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National Weather Museum & Science Center – Norman, OK – nationalweathermuseum. com
Check out this exploration of the world of weather, specializing in weather artifacts, including a sample Mesonet station and the original Norman Doppler Radar that helped make advanced severe weather warnings possible.
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum – Oklahoma City – nationalcowboymuseum. org
This celebration of the American West includes interpretive galleries dedicated to the history of the American cowboy and American rodeo; the National Rodeo Hall of Fame; Prosperity Junction, a turn of the 20th century cattle town; and for a limited time, a 360 degree multimedia experience called The Cowboy- An Immersive Journey.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL COWBOY AND WESTERN HERITAGE MUSEUM
PHOTO COURTESY MUSEUM OF OSTEOLOGY
Skeletons: Museum of Osteology – Oklahoma City – skeletonmuseum. com
This unique family-owned attraction that started as a business called Skulls Unlimited claims to be the only skeleton museum in America and the largest privately held collection of skeletal specimens in the United States. Exhibits span the natural world including reptiles, birds, and mammals and feature rarely seen specimens like giraffes, Komodo dragons, killer whales and a 40-foot humpback whale. Learn how flesh-eating Dermestid Beetles are used to clean skeletons and register for special events and workshops like taxidermy class, owl pellet dissection and forensic pathology. You may get lucky and meet the museum cat Sir Indiana Bones.
Oklahoma Railway Museum – Oklahoma City – oklahomarailwaymuseum. org
A labor of love for volunteer railroad fans who didn’ t just collect railroad equipment, they operate the trains. Located on three acres with access to tracks, the collection includes locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars, cabooses and motor cars formerly used for track maintenance. Train rides are available April through August on their vintage locomotives and passenger coaches.
Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium – Tulsa, OK – tulsamuseum. org
Explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics through aviation and aerospace then catch a show at the James E. Bertlesmeyer Planetarium. Exhibits include a variety of aircraft, an interpretive exhibit dedicated to the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen and interactive exhibits and simulators, including a manned maneuvering unit
SwOk simulator. PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT OKC
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 45