Moving on...day four and five

After a good breakfast at our overnight destination, we are ready to move on.  Next stop Oklahoma City where we plan to stay a couple days and see some sights.  The weather is still cool, but the sun is trying to break thru making it seem much nicer.  We found a nice campground, Rockwell RV Park, located right of I-40, with easy access to all the places we want to check out.  It was later in the day by the time we arrived, so the first evening we just looked around the area near us and ate our New Years dinner and planned our next day outing. 

Our second day in OKC started early to get in all the sites, we arrived at the recommended National Cowboy Museum, not being the biggest cowboy fan, but loving anything historic, I was optimistic I would enjoy this museum.  We arrived about the time it opened and there was already a good crowd at this huge facility.  We were given a map of the facility and sent on our way.  The beginning of the tour included beautiful paintings of southwest scenes, some were even on sale by the artists.  Also, rooms around the paintings included unbelievably tooled saddles, some valued nearly $50,000.  As you continued from room to room, any thing western was on display, beautiful rugs, carvings and then extensive displays of guns, native wear, etc.  There was even a old style movie theatre showing western movies.  I really enjoyed the interactive kiosk where you matched western TV shows with there theme songs, sure brought back a lot of old memories when shows such as Bonanza and Gunsmoke were a weekly viewing.  They had the outfits of many of the actors who starred in the shows.  I was amazed how much I was enjoying this huge museum, and I felt our $10 a ticket was already worth the cost and we were just half way thru.  Little did I know my favorite part was still to come.  We then went into the next section, which paid tribute to the rodeo and the people who had made it famous.  The had a small scale rodeo area which had the gates with cows and cowboys simulated.  This area was impressive.

The next area was by far my favorite and could have easily passed it up if we hadn't noticed a door and decided to explore what was behind it.  Wow, open the door and old west down was inside.  You walked down the dirt street to explore the church, doctor's office, mercantile, stable, bank and many other businesses that would have been part of a town.  It was dark in this area which really helped to make you feel you had entered another era.  Many pieces were authentic and others were great replica of the era.  The Marshalls office even included a authentic jail cell.  I should mention the security guards wore sheriff's outfit, at nice touch to the museum.  

Here are few other pictures of the museum, in most areas they did not allow photos or when they did they limited it to no flash photos.

I would definitely recommend a visit to the National Cowboy Museum if your in the Oklahoma City area.  We spent almost four hours there and when the outside areas are open I am sure you could spend nearly a complete day there.  Well off to our next destination...Stockyard City...giddy up we are on our way to more of the old west.

 

We didn't know really what we would see in Stockyard City, but Carvel knew he wasn't leaving until he saw the "Worlds Largest Stockyard" for some reason I didn't share his enthusiasm.  I would be a good sport and act like I thought this was a place worthy of a tourist stop.  Well here you go, you decide.

 

 

 

Here are a few of the numerous pictures Carvel took during his excitement of this world famous landmark!  Oh how I wish I could share the fine aroma of this historic place!  As promised....

 

 

Ok, tell me who is envious of me :-)??

 

On a much different emotion we headed into Oklahoma City to visit the museum and memorial to lives affected by and lost in the horrendous act of domestic terrorism that occurred at the Murrell Federal Building.  No words can describe the emotions you feel as you walk the floors of the museum and see the lives of so many lost so needlessly.  I had visited this memorial several years ago and still it had an emotional impact.  As you actually see the magnitude of the bombing and learn a little personal information about those killed it is overwhelming.  Then you walk outside to see the memorial which consist of chairs, each representing a life lost, especially heart wrenching are the small chairs which signify a child lost.  It is a beautifully done memorial and especially beautiful lit at night.  The museum is open only til 5, but if you can come back and see the memorial at night as well.  We must never forget what occurred here!  A MUST visit in your life time.

 

 

 

After a busy day getting in as many sites as possible we decided to head into Bricktown to eat dinner.  This is, in my opinion, is the place to be when in OKC.  Of course, the cold winter weather had an impact on the atmosphere of the area, it is a fun, exciting place to stay though anytime.  This area is a revitalization of the industrial area and was designed with a canal thru the area where you can pay and ride thru Bricktown.  All the restaurants and shops are along or walking distance of the canal.  There is a ball park and I believe an arena in the area.  If you decide you can also take carriage rides around town.  Pretty much any type of food can be found in this area and awesome shops to stroll thru.  Also along the canal is a park of statues that is well worth seeing, so take the boat ride if your there!  Unfortunately, while we were there they were not operating.  We decided to try out a local restaurant, the Brickyard Brewery.  We try to stay away from chain restaurants while we are traveling if possible.

 



 

 

Well after a fun time in OKC, we are heading out in the morning,  Amarillo TX bound.