7 Timeless Towns In Oklahoma

Oklahoma, just above Texas, is a US state long considered one of the defining spaces of the American West. A member of the Union only since 1907, this former territory has gifted the United States, and indeed the world, with visions of cowboys, Native Americans, and the gritty spirit of the frontier. Beyond the state's larger cities, like the capital, Oklahoma City, or northeastern Tulsa, Oklahoma's abundance of smaller towns, which can seem stuck in a bygone era, make a compelling reason to visit the state. These seven towns showcase the history of the modern day, proving that Oklahoma looks to the future even as it honors its past.

Claremore

Claremore, population 20,400, awaits the western-loving visitor in the state's northeast. The town's historic district, which mostly developed after the town's incorporation date of 1883, sits proudly on the US National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Among the architectural draws, the historic zone includes the Belvidere Mansion, which was built in 1907 and features on the NRHP. The Lilac District, a popular going-out zone, brings past and present attractions into one destination.

Claremore is similarly famous as the hometown of cowboy icon Will Rogers, the mid-20th-century actor, musician, and figurehead of the American West. Visitors can learn more about his life and what he means to Oklahomans at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Beyond Rogers, Claremore's legacy as a source of entertainment inspiration also stems from the classic Broadway musical comedy Oklahoma!, which is set in Claremore and based on a 1931 stage production by the playwright Lynn Riggs, another native son of Claremore.

Eufaula

Eufaula, a hamlet of 2,800 souls, spreads along the banks of Eufaula Lake, halfway between Oklahoma City and the Arkansas state line. The town owes its one-of-a-kind name to the Native American tribe called Eufaula, who once inhabited the region. Like in Claremore, the town's expansive old town enjoys a place on the NRHP.

After a day on the lake, travelers can catch their breath, and a delicious meal, in Eufaula's slate of dining options, which lean mostly to American cuisine. Hangin 8 BBQ offers the kind of smoked brisket for which the American Southwest is famous. The Too-Sha Chicken and Fish House offers... well, the name says it all. For a sense of the region's history, head to the Lake Eufaula Multicultural Center, which illustrates Native American stories from the Creek, Choctaw, Cherokee, and other tribes. The site also describes how the lake became the state's largest among man-made waterways — and how the center itself offers a key boost to southwest Oklahoma's educational offerings for schools across the region.

Guthrie

North-central Guthrie, with 11,400 people, sits north of Oklahoma City. Guthrie's setting by the Cimarron River allows for warm-weather refreshment for vacationers of all ages. Highland Park, an expanse covering more than 40 acres, offers a fountain and pond with trails for walking, and even a course for disc golf enthusiasts.

For a touch of local culture, check out Guthrie's historic Pollard Theatre, built in 1901, which speaks to local history through its annual production, "A Territorial Christmas Carol," each holiday season. (Guthrie calls itself the 'Christmas Capital of Oklahoma.') The town also abounds in art and handicrafts, like those at the G Gallery & Glass Studio downtown. And did you know? Guthrie served as Oklahoma's first capital from 1907-1910.

Stillwater

Stillwater, at 49,500 residents, stands among Oklahoma's larger timeless towns. The place is famous, at least to Oklahomans, as being the home of Oklahoma State University and its many competitive sports teams. More athletic legends live on at the town's National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.

For a low-key moment of fresh air away from raucous sports fans, travelers will enjoy the university's botanical gardens, which span more than 100 acres and boast species both Indigenous and exotic to Oklahoma. For culture of a historic kind, head to the Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar, a cultural center downtown. The museum's building once housed the First Church of Christ, Scientist congregation—the first such congregation west of the Mississippi River.

Sulphur

Sulphur, population 4,900, stands out as a quiet alternative to a more lively visit elsewhere in the state. Rich in hot mineral springs (hence the town's name), the place blossomed as a wellness retreat, a reputation it has enjoyed for more than a century. These days the town's recreation options endure, like those at the upscale Artesian Hotel, which also has a casino and spa, and has operated since 1906.

Outdoors fan may prefer the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, which the National Park Service manages, as it does the Travertine Nature Center, an extensive education site for students of Oklahoma's plants, animals, and other natural feaures. Sulphur's local nature is available up close at the nearby Lake of the Arbuckles just south of town.

Tishomingo

The small southwest town of Tishomingo, with 3,100 souls, once was the Chickasaw Nation's capital (1856 until statehood). The Chickasaw Capitol Building, which remains standing in town today, combines Victorian architecture with the design touches of a prominent Native American tribe. Also in town, the Chickasaw Council House Museum welcomes visitors curious to know about the region's territorial history (prior to statehood). Native American history buffs might choose to come to Tishomingo directly, as the Council House Museum holds one of the world's largest exhibits of authentic Chickasaw artifacts. In another kind of culture, Oklahoma-born country music star Blake Shelton has made Tishomingo and the sprawling ranch he owns outside of town his adopted home.

For sportsmen and sportswomen, Tishomingo sits near the Blue River, which runs east of town and is popular among bass, catfish, and rainbow trout fishermen. The Tishomingo National Fish Hatchery has supported anglers like these since opening in 1929.

Weatherford

Weatherford, population 12,000, has long beckoned visitors to its lively main drag, Custer Street. Incorporating in 1898, the town has attracted scores of visitors to see the Stafford Air & Space Museum, with artifacts from the career of astronaut Thomas Stafford — a one-time Weatherford local boy—like his spacesuits and the Gemini VI spacecraft.

The town's other diverse attractions include the Heartland of America Museum on Route 66, combining objects from Native American culture, to modern agriculture, and the legacy of America's most famous "Mother Road." Also in town, the Heartland Museum celebrates Oklahoma and regional history with artifacts dating from the late 19th century.

As these destinations suggest, Oklahoma's finest attractions wait for visitors in some out-of-the-way places. Yet draws like these are well worth a detour. Towns like Claremore and Eufaula bring together NRHP-listed districts as well as abundant natural attractions. Sulphur speaks to the state's enduring interest among wellness tourists long before the trend became as popular as it is today. Other places and towns celebrate the history and resilience of Oklahoma's Native American peoples, who have shaped the state from its territorial days to the present. For a timeless trip through Oklahoma, towns like these convey the richness of history and the promise of the present across Oklahoma's wide vistas.