Overview
Oklahoma is home to more Native American tribes than any other US state except California. Native Americans from at least 67 different tribes live here, 39 of those tribes have their headquarters here. Although Native Americans have lived in Oklahoma for thousands of years, some tribes have been forced to migrate from the fertile, forested southeastern United States to more arid Oklahoma. Countless Native Americans perished from starvation and disease along the infamous “Trail of Tears” in the 19th century. Today, Oklahoma is home to numerous Native American galleries, museums.
- Travelationary: Covers basic information about Oklahoma geography and economy.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
The airports in Oklahoma City and Tulsa offer connections to all major US cities.
Arrival by car
Greyhound buses run from Los Angeles to New York via Oklahoma City. More information from Greyhound (website: www.greyhound.com).
Note on arrival by car
Average bus travel times: Oklahoma City – Amarillo: 5 hrs; Oklahoma City – Dallas: 4 hrs 30; Oklahoma City – Los Angeles: 27 hrs 30; Oklahoma City – New York: 31 hrs; Oklahoma City – Tulsa: 2 hrs; Tulsa – Albuquerque: 5 hours; Tulsa – Dallas: 7 hours; Tulsa – St. Louis: 9 hours
Passport and visa regulations
Entry with children
Since June 27, 2012, children need their own travel document (passport / children’s passport) for trips abroad (also within the EU). Entries of children in the parental passport are no longer possible.
Contact addresses
Tulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau
1 West Third Street, Suite 100
US 74103 Tulsa, Oklahoma
United States
(918) 560.02.29 or (800) 558.33.11 (toll free within the US).
http://www.visittulsa.com
http://www.visittulsa.com Oklahoma City Convention & Visitors Bureau
123 Park Avenue
US-73102 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
United States
(405) 297 89 12, (800) 225 56 52 (toll free within the US).
http://www.visitokc.com
http://www.visitokc.com Oklahoma Travel & Tourism Germany
Landaustr. 26
D-38112 Braunschweig
Germany
(0531) 231 16 33.
http://www.travelok.com
http://www.travelok.com
Attractions
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City has a curious origin story. Today’s capital was formed in practically a single day, April 22, 1889, when the federal government opened land for white settlement that had previously belonged to five Native American tribes. The settlement history of the Wild West comes to life at the Western Heritage Center, which was co-financed by 17 states. Since 1928, when oil was found in Oklahoma City, the city has been booming; even on the site of the neoclassical Capitol there are oil wells that are still being produced.
- Usaers: Provides a full list of major rivers and mountains in Oklahoma.
Tulsa
A quintessentially American city with a skyscraper-dominated skyline, Tulsa has an international airport and major arts centers and galleries. Worth seeing are the Gilcrease Museum (Native American art and works from or on the theme of the pioneer days) and the Philbrook Art Center (prehistoric exhibits and Native American paintings). In the region southeast of Tulsa, the Native American tribes of the East completed their enforced march out of their tribal lands, the Trail of Tears. Indian City USA (near Anadarko), the Creek Council House Museum in Okmulgee, The Five Civilized Tribes Museum in Muskagee and the Cherokee Heritage Center with a replica of a Cherokee village (southeast of Tahlequah) give an insight into the centuries-old culture of the Native Americans. The American Indian Arts Festival takes place in Tulsa every March. Eufaula Lake, Lake Texoma in Texoma State Park, Arrowhead, Quartz Mountain, and Western Hill are national parks and beautiful recreation areas. Bison can also be seen at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.
Country data
Area (sq km)
181035
Population
3,956,971
Population density (per square km)
22
Population statistics year
2019