3 Best Sights in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Over the past 60 years, more than 10 million guests have viewed collections at this museum to gain a richer understanding and appreciation of Western history and heritage, particularly the ways it has influenced contemporary culture. In addition to spectacular permanent exhibits that comprise more than 28,000 Western and Native American art and artifacts, the museum sponsors a ongoing program of scholarly research and hosts temporary exhibitions featuring some of the world's finest Western art. An interactive children's space, expansive outdoor gardens, and a restaurant (daily 11–2:30) that includes a value-priced buffet help to make this site a particular favorite for families. Each April, the museum produces its annual Western Heritage Awards, an Academy Awards–style event that honors hall of fame inductees, as well as the year's best in literature, music, film, and television.

After a $40 million renovation, this museum reopened in 2002 as a gateway to American and European art of the 19th and 20th centuries, including a substantial collection of work by American glass artist Dale Chihuly. Film buffs will appreciate the Noble Cinema, a showcase for international, independent, and classic films. A gift shop, rooftop terrace, and café featuring afternoon tea, specialty coffees, and signature cocktails give the museum an approachable and upbeat vibe. May through October on Thursday, the galleries still close at 9 pm, but the rooftop terrace is open until 10:30 for "Cocktails on the Skyline," featuring live music and a cash bar.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal building stands as a living memorial to those who were killed, those who survived, and those whose lives were forever changed by the bombing that occured here in 1995. A fitting prelude to the museum, the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial includes the Survivor Tree, the Field of Empty Chairs, and a reflecting pool, all framed by the Gates of Time. Inside the Memorial Museum, which withstood the bombing, more than a million photos, videos, artifacts, and pieces of evidence chronicle the historical events and the powerful stories of hope and healing that emerged from a city that would not be defeated by violence. Dial (405) 445–4792 from your cell phone and follow the prompts for a free audio tour of the outdoor section of the memorial.