Second time there. First time was several years ago. I like the mixture of historic artifacts…read more The Greek and Roman sections were my favorites. I spent a lot of time reading the information posted. I spent over two hours there. There is a children's play area on the third floor if you want to bring your youngsters.

I am a sucker for old school encyclopedic museums, and this one is pretty iconic in this arena…read more It's eclectic, filled with oddities, and super fun for the whole family. Where else are you going to see dinosaurs, mummys, and a handwritten letter by Elizabeth I? I really enjoyed walking around, exploring, and I know my kiddo did as well. It's in an old building downtown and has loads of charm everywhere you look. 4/5 stars because I thought the kids play area was a bit of a letdown - it felt a bit dirty and neglected. There also isn't a cafe, which I think would be a fun addition if they ever plan on expanding or remodeling. The exhibits were wonderful though, and I thought for the price it was a great deal. Overall I'd for sure go back and if you're the kind of person that enjoys something off the beaten path, or has a love for old stories and a solid diorama, this is the place for you.

It's small but I liked it. The docent Henry was very friendly and knowledgeable. Henry told me a…read morelot about the 4-8-4 locomotive. If you love trains I think it's worth a visit.

I loved this place. I was visiting in from California and the locomotives were so cool!!!!! we also…read moresaw some trains go by the museum too! I do want to add that the docents were amazing and Robert who was the cashier was so nice and he was such an amazing person and I'm glad he rung me up for my souvenirs. Thank you and I will for sure be visiting next time I'm here.

While working our way back to the main interstate 35 we came across this museum. At first we didnt…read moreknow what to expect. We were warmly welcomed by Melissa who gave us a brief run down of the place. This place is a true museum with a lot of history of the town of Blackwell and its citizens. This place appears to have alot of things donated by local people who gave things that were a part of their lives or occupation. There are lots of items from numerous wars including World War one and two for sure. Lots of household items that were once used. Forgot to mention that is a hands on museum. Many items can be touched gently. Good luck on your adventure here. We hope to come back again some day when we have more time to look around. Be prepared to spend at least 2 hours here.

This amazing museum is noteworthy both for its collections and for the building itself. The…read morebuilding, 1913, is on the National Registry of Historic Places. The building was originally called The Electric Pavilion. It's 31,000 square feet are home to exhibits that include trains, dolls, school history, smelter, 1955 devastating tornado, farm, ranch, fire, clubs, medical and Native American. It is an open and interesting place for both adults and children. It is a perfect place for travelers to take a break. Opened just this month is an in-depth exhibit "F5 in 1955" commemorating the 1955 Blackwell-Udall, Ks tornadoes. The exhibit features personal stories, video presentations and a tornado simulator. It occupies an entire room and gives interesting informative information about tornadoes.

The Larlsnd Msnsion is always the place to go! If you are…read moretoo busy- then make time for a memorable experience. There is nothing like this anywhere nearby. You will partake of a slice of Americsn history while enjoying the beauty of every room in this well planned estate. The work of the many Italian craftsmen who lived on the grounds while they built this tribute to success in America is evident in every room and nook and cranny/ From formal dining areas, to eloquent bedrooms and staircases and banquet halls to detailed kitchen layout, prepare to be amazed and happily surprised. You will enjoy each moment spent here in EW's home overlooking the world renowned Pioneer Woman statue he had commissioned and given to the state of Oklahoma. The grounds and the mansion are an unforgettable gift to us all!

What you will find if you ever tour Herculaneum, or the EW Marland Mansion, is that after people…read moreare comfortable and well-fed, additional wealth basically is poured into art. Lots of art. Big art, small art. I especially delight in small artful details, and am posting a few pics as examples. Just know that this place is packed with them. Almost anywhere you look, there's something interesting. The Petroleum Hall Of Fame resides on the bottom floor. I view it very differently than the two women who wandered in and commented, "A good old boys' club." They need to read Atlas Shrugged! One of the men on that wall employed my grandpa - he worked for Hughes Oil. Personally I would not be willing to make the sacrifices necessary for my picture to be on that wall, but I appreciate the way of life those guys made possible. EW Marland in particular seems to have been quite generous in funding hospitals and many other things that benefitted all Ponca City residents. Have you seen the large portrait of Lydie? Apparently the artist disliked her, so he painted a serpent in near her feet. But I can't decide if that's also the reason the angle of her leg is so wrong, or if it was just a lack of talent. Either way, I'm surprised the Marlands would hang that portrait. Maybe they never noticed.

If you're a fan of the 1996 movie Twister, or you're fascinated by tornadoes and storm chasing, the…read moreTwister Movie Museum in Wakita is an interesting stop. I surprised my wife (cue the eye roll ) with a two-hour drive from Edmond to visit the filming location. The drive through rural Oklahoma was enjoyable and actually helped set the mood for thinking about the movie and why this area was chosen. The museum is housed in what was once the production office during filming, which is a neat piece of history in itself. Inside you'll find movie memorabilia, photos from the set, props, Dorothy, the yellow "Twister" barrels, a Twister pinball machine (which was donated by Bill Paxton), and plenty of behind-the-scenes items that fans will appreciate. The highlight of our visit was Linda, the museum host. Lori and I were the only visitors, so we had the opportunity to ask lots of questions. Linda was friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to share stories about the filming and the town's connection to the movie. She definitely made the visit more enjoyable. We spent about 30 minutes exploring everything. So, was it worth a two-hour drive? That depends. If you're a die-hard Twister fan, a storm-chasing enthusiast, or someone like me who enjoys checking unique Oklahoma destinations off a retirement bucket list, I'd say yes. If you're simply looking for a major museum experience, you may find it a little underwhelming. For me, it was a fun adventure, an enjoyable drive through Oklahoma, and another memorable stop on our travels. Rating: (3/5) - Worth visiting if it matches your interests, especially if you're already exploring north-central Oklahoma.

This museum is located in nearly nowhere Oklahoma but it is the exact street where the twister…read moreaftermath scene from the movie was filmed. They have a plethora of memorablia and props to view. The employee on site is very knowledgeable of the town and the filming process/locations used in the movie. Street parking is available.

This place was so cool and well worth the ticket price!!! My boyfriend is really into planes and…read morethe military so we stopped by to check this mueseum out. I wasn't expecting much because those topics are not usually interesting to me but i was pleasantly surprised. The way in which they have their information layed out was easy to follow and intriguing. There were 3 floors so many different places to stop and read about aviation. Outside in the gated area, there were 10 or more planes that you can actually go into and touch. One of them, the Ryan international, is fully open and has the original seats in it as well. Not to mention, there are a ton of planes inside the building as well. One of the best parts about this museum is the lookout area in the middle of the building that has a 360 view around the building.

Brought my uncles who are from Cambodia here and they were amazing with all the things that were…read morehere . From old fabric planes to some slightly modern plans that they had outside. Luckily I've been working in the aviation field since I was young and was able to explain a lot of things to them. It's a good size museum to go to every now and then. It has approved a lot over the years. Planes are better maintained and cleaned out every so often.

We are an AWESOME experience! I highly recommend it. The tour was very interesting and our tour…read moreguides, Aaron and Kiera were great!

05/2026 While driving through Hutchinson, Kansas, my wife…read moreand I stopped at Troy's BBQ for lunch. During our meal, the owner came by to check on us and asked what brought us to the area. We told him we were just passing through on our way home and asked if there was anything worth seeing nearby. He recommended the local space museum and Strataca, the underground salt mine. After finishing lunch, we decided to check out the salt mine since it was only a short drive away. When we arrived, the building looked more like a regular business office than a tourist attraction. Inside, there's a ticket counter where you purchase your tour tickets, along with displays and information about the mine. As luck would have it, we were the last two people admitted for the day's tours. After receiving our hard hats and a brief orientation, we headed to the elevator. It felt a little strange seeing an elevator in the middle of the building that takes visitors 650 feet underground. The ride down takes about a minute and a half in near darkness, adding to the anticipation. When the elevator doors opened, it felt like stepping into another world. Despite being hundreds of feet underground, it looked like a massive building with no windows. The size of the chambers carved entirely out of salt is incredible. The first part of the tour is self-guided and explains how the salt is mined, the machinery involved, and how dynamite is used to break apart the salt deposits for harvesting. After that, board a train that travels through parts of the mine, showing where mining operations began and explaining what life was like for the miners, including break and lunch area. Learn about the equipment used and more. Dark Ride tour, where a guide drives you through additional sections of the mine on a golf cart while sharing stories and information about its history and operation. The tunnels stretch for miles, and since mining still takes place today, it's fascinating to see how much of the mine remains active. They even host special events, dinner theaters, and private functions underground. This was one of the most unique attractions we've visited and far exceeded our expectations. An excellent tour from start to finish, and we would absolutely do it again.

I grew up coming here as a kid and thought it was so fun! Now that I'm an adult i underestimated…read morethe great amount of rich history this place provides. So much history and interesting information this place holds! This is Frank Phillips home who started up conoco Philips. Not only is his very charming log cabin open for viewing but you also have everything from an animal kid petting zoo to his airplanes and guns on display while giant bears etc are throughout the museum part as well. They put on a kids fest event every year in late June. They bring in vendors and put up inflatables , face painting, pony rides, foam parties , make your own necklaces etc. all of this is free and no extra fee just regular admission cost. Another thing they do is during the holidays they have a lights festival which appears to be just beautiful .

GO! take the drive, do the day trip, GO! Beware: the medium is deceiving, it's massive and you want…read moreto see it all so give yourself ample time. The history they have here, the animals, the whole thing is just so cool To see.

The Keeper of the Plains Plaza has such an easygoing, welcoming vibe that I ended up enjoying way…read moremore than just seeing the big statue at the center of it all. The interpretive panels around the paths are actually fun to read and they give a quick, friendly crash course on the history of the Plains tribes without feeling heavy or academic. With the Big and Little Arkansas (pronounced AR-Kansas) Rivers rushing together right below, there is a steady sound of moving water that makes the whole place feel calm even when there are people around. The pedestrian bridges are honestly half the experience. They are cable-stayed and with those tall, clean looking masts and the cables fanning out, it feels light and modern. Walking across gives a great rive of the rivers on both sides and the design makes the approach to the Keeper feel intentional. Almost like the bridges are guiding you to the statue. It is one of those spots where the setting and the structure work together so well that you end up enjoying the walk as much as the destination. [Review 734 of 2026 - 85 in Kansas - 25915 overall]

This statue was really cool. The native music playing in the background was mood setting. All the…read moreartifacts on the wall were educational.