02020137 – Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma offers a fascinating blend of Native American heritage, cowboy culture, rolling prairies, and vibrant cities. Visitors can explore historic Route 66, experience exciting rodeos, enjoy beautiful lakes and state parks, and discover world-class museums and music venues. With its welcoming communities, rich history, and wide-open landscapes, Oklahoma provides an authentic taste of the American heartland.

Woody Guthrie

Born in Okemah in 1912, Woody Guthrie became one of America’s most influential folk musicians. Drawing inspiration from the struggles of Dust Bowl families and working people, he wrote hundreds of songs that chronicled everyday life. His best-known composition, This Land Is Your Land, has become one of America’s most beloved folk songs and inspired generations of musicians and activists.

Boise City's Accidental Bombing

One of Oklahoma’s most unusual wartime stories occurred in 1943, when a crew flying a U.S. Army Air Forces B-17 mistakenly identified the lights of Boise City as a nearby bombing range. The crew dropped several practice bombs, which contained no high explosives, causing only minor damage and no serious injuries. The incident remains one of the few occasions during World War II when bombs were accidentally dropped on the U.S. mainland.

For such a relatively young state, Oklahoma has inspired an impressive soundtrack. From Gene Pitney’s “24 Hours from Tulsa” and Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee” to the Dust Bowl ballads of Woody Guthrie, the state has long captured the imagination of musicians. It also gave the world Oklahoma!, one of the greatest Broadway musicals ever written, forever linking the state’s name with American musical theater.

For much of the 19th century, Oklahoma was known as Indian Territory. It became the destination for Native American tribes forcibly removed from their ancestral lands east of the Mississippi River along the Trail of Tears. The name “Oklahoma” comes from the Choctaw language, meaning “red people.” Over time, 67 tribes were relocated there, and today 39 federally recognized tribes are headquartered in the state, giving Oklahoma one of the largest Native American populations in the nation.

In 1889, the federal government opened portions of Indian Territory to non-Native settlement through the famous Land Run. At the sound of a gunshot at noon on April 22, more than 50,000 settlers raced across the border to claim free land. Some eager participants slipped in before the official start and were labeled “Sooners,” a nickname that eventually became synonymous with the state itself.

Dust Bowl Legacy

Oklahoma lay at the heart of the Dust Bowl during the 1930s, when prolonged drought and poor farming practices turned fertile fields into choking clouds of dust. Crops failed, farms were abandoned, and thousands of families headed west in search of work and a better life. The term “Okie” soon became a nickname for many of these migrants, regardless of which Dust Bowl state they had actually come from.

Determined to prevent a similar disaster, Oklahoma invested heavily in water conservation after the drought. Today the state boasts more than 200 man-made lakes—more than any other state. Among them is Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, created by the completion of Pensacola Dam in 1940. Stretching more than a mile from end to end, it remains the world’s longest multiple-arch dam.

Inventive and Friendly

Although Oklahoma experiences more tornadoes than almost any other state, its landscape is far more varied than many people expect. Rolling prairies give way to rugged mountains, mesas, forests, and wetlands that support an abundance of wildlife. Black bears, elk, mountain lions, pronghorn antelope, alligators, and free-ranging bison all make their home across the state’s diverse terrain.

Oklahoma proudly celebrates its cowboy heritage, with the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum preserving the history and traditions of the American West. Yet the state has also played an important role in modern innovation. The parking meter, shopping cart, electric guitar, and voicemail all have Oklahoma connections, while historic U.S. Route 66 crosses the state for more than 400 miles.

The Sooner State has also produced an impressive roster of famous personalities, including humorist Will Rogers, actors James Garner, Chuck Norris, and Brad Pitt, country superstar Garth Brooks, and alternative rock band The Flaming Lips. Today, Oklahoma enjoys a strong economy fueled by oil, natural gas, aerospace, agriculture, and manufacturing, while its residents continue to be known for their warm hospitality.

STATEHOOD

November 16, 1907

CAPITAL CITY

Oklahoma City

STATE PARKS

Oklahoma has 38 state parks.

NATIONAL PARKS

Though there are no national parks located in Oklahoma, there are three units operated by the National Park Service.

FUN FACTS

Located in Le Flore County, Cavanal Hill is officially recognized as the “World’s Tallest Hill”. It stands at 1,999 feet high—exactly one foot short of being classified as a mountain.

The Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City is unique because it is the only state capitol building in the country that has ever had active oil wells operating directly on its grounds.

Cimarron County, situated in the far west of the Oklahoma Panhandle, is the only county in the United States that touches four different states: Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas.

Oklahoma is the birthplace of several items we use constantly. The first coin-operated parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City on July 16, 1935. Meanwhile, the first grocery shopping cart was invented in 1937 by Sylvan Goldman, the owner of an Oklahoma City Piggly Wiggly.

Oklahoma contains the longest drivable stretch of the iconic Route 66 of any state. The state’s portion of the road stretches for approximately 400 miles.

Tucked away in Oklahoma City, the American Pigeon Museum & Library celebrates the rich history of pigeons, from their role as war messengers to racing.