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| Free Oklahoma City Holiday Guide |
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| OKLAHOMA CITY LOCAL HISTORY |
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Oklahoma City was literally born overnight when on April 22, 1889 unassigned prairie lands in the Oklahoma Territory were opened for white settlement. A single shot signalled the start of the Great Land Run and by the end of that first afternoon some 10 000 people had staked out claims.
In 1910 the city was named the capital of the state of Oklahoma and in 1928 oil was discovered. Not only did the economy change after that but the skyline was suddenly filled with oil well derricks springing up all over the place. One of the most famous gushers was the Mary Sudik which spewed oil as far as 15 miles away and gushed for 11 days.
The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19 1995, placed Oklahoma City on the front of news papers all over the world. 168 People, 19 of the children, were tragically killed. This event tore out the heart of the city. Oklahoma City has since regained some of its self-confidence but this day will be engraved in the minds of its citizens for ever.
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The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Memorial Centre Museum - This national memorial was built in remembrance of the 168 people who lost their lives during the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. The outdoor memorial is open 24 hours a day year round and admission is free. The Memorial Centre Museum is open from Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and on Sundays from 1pm to 6pm. Admission for adults is $7, students $5 and for children under 5 years admission is free.
45th Infantry Division Museum - This museum displays memorabilia depicting the history of Oklahoma from it's early days to the present. It houses a fascination collection of items that were collected from Hitler's apartment when he was captured by the 45th Infantry division. Over 200 original "Willie and Joe" cartoons are on display in the Bill Mauldin Room. Other displays include artillery, original uniforms, firearms and military vehicles from WWII and Korean Era.
State Fair of Oklahoma - In early September, the State Fair Park in Oklahoma City comes alive with all kinds of entertaining events. Rodeos, cooking competitions, livestock showing, car races, music concerts and a lot of other activities take place at this fair annually.
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Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy - Tel (405) 235 1422. If you love Mexican food, this is the place to go. This colourful restaurant offers a wide variety of Mexican favourites like burritos, enchiladas and fajitas. Try the delicious Tortilla Soup or one of the house specialties called Los Mejores de la Casa. This dish consists of fillet medallions wrapped in bacon, stuffed shrimp with jack cheese and jalapeno peppers. Those with a sweet tooth should try a slice of the mint-flavoured Margarita Pie. Reservations are recommended.
Galileo's Bar and Grill - Tel (405) 415 7827. Situated in the historic Paseo district known for its artist community, this restaurant exudes an ambience of creativity and history. Favourites on the menu are dishes like Roasted Japanese Eggplant, grilled salmon with mango sauce, an assortment of pizzas and calzones. Galileo's Sweet Temptations is a sampler plate of all the deserts and is perfect to round off a scrumptious meal. Reservations are recommended.
Red Rock Canyon Grill - Tel (405) 749 1995. This new restaurant offers a feast of South-Western American cuisine. One of their specialties is smoked salmon with and Oriental marinade served with tabouleh and whole-grain mustard. The Double-eagle Pork Chops served with apple-onion compote and wood-grilled beef tenderloin are also favourites. Reservations is recommended.
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Biting Sow - Tel (405) 232 2639. This blues club has an intimate atmosphere and offers live music by local and regional talent every night. It boasts best music and barbecue in town.
Tap Werks Ale House and Cafe - Tel (405) 319 9599. This townhouse-style pub offers more than 100 brews on tap and another 150 brands by the bottle. An upstairs club provides dancing and pool tables.
Bricktown Pub - Tel (405) 235 2782. The nineties warehouse style, designed with hardwood and brick, lends an upmarket chic to this club. Live music ranging from rock, folk and blues is available most nights. The downstairs dance floor is usually packed with merry makers. Pool tables and video games are available in the upstairs section.
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Martin Park Nature Centre - In this 140 acre protected natural wildlife area, you can walk along the 21 miles of wood-chip foot trails and experience the unspoiled beauty native grasses, shrubs and trees. The centre is home to dozens of indigenous mammals and 180 species of birds. Guided hikes and weekend programmes are available. Admission is free.
Myriad Botanical Gardens - Situated in the centre of downtown Oklahoma City, this garden is the perfect escape if you need a break from the hectic city life. The rolling hills, beautifully landscaped, surrounds a sunken lake. In the centre of the gardens the seven story Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory houses various collections of palm trees, flowers and exotic plants from all over the world. The Adventure Walk takes you underneath a 35 foot cascading waterfall. An experience not to be missed. Admission to the outdoor grounds is free.
Will Rodgers Park - This park is home to one of the Southwest's outstanding rose gardens. The natural beauty of the grassy slopes and fresh water ponds provides the perfect spot for picnics and outdoor relaxation. The OKC Tennis Centre, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a 18-hole Frisbee golf course and an outdoor amphitheatre are all part of the park.
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Oklahoma City has it's fair share of shopping malls where you can buy anything from food, clothes, antiques, jewellery etc. The Farmers Public Market offers fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers.
The variety of shops specialise in furniture, antiques, dolls, books, glassware and flea market items. If you are interested in art, the Paseo District is a must. There you'll find an abundance of galleries and studios in a part of town that time forgot.
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Frontier City Theme Park - This theme park has an authentic western town which depicts life in the 1880s. The park offers 75 rides, lives shows, games and attractions. You can experience the famous gunfight at the OK Corral and catch other live shows at Frontier City.
Read Ranch - Admission for adults is $5 and children under of 12 years and under $3. Admission include a barnyard petting zoo, a self guided tour of an Old West film set, picnic area, roping pen and horse shoe pits.
Oklahoma Zoo - The zoo houses over 1,500 exotic animals from all over the globe. You can view some of the world's most exotic animals like wild cats, lions and apes in their natural settings. The zoo offers picnic grounds and various attractions for kids.
Omniplex - Discover new worlds and venture in to new galaxies. Explore the past and peer into the future. This complex houses museums, a planetarium and galleries dedicated to the sciences and arts.
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