Tucked on the northeast lawn of the State Capitol, this little-known memorial punches way above its…read moreweight. The bronze soldier kneeling over his fallen buddy is raw and real--no capes, no glory, just exhaustion and brotherhood frozen in time. His fingers rest on the helmet like he's still checking for a pulse. Behind him, five limestone walls fan out like a hug, engraved with over 1,000 names of Oklahoma vets lost since Vietnam.

The Oklahoma Veterans Memorial is located adjacent to the State Capitol in the parking area of the…read moreSupreme Court of Oklahoma. On a weekend, that lot was deserted and no one seemed to mind me parking here for a bit. Leading the way on the north side of the Oklahoma State Supreme Court is "The Big Guy". Standing 8 1/2 feet tall on a 3 1/2 foot pedestal, his bronze face has the features of a Native American who is wearing the gear of a Vietnam soldier. Behind him are 4 walls with bas relief bronze panels representing World War I, World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Respectfully located on the front of each panel are scenes depicting the individual wars. Reverently placed on the back of the walls are the names of the Oklahoma's killed in action during that particular war. Flag poles fly the flags of each branch of the Armed Forces and the Oklahoma State flag. "Old Glory" is honorably placed in the center. On December 7, 1999, a memorial to the USS Oklahoma was unveiled and is dedicated to those killed at Pearl Harbor. The "Eternal Flame" is aligned with "The Big Guy" and the center of the south side entrance of the Oklahoma State Capitol, humbly reminding our leaders that "we will never forget." The State of Oklahoma donated the land to the Oklahoma Veterans Memorial. Its construction was funded by donations from around the country. It is a well done memorial that is handicapped-accessible. [Review 16220 overall - 60 in Oklahoma - 1726 of 2021.]

The walk along the Bricktown Canal near Chickasaw Plaza is one of those hidden gems that's easy to…read moremiss if you're just rushing through downtown. The path is lined with stone markers and engraved history panels, including the "Ancient Mississippian Symbols" display, which gives you a glimpse into the Indigenous cultures that were here long before Oklahoma became a state. It's a nice mix of art, history, and scenery -- you've got the canal water, public sculptures, and these quiet little stops that make you slow down and actually read what's in front of you. The statues and carvings nearby add a lot of presence to the space without feeling overly crowded or touristy. Overall, it's a peaceful and interesting walk that feels more meaningful than your average city path. Worth taking your time with if you're in Bricktown and want something a little more reflective than just restaurants and nightlife.

Very interesting and informative monument on the lower canal walk. At the center is a warrior…read moredressed in traditional Chickasaw style. All around the perimeter are plaques that tell of Chickasaw history. On our way to the Centennial Oklahoma land rush monument we saw this across the canal. We walked back on this side to stop here and check it out. We found this to be a very interesting stop. Definitely recommend you stop a spell and check it out too.

Directly across the street from the Oklahoma City Memorial site, this small memorial park…read morecommemorates the same event. An outdoor sculpture that depicts Jesus facing away from the devastation and his hand holding his face in what is likely a gesture of disappointment. The sculpture faces a wall with 168 gaps that symbolizes the void left by the lives lost in the bombing. There is an inscription in the black stone but it is extremely hard to capture in the sunlight. The small park stands where the original parish house was located before it was damaged in the event. [Review 430 of 2026 - 178 in Oklahoma - 25613 overall]

The "And Jesus Wept" statue stands solemnly across from the Oklahoma City National Memorial, a…read morepoignant bronze figure of Christ in mourning, erected on the site of a parish house destroyed in the 1995 bombing. Its expressive sorrow captures the profound grief of that tragedy, offering a quiet, spiritual counterpoint to the nearby remembrance. A must-see for visitors seeking deeper reflection amid the memorials.

This memorial was dedicate in August 2025. He built the first flour mill in the city hence his…read morenickname. He was a big advocate of agriculture in the city and state. Served on the territorial and state governments as well as being the OKC mayor at two different times. He founded mustang and jones (named after him). He was also the first president of the State Fair so this is a fitting spot for his memorial.

Oklahoma has many miles of Route 66. A lot of them are still the original mother road slabs. You…read morecan follow it from the NE corner OK down thru OKC and out the west end towards Amarillo Texas. It runs along with I44 to okc the I40 west bound. Most of the smaller towns along those roads have the Route 66 business spur running thru them. It's a great road trip. These signs happen to be just NE of OKC. Lots of amazing things to see and so much history once you get off the Superman hwys.

This small stone marker is on Route 66 and calls attention to the highway. There is a small pullout…read morehere so that you can get off the roadway and not block the traffic. The marker reads, "Whether motorists called Route 66 the Ozark Trail, the Will Rogers Highway, Main Street America or the Mother Road, all remember Arcadia's Round Barn. The well-known landmark was built in 1898 by W. H. Odor. After the route was designated a national highway in 1926, improvements were made to the 1917 roadbed. The original road between Edmond and Arcadia was constructed by convict labor. The highway through Arcadia was paved in 1929. Many Arcadia businesses catered to travelers' needs with gasoline stations, cafes, lodging facilities and a grocery and general store." [Review 16232 overall - 71 in Oklahoma - 1738 of 2021.]

This bust is in front of what is now the Irvin K. Bollenbach Livestock Pavilion. The memorial and…read morepavilion dedication happened in 1998, shortly after his death. He was a prominent rancher, businessman, aviator, and wildlife pioneer and a friend of the fair having been a life long member of the board. I really enjoy checking these out I've been here for over 40 years and some of these I've never seen or heard of

This statue on the OKC state fair park grounds depicts Lee Allan Smith known as Oklahoma's Best…read moreFriend for his lifelong dedication to promoting the state and organizing major celebrations. This statue was dedicated on 30 Jan 2009 which was also named as Lee Allan Smith Day. He served on the state fair board and chaired many projects.

The statue honors legendary University of Oklahoma football players Lee Roy, Dewey, and Lucious…read moreSelmon, who starred as defensive linemen for the Sooners in the early 1970s. It's a bronze sculpture depicting the three brothers. All three earned All-American honors, and in 1973, they made history as starters on the same defensive line. Never before or since has tht happened in college football. Lucious played in the WFL and Leroy and Dewey both played in the NFL. In 1988, they launched Selmon Brothers Fine Bar-B-Q Sauce based on their older brothers recipe. It is no longer in production. Pretty cool history.