Green Country, Oklahoma
From sprawling cattle ranches to curlicued Art Deco skyscrapers, Osage brush arbors to Route 66 diners, northeastern Oklahoma is where the American Dream met the American West. The area's Native American roots can be traced back to the prehistoric Spiro Mound Builders -- the story of the 12th century empire they built is told at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Park near Poteau. In the 19th Century, the Cherokee tribe built their capitol on the green banks of the Illinois River and Creek Indian councils met under a massive oak in "Tulsey Town." The Osage tribe moved from Kansas to Pawhuska, named for the Osage chief, on the border of the tall grass prairie; the tribe was confident the roots of the rich grass were so thick and deep the land would never be plowed by settlers. The discovery of vast seas of oil beneath the prairies changed the face of northeastern Oklahoma -- Tulsey Town became Tulsa, "Oil Capitol of the World," and nearby Bartlesville grew from a Delaware trading post to a cosmopolitan town boasting a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed skyscraper.
Explore Green Country
Osage Hills Trails
The Bugle Multi-use trail is located in Osage Hills State Park. This 4
, OK Hiking TrailsTenkiller State Park Nature Center
Tenkiller State Park Nature Center is staffed by volunteers and a naturalist and is open 7
, OK Nature CentersCherokee Landing State Park
Cherokee Landing State Park is open year round with 120 electric/water hookups, 50 primitive sites, restrooms/showers, sanitary dump station, picnic areas, group shelters, boat ramp, swimming beach, softball, playground and handicap accessible fishing dock.
, OK State ParksLangston House
The Langston House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fort Gibson, OK Historic HomesWill Rogers Statue
In the middle of the 300 block of Will Rogers Blvd., you will want to stop, grab your camera and visit the life-size bronze statue of Will Rogers, sitting on a park bench reading the Claremore Progress. The Rogers County Historical Society presented this statue, "
Claremore, OK ArtsOkmulgee County Courthouse
The Okmulgee County Court House was completed in 1918, with marble walls and floors. The bonds for the court house had been sold to Katie Fixico, a wealthy Creek Indian, whose house has long housed the restaurant known as "The Southern Mansion."
Okmulgee, OK Historic CourthousesPark of the Five Civilized Tribes
Sequoyah Bay State Park is located within an oak-hickory woodland of eastern Oklahoma on the shores of Fort Gibson Reservoir. The Park strives to honor the cultures of the Five Civilized Tribes, as well as the memory of those who traveled the many "Trails of Tears."
Wagoner, OK Ethnic HeritageChouteau National Hiking Trail
The Jean Pierre Chouteau National Hiking Trail stretches from River Park to the Port of Catoosa along the Grand, Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers. It is located alongside the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation Channel. The trail is approximately 60
Fort Gibson, OK TrailsTom Mix Museum
The Tom Mix Museum houses a large collection of this silent movie King of the Cowboys personal and movie items. Return to the days when the good guys wore white hats and sample something of the magnitude of Tom Mix, the Myth and the Man. Museum exhibits include a replica of Tony "
Dewey, OK MuseumsJohnstone Park
Located in historic Johnstone Park will be a new replica of Oklahoma's first commercial oil well in Discovery 1 Park, along with the Hulah Depot, a steam locomotive, and the kiddie-park with 30-cent rides.
Bartlesville, OK Museums