[2025 Oklahoma City Attraction] Travel Guide for National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (Updated May)

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is an interesting location, celebrating a unique era and time of the Old West. It’s one of the best and most famous places to visit in Oklahoma, especially for those who love the aesthetic, history, or culture of the days and places where cowboys roamed the land! Why is the museum here? Well, the state played a significant role in some big events in cowboy history, especially during the 1889 Oklahoma Land Run, when thousands of homesteaders lined up surrounding Purcell, a frontier town, to lay claim to one of the thousands of 160-acre land plants across 1,887,796 acres of unoccupied land. The land was ceded by Native American tribes to the state government after the Civil War and was the remnants of the west’s most desirable land for real estate. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum opened in Persimmon Hill in 1955 and looks out over the many lands claimed during the Land Run, which was the first of five that would occur in the state over the next 16 years. The entrance of the museum boasts an impressive piece of Western art and one of the world’s most iconic: “End of the Trail”, a plaster-cast reaching 18 feet into the air, created by James Earle Frazer. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum houses multiple galleries of sculptures and paintings. The Art of the American West Gallery is probably one of the most loved, featuring works by Gerald Balcair, Albert Bierstadt, Charles M. Russel, and William R. Leigh among its 2,000. Then there’s the American Cowboy Gallery, which exhibits artifacts, clothing items, accessories, and more in glass cases, telling the tale of cowboy history. There are even dioramas up to full-scale of scenes from the West! Lastly, Prosperity Junction is a replica cattle town from the turn of the century. Though its beginnings were humble as little more than an American cowboy hall of fame, today the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is one of the foremost collections of Western art and culture. If you’re an artist, you can use the museum’s galleries to sketch! Address: 1700 NE 63rd St, Oklahoma City, OK 73111, United States

#travellerswonderland A true gem of Oklahoma City, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum transports visitors back to the days of the Old West. As a #TravellersWonderland for history buffs, this museum houses one of the most comprehensive collections of Western art, artifacts, and exhibits, capturing the essence of the American frontier. The museum’s galleries feature works from renowned Western artists, including Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, whose paintings and sculptures bring to life the rugged landscapes, cowboy culture, and Native American history of the West. Visitors can explore exhibits that showcase everything from cowboy gear and Native American artifacts to Hollywood Western movie memorabilia. One of the highlights of the museum is the recreated Prosperity Junction, a life-size turn-of-the-century Western town complete with a saloon, general store, and blacksmith shop. This immersive experience allows visitors to step back in time and get a feel for what life was like in the American West. Throughout the year, the museum hosts a variety of events, including rodeos, art shows, and festivals, making it a lively and ever-changing destination. Whether you’re passionate about art, history, or cowboy culture, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a place where the spirit of the West comes alive.

It was a short weekend trip to Oklahoma City, USA. Just to share some of my favorite places 🥰 We began our visit at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, a profoundly moving tribute to the victims, survivors, and rescuers of the 1995 bombing. Walking through the outdoor memorial and exploring the museum’s exhibits was a powerful experience we highly recommend. 💰$15 per adult 📍620 N Harvey Ave For lunch, we headed to Kitchen No. 324, a chic café known for its comfort food with a modern twist. We tried the buttermilk fried chicken pot pie and it was delicious! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💰$15-20 per person 📍324 N Robinson Ave After lunch, we explored the vibrant Bricktown district. We took a leisurely ride on the Bricktown Water Taxi, which offered a fun way to see the area’s murals and landmarks. We also visited the American Banjo Museum. It was surprisingly interesting and full of unique musical history! 💰$13 for Water Taxi 💰$8 for Banjo Museum 📍111 S Mickey Mantle Dr For dinner, we visited the iconic Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, a legendary spot in the historic Stockyards City. We would definitely recommend their ribeye steak, cooked to perfection 🙌🙌🙌 💰$30-40 per person 📍1309 S Agnew Ave On the next morning, we explored the beautiful Myriad Botanical Gardens, a lush oasis in the heart of the city. We particularly loved the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory with its stunning array of exotic plants 🪴 💰$10 for the Conservatory 📍301 W Reno Ave For lunch, we stopped at Tucker’s Onion Burgers 🍔Their onion burgers, a local specialty, were juicy and flavorful. I’d highly recommend pairing it with their fresh-cut fries 🍟 💰$10-15 per person 📍324 NW 23rd St In the afternoon, we visited the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, a fascinating place that captures the spirit of the American West. We enjoyed exploring the vast collection of Western art, artifacts, and the replica of an old Western town. 💰$15 per adult 📍1700 NE 63rd St For our final dinner, we dined at Cheever’s Cafe, a favorite among locals. The chicken fried steak, served with jalapeño cream gravy, was one of the best we’ve ever tasted, a real Oklahoma classic. 💰 $25-30 per person 📍2409 N Hudson Ave We had an incredible time in Oklahoma City 🙌 #weekendgetaways #trip #Vacation