Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City was founded in 1889. When Oklahoma was admitted to the United States in 1907, Oklahoma City became the state's capital, taking over from Guthrie, which had been the territorial capital up to that time.

Nowadays, Oklahoma City is the largest city in Oklahoma. The city's economy largely depends on oil, natural gas and petroleum industry.

Points of interest

Bricktown used to be a warehouse district that was originally built in 1898. The warehouses have been restored and were converted to house entertainment venues. It is located just east from the city center. Bricktown is bounded by the Oklahoma River on the south, the I-235 on the east, the Deep Deuce District to the north and the Oklahoma City Central Business District to the west.
The Devon Energy Center is also known as the Devon Tower. The skyscraper was completed in 2012 and it has 50 storeys and it is 257 m (844 ft) tall, making it the tallest building in Oklahoma. The building is located at 333 W Sheridan Avenue.
The Montgomery Ward Building was built in Art Deco style in 1929. It has housed the Montgomery Ward Department Store until 1966. Nowadays, it is an apartment building.
The Oklahoma City National Memorial is located on the site, where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building used to stand. It was erected to commemorate the victims, survivors, rescuers and all other people, who were affected by the Oklahoma City bombing on April 19, 1995. The memorial was completed in 2000.
The Oklahoma Convention Center.
The Oklahoma State Capitol was built between 1914 and 1917. In 1952, an earthquake caused some damage to the building. The Capitol was expanded in 2001-2002. It is located at 2300 North Lincoln Boulevard, at its intersection with 22nd Street.
The Paycom Center is a sports arena that opened in 2002.
The Skydance Bridge was built in 2011-2012. The pedestrian bridge was built to cross the I-40. In 2019, its wooden deck was replaced with a fiberglass version.
The Oklahoma City Farmers Market is one of the world's largest livestock markets.

Museums

The American Banjo Museum was founded in 1998. It was originally located in Guthrie, but in 2009, the collection was moved to Oklahoma City. The museum exhibits a large amount of banjos, as well as related items. It is located at 9 East Sheridan Avenue.
The First Americans Museum (FAM) opened in 2021. It is dedicated to the region's indigenous inhabitants. The museum is located along the Oklahoma River.
The Museum of Osteology was established in 2010. It is dedicated to osteology, which is the study of bones and skeletons. The museum has a collection of more than 7,000 skeletons, some 450 of which are on display, including human skeletons.
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum houses a collection of over 28,000 works of Western and Native American art, as well as other artefacts. The museum opened to the public in 1965.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art (OKCMOA) was established in 1945. The museum is housed in the Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center. It features rotating exhibitions, as well as the world's largest collection of Chihuly glass.
The Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center opened in 1989. In 2020, it was moved into its current location at 11 NW 11th Street.
The Oklahoma History Center (OHC) opened in 2005. The museum exhibits the history of regional indigenous tribes, images from Oklahoma, historic artefacts and indigenous art smongst others. The museum is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive.
The Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum opened in 1969. One of the museum's highlights is Oklahoma's first fire station, which was moved into the building. The museum is located at 2716 N.E. 50th Street.
The Science Museum Oklahoma was established in 1958. In 1962, it moved to its current location. The building was ecxpanded in 1980, 1985, 2000 and 2007.

Theaters

The Civic Center Music Hall opened in 1937. The performing arts center includes the Thelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theater, the Freede Little Theater, CitySpace, the Meinders Hall of Mirrors and the Joel Levine Rehearsal Hall. The largest venue can seat 2,477 spectators. The arts center is located at 201 North Walker Avenue.
The Criterion opened in 2016. The venue has a capacity of 3,000 people. It is located in the district of Bricktown.
The Jewel Box Theater.
The Jones Assembly is a 1,600-seat venue, located in the city's historic Film Row district.
The Kirkpatrick Auditorium.
The Lyric Theater.
The Oklahoma City Community College Bruce Owen Theater.
The Petree Recital Hall is located at the Oklahoma City University campus. It can seat an audience of 488 people.
The Poteet Theater.
The Tower Theater dates from 1937. It is located at 23rd Street.

Parks and recreational areas

Martin Park Nature Center is located in the northwest Oklahoma City.
The Myriad Botanical Gardens measures 6.1 ha (15 acres). The botanical gardenis located in downtown Oklahoma. The botanical gardens features indoor and outdoor areas. It also includes the Crystal Bridge, which is a huge greenhouse that features an indoor swamp.
The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden originally opened as the Wheeler Park Zoo in 1902. In 1920, it was renamed Lincoln Park Zoo. It is located in the Adventure District at the crossroads of I-35 and I-44, in the vicinity of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and the Science Museum Oklahoma.
Remington Park comprises a horse racing track and a casino. It was built in 1988 and it is located in the Adventure District at the crossroads of I-35 and I-44.
Scissortail Park was laid out in 2019. The park features a large lake, where paddleboats can be rented, as well as several sport facilities. Scissortail park is located just south of the Myriad Gardens.
The Stars and Stripes Park is located on the eastern shore area of Lake Hefner.
The Will Rogers Gardens was laid out in the 1930s. The park includes the Charles E. Sparks Rose Garden, an arboretum, a butterfly garden and a conservatory, where you can see a collection of cacti and succulent.
Numerous walking and biking trails line the Bricktown Canal and the Oklahoma River.

There are numerous hotels, bars, cafés and restaurants in Oklahoma city. The city came into the news in 1995, when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed. 168 people died in the event. Oklahoma City has excellent road connections with the rest of the United States.

Oklahoma City is located in central Oklahoma, some 1,900 km southwest from Washington D.C.

Images

Oklahoma City ©Gerson Repreza
Oklahoma City ©Gerson Repreza

Oklahoma Capitol ©Oklahoma Legislative Services Bureau
Oklahoma Capitol ©Oklahoma Legislative Services Bureau