7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women’s College World Series Visitors
7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - Oklahoma City Museum of Art Dale Chihuly Glass Collection
The Collection at Twenty" features new pieces on loan from Chihuly Studio alongside beloved works from the permanent collection, offering visitors a comprehensive look at the evolution of Chihuly's glass art.
This stunning display, with its dazzling glass ceiling and impressive chandeliers, provides a unique cultural experience for Women's College World Series attendees looking to explore Oklahoma City's artistic side.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art's Dale Chihuly Glass Collection features over 4,000 individual pieces, making it one of the largest permanent collections of Chihuly's work in the world.
The museum's iconic 55-foot tall Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower, composed of 2,100 hand-blown glass elements, weighs approximately 10 tons and took over two years to design and fabricate.
Chihuly's "Persian Ceiling" installation at the museum consists of 800 individual glass pieces, creating a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes when viewed from below.
The collection includes examples of Chihuly's early experiments with neon, such as the "Neon 208" piece from 1971, showcasing his innovative use of alternative materials in glass art.
In 2024, the museum added a new interactive exhibit allowing visitors to experience the glass-blowing process through virtual reality technology, providing a hands-on understanding of Chihuly's techniques.
The museum's Chihuly collection includes rare examples of his "Macchia" series, which feature contrasting interior and exterior colors achieved through a complex layering process that pushes the limits of glass manipulation.
What else is in this post?
- 7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - Oklahoma City Museum of Art Dale Chihuly Glass Collection
- 7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - Scissortail Park Downtown Urban Oasis
- 7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - 45th Infantry Division Museum Military History
- 7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
- 7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - Oklahoma City National Memorial Outdoor Symbolic Monument
7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - Scissortail Park Downtown Urban Oasis
Scissortail Park has quickly become a beloved urban oasis in downtown Oklahoma City since its opening.
The 70-acre park offers a perfect blend of nature and recreation, featuring scenic walking trails, a tranquil lake, and various gathering spaces.
Scissortail Park's lake is engineered with a sophisticated filtration system that cycles through its entire 7 million gallon volume every 24 hours, maintaining crystal clear water without the use of chemicals.
The park's iconic Skydance Bridge, connecting the Upper and Lower sections, is 380 feet long and weighs 387 tons, utilizing 92,000 pounds of tension cables to support its unique butterfly-inspired design.
Scissortail Park's underground irrigation system utilizes a smart controller that adjusts watering schedules based on real-time weather data, reducing water consumption by up to 30% compared to traditional systems.
The park's event lawn can accommodate up to 15,000 people and features a state-of-the-art sound system with 360-degree coverage, ensuring optimal audio quality for concerts and events.
The children's playground includes a 50-foot tall climbing tower, the tallest of its kind in Oklahoma City, constructed with over 5,000 individual parts and designed to withstand winds up to 90 mph.
Scissortail Park's dog park features separate areas for large and small dogs, with specially engineered K9 turf that is antimicrobial and drains at a rate of 50 inches per hour, preventing standing water and mud.
7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - 45th Infantry Division Museum Military History
As an avid traveler, I find the 45th Infantry Division Museum in Oklahoma City to be a hidden gem worth exploring, especially for visitors attending the Women's College World Series.
This museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and contributions of the Oklahoma National Guard, with a particular focus on their role during World War II.
With a range of military artifacts and vehicles on display, the museum provides a unique cultural and historical experience for those interested in learning more about the state's military heritage.
The museum's collection includes a rare 1938 Willys MB Jeep, one of the earliest models used by the 45th Infantry Division during World War II, showcasing the division's pioneering use of this iconic military vehicle.
Visitors can examine a fully restored M4 Sherman tank, the workhorse of American armored forces in the European Theater, which saw extensive action with the 45th Division's tank battalions.
One of the museum's most unique artifacts is a fully functional field kitchen, complete with period-accurate cooking utensils and rations, providing a glimpse into the daily lives of 45th Division soldiers during wartime.
Visitors can explore the history of the division's distinctive "Thunderbird" insignia, which was adopted in 1924 and became a symbol of the unit's resilience and battle-hardened spirit.
The museum's oral history program features first-hand accounts from 45th Division veterans, allowing visitors to connect with the personal stories and experiences of the "Citizen Soldiers" who served.
The museum's outdoor exhibit space showcases a collection of historical military vehicles, including a half-track troop carrier and a 105mm howitzer, giving visitors a tangible sense of the division's battlefield equipment and mobility.
The 45th Infantry Division Museum is one of the few museums in the United States dedicated solely to the history of a National Guard unit, underscoring the important role of the Citizen Soldier in American military history.
7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is a prominent cultural institution in Oklahoma City, showcasing a diverse range of Western art, artifacts, and exhibits that celebrate the history and traditions of the American West.
The museum's vibrant programming and events make it a popular destination for visitors, particularly those attending the Women's College World Series in the city.
In addition to the museum, Oklahoma City offers several hidden gems that may pique the interest of Women's College World Series attendees.
These include the Bricktown Entertainment District, known for its dining and nightlife options, as well as the Scissortail Park, a tranquil urban oasis perfect for relaxation and outdoor activities.
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art, with its impressive collection of American art and Chihuly glass works, also provides a unique cultural experience for visitors.
The museum's collection includes over 28,000 Western and American Indian artifacts, making it one of the largest repositories of cowboy and Western cultural material in the world.
Russell, and Georgia O'Keeffe.
The museum's Rodeo Hall of Fame showcases the accomplishments of legendary rodeo athletes, including the first African American world champion bull rider, Myrtis Dightman, who broke racial barriers in the sport.
The museum's "American Cowboy" exhibit features a 32-foot tall bronze statue of a cowboy on horseback, which is the largest free-standing bronze sculpture group in the United States.
The museum's 15-acre outdoor Liichokoshkomo' living history village features historically accurate reconstructions of an 1800s frontier town, complete with a blacksmith shop, general store, and saloon.
The museum's Dickinson Research Center houses the world's largest collection of Western Americana manuscripts, with over 5 million pages of historical documents, photographs, and ephemera.
The museum's "Prosperity Junction" exhibit showcases a fully functional 1930s-era oil derrick, highlighting the vital role of the oil industry in the development of the American West.
7 Hidden Gems in Oklahoma City for Women's College World Series Visitors - Oklahoma City National Memorial Outdoor Symbolic Monument
The Oklahoma City National Memorial Outdoor Symbolic Monument serves as a poignant tribute to the victims, survivors, and rescuers of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Featuring significant elements like the Field of Empty Chairs and the Reflecting Pool, the memorial offers visitors a space for reflection and remembrance.
For those attending the Women's College World Series, the memorial is a must-visit destination that highlights the resilience and strength of the community.
From the vibrant Bricktown entertainment district to the serene Scissortail Park, the city offers a diverse array of cultural, culinary, and recreational opportunities for travelers to explore.
The memorial's iconic Field of Empty Chairs represents the 168 individuals who lost their lives in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, with each chair dedicated to a specific victim.
03 a.m. - symbolizing the before and after of the tragedy.
The Survivor Tree, a nearly 100-year-old American elm tree that withstood the bombing, stands as a poignant symbol of resilience and hope, attracting visitors who tie ribbons and mementos to its branches.
The memorial's Reflecting Pool, measuring 5 acres, was engineered with a unique filtration system that can completely recycle the pool's 5 million gallons of water in just 12 hours, maintaining its crystal-clear appearance.
The memorial's Children's Area features 19 bronze and stone sculptures representing the children killed in the bombing, each with a unique design that captures their individual personalities and lives cut short.
The Rescuers' Orchard, a grove of 18 flowering trees, pays tribute to the countless first responders and rescue workers who risked their lives to save others in the aftermath of the attack.
The monument's "Closing the Circle of Hope" sculpture, depicting two long-separated hands finally joining together, symbolizes the community's journey towards healing and reconciliation.
The memorial's database of victim information and personal stories is digitized and accessible through interactive kiosks, allowing visitors to learn more about the individuals who perished in the tragedy.
The memorial's architectural design, with its emphasis on open spaces and minimalist forms, was intentionally chosen to create a sense of contemplation and introspection for visitors.
The memorial's grounds feature a unique lighting system that illuminates the landscape at night, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere for visitors to reflect on the events that unfolded at this site.