Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Born in a Single Day!

Oklahoma City has one of the CRAZIEST founding stories ever! On April 22, 1889, the U.S. government opened this land for settlement in what's called the "Land Run." At noon, a gunshot fired, and THOUSANDS of people raced across the border on horses, wagons, and even bicycles to claim free land! By sunset, over 10,000 people had staked their claims, and Oklahoma City went from ZERO to 10,000 residents in a SINGLE DAY! Can you imagine?

Thunder Up!

Oklahoma City is OBSESSED with the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA basketball team! The Thunder play at the Paycom Center, and when the team is playing well, the ENTIRE city goes wild! The fans are some of the LOUDEST in the NBA - they even set a Guinness World Record for loudest crowd roar at an indoor sporting event at 130.4 decibels! That's as loud as a jet engine!

Cowboy Culture!

Oklahoma City is home to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum - one of the coolest museums dedicated to the American West! You can see REAL cowboy gear, Native American art, rodeo memorabilia, and learn about legendary cowboys and cowgirls. The museum even has a life-size replica of a Western town! Plus, OKC hosts rodeos where real cowboys compete in bull riding, barrel racing, and roping!

Oil Boom Town!

In 1928, workers discovered OIL right underneath Oklahoma City! Soon, oil derricks (tall drilling towers) popped up EVERYWHERE - even on the State Capitol grounds! At one point, there were oil wells in people's backyards, in parking lots, and even under buildings! Today, you can still see a working oil well on the State Capitol lawn. Oklahoma became one of America's top oil-producing states!

Oklahoma City Renaissance!

Oklahoma City has had an AMAZING transformation! In the 1990s, the city's residents voted to tax themselves to improve their city - they call it the MAPS program (Metropolitan Area Projects). With this money, they built a new arena, revitalized downtown, created a canal with water taxis (the Bricktown Canal!), built parks, and transformed OKC into a modern, exciting city! It worked - the city is now booming!

Route 66!

Oklahoma City sits right on the famous Route 66 - "The Mother Road!" This historic highway ran from Chicago to Los Angeles, and in the 1930s-1960s, it was THE way to drive across America! Today, you can still drive sections of original Route 66 through OKC and see vintage neon signs, classic diners, and roadside attractions. There's even a Route 66 Museum to celebrate this iconic road!

Tornado Alley!

Oklahoma City is located in "Tornado Alley" - an area that gets A LOT of tornadoes! Oklahoma experiences more tornadoes per square mile than almost anywhere on Earth! Because of this, the city has become a world center for tornado research. The National Weather Center in nearby Norman has scientists who study severe weather and help predict tornadoes to keep people safe!

Native American Heritage!

Oklahoma has a deep Native American heritage! The state name comes from the Choctaw words "okla" (people) and "humma" (red) - meaning "red people." In the 1830s, the U.S. government forced many Native American tribes to relocate to Oklahoma on the "Trail of Tears." Today, Oklahoma has 39 Native American tribal nations - more than almost any other state! You can visit the American Indian Cultural Center to learn about their rich history and traditions!

BBQ and Beyond!

Oklahoma City has an AMAZING food scene! The city is famous for its smoky BBQ, chicken-fried steak (a huge piece of beef, battered and fried like chicken!), fried onion burgers, and even a special "Oklahoma-style" barbecue. The city also has incredible international food from the many cultures that call OKC home, including amazing Vietnamese, Mexican, and Mediterranean restaurants!

The Unique State Capitol!

Oklahoma's State Capitol is the ONLY state capitol in the world with working oil wells on its grounds! The building itself is beautiful, and in 2002, they FINALLY added a dome on top (it was the only state capitol without one for nearly 90 years!). You can take tours and even see the oil well named "Petunia Number One" still pumping away on the lawn!

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