Closed now
In 1889, over two million acres in present-day Oklahoma was opened to settlement by President Benjamin Harrison. However, land couldn't be claimed until after noon on April 22 of that year. Over 50,000 settlers lined up on that day, and when a canon was fired at noon it was off to the races to claim some land. This monument, designed by local artist Paul Moore, is at 1.5 scale, giving the pieces a larger-than-life appearance.
Closed now
What started out as one of the first shopping districts in 1929 gradually evolved to become a haven for jazz musicians, students and small businesses by the end of the 1950s. The end of this era brought with it the counter-culture which determined the atmosphere of the Paseo in the 1960's, but it was only until the next decade that it became one of the country's finest art districts. It fell into some decay through the 80's, however today it has been revitalized and the shops host food, art and music festivals year-round. Don't forget the district's 'First Friday Art Walk', where everyone comes out to buy and sell local wares.
Stockyards City is a historical part of town that showcases all things Western. When settlers arrived, they used the area as a cattleyard and over the decades it became dotted with packing plants throughout. Today, the cattle market still functions as one of the largest in the world. The packing warehouses are gone, most are replaced with western wear shops and great restaurants, try the popular Cattlemen's Steakhouse, the steaks are outstanding. One of the highlights for guests is the ability to saunter out over a walkway to see the bovines mooing below in the National Stockyards Exchange. If you would like to see a place that played an integral role in the city's history, come down and check out this interesting neighborhood, you might even find that perfect cowboy hat!
