood rattlesnake attraction features various exhibitions, including the Giant Snakes of the World and venomous reptiles, spiders, centipedes, and scorpions as well as non-venomous reptiles, and deadly reptiles from around the U.S. and the world could be found here.

Timings: Sunday to Saturday– 10 am to 4 pm.