Sentinel OklahomaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Sentinel, Oklahoma.
1. General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum
MILITARY HISTORY AND LEADERSHIP
The General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum offers visitors a unique look into military history and leadership principles. This highly-rated attraction showcases memorabilia and exhibits related to General Tommy Franks' military career and contributions. Visitors can gain insights into American military operations and the principles of effective leadership through interactive displays.
2. Historic Cotton Boll Motel & Neon
VINTAGE ROUTE 66 LODGING
The Historic Cotton Boll Motel & Neon represents a nostalgic piece of Americana in Sentinel. This vintage motel features distinctive neon signage that harkens back to the golden age of Route 66 travel. Its preservation offers visitors a glimpse into the mid-century roadside attractions that once dominated American highways.
3. Foss State Park
OUTDOOR RECREATION PARADISE
Foss State Park is a popular outdoor destination centered around Foss Lake near Sentinel. The park offers numerous recreational activities including fishing, boating, camping, and hiking trails for nature enthusiasts. With its scenic landscapes and water activities, the park serves as a natural retreat for families and outdoor adventurers alike.
4. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
HISTORIC HIGHWAY HERITAGE
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum showcases the cultural and historical significance of America's most famous highway. Located in Clinton near Sentinel, the museum features exhibits chronicling the evolution of Route 66 from the early days of automobile travel to the present. Visitors can explore vintage cars, memorabilia, and interactive displays that capture the spirit of the Mother Road.
5. Chisholm Trail Heritage Center
COWBOY HISTORY COMES ALIVE
The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center celebrates the famous cattle trail that played a crucial role in Oklahoma's development. This interactive museum offers immersive exhibits including a 4D experience that brings the cattle drive era to life for visitors. The center provides educational opportunities about cowboy life, cattle drives, and the economic impact of the trail on Oklahoma's history.
6. Sod House Museum
PIONEER LIFE PRESERVED
The Sod House Museum preserves the last remaining original sod house in Oklahoma, built by homesteader Marshall McCully in 1894. This unique historical site offers a rare glimpse into the challenging lives of prairie settlers who built homes from the earth when timber was scarce. Visitors can explore the preserved structure and learn about pioneer life through authentic period artifacts and educational displays.
7. Fort Supply Historic Site
FRONTIER MILITARY HISTORY
Fort Supply Historic Site preserves an important military outpost established in 1868 during the Indian Wars period. Although currently closed for renovations, this historic site typically showcases original buildings including the guardhouse, commanding officer's quarters, and a reconstruction of the 1875 stockade. The fort played a significant role in both military campaigns against Native American tribes and later as a base during the land run era.
8. Honey Springs Battlefield
CIVIL WAR HISTORY
Honey Springs Battlefield preserves the site of the largest Civil War battle fought in Indian Territory on July 17, 1863. This historic battlefield site includes interpretive trails, informational markers, and a visitor center detailing the unique aspects of this conflict that involved Native American soldiers on both sides. The site offers special living history events and reenactments that bring this pivotal battle to life for visitors.
9. Will Rogers Memorial Museum
OKLAHOMA'S FAVORITE SON
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum honors the life and legacy of Oklahoma's beloved humorist, actor, and social commentator. This comprehensive museum houses an extensive collection of artifacts, memorabilia, and archives related to Rogers' remarkable career and influence on American culture. Visitors can explore multiple galleries, watch film clips of his performances, and gain insight into the wit and wisdom of this iconic Oklahoman.
10. Oklahoma History Center
STATE HERITAGE SHOWCASE
The Oklahoma History Center serves as the state's premier destination for exploring Oklahoma's diverse historical narrative. This modern museum features interactive exhibits covering topics from Native American cultures and pioneer settlement to oil booms and space exploration by Oklahomans. With extensive artifacts, photographs, and multimedia presentations spread across 215,000 square feet, the center provides a comprehensive look at the people and events that shaped Oklahoma.
11. Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue
HONORING FRONTIER WOMEN
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue pays tribute to the strength and determination of women who helped settle the American frontier. The 17-foot bronze statue, unveiled in 1930, stands as a powerful symbol of the fortitude of pioneer women who faced tremendous hardships. The accompanying museum explores women's experiences through exhibits featuring period clothing, household items, and educational displays about their contributions to Oklahoma's development.
12. Tom Mix Museum
SILENT FILM COWBOY STAR
The Tom Mix Museum celebrates the life and career of Hollywood's first Western star who appeared in 291 films between 1909 and 1935. Located in Dewey, this unique museum houses an impressive collection of Mix memorabilia including personal items, movie posters, and his famous riding gear. Visitors can learn about Mix's influence on the Western film genre and his lasting impact on American popular culture.
13. Hunter's Home
ANTEBELLUM CHEROKEE MANSION
Hunter's Home stands as the only remaining pre-Civil War plantation home in Oklahoma, built in 1845 by George Michael Murrell who married into a prominent Cherokee family. This historic site offers authentic period furnishings and provides insight into the lives of wealthy Cherokee Nation citizens prior to Oklahoma statehood. The surrounding grounds feature heirloom gardens, outbuildings, and demonstrations of 19th-century crafts and cooking techniques during special events.
14. Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion
VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL GEM
The Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion showcases the opulent lifestyle of one of Oklahoma City's founding fathers built in 1903. This magnificent Victorian mansion features original furnishings, ornate woodwork, and period decorative arts that reflect the tastes of early Oklahoma high society. Tours of this architectural treasure provide visitors with a glimpse into the refined domestic life of the territorial period and early statehood era.
15. Oklahoma State Capitol Museum
GOVERNMENT AND ART HUB
The Oklahoma State Capitol Museum resides within the historic state capitol building, the only capitol with working oil wells on its grounds. This unique museum showcases Oklahoma's governmental history alongside an impressive collection of public art including murals, sculptures, and rotating exhibitions. Visitors can explore the architecture of the building while learning about the state's political development and cultural heritage through curated displays and guided tours.