Renfrow OklahomaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Renfrow, Oklahoma.
1. Renfrow-Miller Museum
CASTLE ON THE PRAIRIE
The Renfrow-Miller Museum is a unique rock home famously known as the 'Castle on the Prairie' built in 1901. This two-story rock home features a metal-domed roof, detailed trim, and a hexagon-like exterior, serving as both the home and office of pioneer doctor Thomas F. Renfrow. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its unusual Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.
2. OnCue Dog Park
PET-FRIENDLY RECREATION AREA
OnCue Dog Park is a popular recreational spot in Billings where dog owners can bring their pets to play and socialize. The park is known for being clean and well-maintained despite the typical challenges of a public dog area. It's particularly welcoming for rescue dogs and their owners looking for a safe space to exercise.
3. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
HISTORIC HIGHWAY MEMORABILIA
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum celebrates the iconic highway that played a significant role in American travel history. Visitors can explore exhibits showcasing the evolution and cultural impact of the famous 'Mother Road' through Oklahoma. The museum offers a nostalgic journey through the heyday of Route 66 with artifacts, photographs, and interactive displays.
4. Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue
HONORING FRONTIER WOMEN
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue pays tribute to the resilient women who helped settle the American frontier. The museum features exhibits on women's roles during the pioneering era, including domestic life, education, and their contributions to community building. The iconic 17-foot bronze statue outside the museum, dedicated in 1930, has become a symbol of the strength and determination of frontier women.
5. Sod House Museum
AUTHENTIC PIONEER DWELLING
The Sod House Museum preserves the only remaining authentic sod house from Oklahoma's territorial days. Built by homesteader Marshall McCully in 1894, the house offers visitors a glimpse into the challenging living conditions faced by early settlers. The museum surrounding the preserved structure includes exhibits on homesteading and pioneer life on the prairie.
6. Tom Mix Museum
SILENT FILM STAR LEGACY
The Tom Mix Museum celebrates the life and career of silent film star and cowboy Tom Mix, who appeared in 291 films between 1909 and 1935. Exhibits include authentic memorabilia, film posters, personal effects, and Mix's famous cowboy gear that helped define the Western film genre. The museum honors Mix's pioneering contributions to Hollywood and his enduring influence on American popular culture.
7. Will Rogers Memorial Museum
OKLAHOMA'S FAVORITE SON
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum honors the life and legacy of Will Rogers, Oklahoma's beloved humorist, actor, and social commentator. The museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts, memorabilia, and exhibits chronicling Rogers' remarkable career from his vaudeville roots to Hollywood stardom. Visitors can explore the 12-gallery museum and the grounds where Rogers is buried, offering panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
8. Oklahoma History Center
STATE'S STORY SHOWCASE
The Oklahoma History Center is an impressive 215,000 square-foot learning center dedicated to preserving and sharing the state's diverse history. The museum features five galleries with cutting-edge exhibits covering topics from Native American cultures to pioneer settlement, oil booms, and modern developments. The surrounding 18-acre site includes outdoor exhibits, walking trails, and a Red River Valley landscape that complements the indoor historical experience.
9. Honey Springs Battlefield
CIVIL WAR HISTORIC SITE
Honey Springs Battlefield preserves the site of the largest Civil War battle fought in Indian Territory on July 17, 1863. The battle was significant as it featured Native American soldiers fighting on both sides alongside white and African American troops. Visitors can explore six walking trails with interpretive signs that explain the battle's progression and importance to the Civil War in the Trans-Mississippi Theater.
10. Hunter's Home
PRE-CIVIL WAR MANSION
Hunter's Home is Oklahoma's only remaining pre-Civil War plantation home, built in 1845 by George Michael Murrell, a wealthy merchant who married into a prominent Cherokee family. The beautifully preserved Greek Revival mansion offers visitors a glimpse into 19th-century life in Indian Territory before Oklahoma statehood. The site includes the main house with period furnishings, outbuildings, and grounds that demonstrate both Cherokee and antebellum Southern cultural influences.
11. The Chisholm
CATTLE TRAIL HISTORY
The Chisholm museum commemorates the famous cattle trail that connected Texas ranches to Kansas railheads, passing through what would become Oklahoma. Exhibits detail the trail's significance to western expansion, cattle drives, and the economic development of the region from 1867 to 1889. Visitors can learn about Jesse Chisholm, the trail's namesake, and experience the history of the legendary path that helped shape the American West.
12. Fort Gibson Historic Site
FRONTIER MILITARY POST
Fort Gibson Historic Site preserves one of the earliest military posts in Oklahoma, established in 1824 to maintain peace among the tribes in Indian Territory. The reconstructed log fort and original stone buildings tell the story of military life on the frontier and the fort's role during the Trail of Tears, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. Visitors can explore the grounds, barracks, commissary, magazine, and other structures that provide insight into 19th-century military operations in the developing West.
13. Oklahoma State Capitol Museum
GOVERNMENTAL ART GALLERY
The Oklahoma State Capitol Museum is housed within the working state capitol building, notable for being the only capitol with an active oil well on its grounds. The museum features extensive art collections, historical exhibits, and architectural highlights including a magnificent dome added in 2002. Visitors can tour the legislative chambers, view the extensive collection of Oklahoma art, and learn about the state's political history since its 1907 statehood.
14. Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion
VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL GEM
The Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion is a stunning 1903 Victorian mansion built by one of Oklahoma City's founding fathers. The 11,700-square-foot home features original furnishings, hand-painted canvas walls, and exquisite stained glass that exemplify turn-of-the-century craftsmanship and luxury. The mansion provides visitors with insights into the lifestyle of Oklahoma's early elite and the development of Oklahoma City from frontier town to metropolitan center.
15. Cabin Creek Battlefield
CIVIL WAR ENGAGEMENT SITE
Cabin Creek Battlefield preserves the location of two significant Civil War engagements that occurred in 1863 and 1864 along a crucial military supply route. The battles were notable for the involvement of Native American troops fighting on both Union and Confederate sides, highlighting the complex political divisions within Indian Territory. The site features interpretive signs and walking trails that allow visitors to understand the strategic importance of this crossing on the Texas Road and Military Road.