OKLAHOMA!

Our First “Real” Visit to Oklahoma

We drove through Oklahoma on I-40 in January 2013, with only one, short stop. So, it only barely “counted” as state visit a at all. That has been rectified! And…no more snow…actually above 70^o every day! Although, we did have lightning last night, and major hail storms not TOO far away!

After driving into Oklahoma on “back country roads”, we have now spent 5 nights just east of Oklahoma City, and toured the Oklahoma State Capitol (#16 for us).

We also visited the 3 Oklahoma National Park Sites:

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site (#195), Hallowed Ground, where on November 27, 1868, Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer led the 7th US Cavalry on a surprise dawn attack on a Cheyenne village led by Peace Chief Black Kettle.
Chickasaw National Recreation Area (#196), an Oklahoma Oasis, with springs, streams and lakes. We spent a long day, visiting various locations. We hiked along Travertine Creek and by a few springs, made a relaxing stop at Buckhorn Beach on Lake of the Arbuckles, and walked around Veterans Lake. By days end, we’d hiked ~10 miles.
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The Memorial was serene, with a lot of meaningful symbolism, eg. an orchard of state trees (Redbud) representing Oklahoma volunteers who helped in the aftermath of the bombing and other trees representing all the people that came from elsewhere. The Museum was awesome.

Memorial Sign at the Washita Battlefield NHS Trailhead
Buffalo Springs at Chickasaw NRA
Turtles on the shore of Veterans Lake at Chickasaw NRA
Reflection Pool at Oklahoma City Memorial
The 168 Chairs representing those killed on April 19, 1995, standing in nine rows, for each floor of the Federal Building where the field is now located.
The Survivor Tree, against the Museum, over the Reflection Pool. It survived the bomb’s blast and today stands as a symbol of resilience.
Last look across the Redbud Trees, Reflection Pool and Memorial Chairs