The End of the Trail, one of the most recognized symbols of the early West, is just one of the magnificent artworks on display at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The first mention of the place that would become Oklahoma dates back to 1541, when Spanish explorer Coronado wandered through looking for the fabled “Lost City of Gold.” But the state really got its start centuries later when gold of a different kind was first found there.

In 1859, a salt manufacturer named Lewis Ross was toiling away at his business on the banks of the Grand River in what is now Mayes County. Eager to raise his income by boosting his output of salt, Ross drilled a deep water well to extract brine from the earth’s depths. Instead, he hit a vein of oil — “Black Gold,” as it was known — and started a stampede of wildcatters and other fortune-seekers into the area, looking to strike it rich.

Today, Oklahoma is known as “The State That Oil Built,” and that may be an understatement. Even the state’s Capitol Building has an oil well beneath it, slant-drilled from across the street after a deposit of oil sands was found there in the early 1900s.

Although the state’s once-vast oil reserves are beginning to wane, its economy is now much more diversified. In fact, the Oklahoma State University’s Center for Applied Economic Research released a report in March 2006 showing the state is experiencing an unprecedented period of economic growth, with major gains being posted in the areas of natural resources and mining, wholesale and retail trade, professional and business services, and the hospitality industry.

The Bricktown Canal meanders for a mile through the heart of downtown Oklahoma City’s entertainment district. Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Entertainment, naturally    

As befits a state with so many wide-open spaces, Oklahoma residents enjoy numerous outdoor entertainment options — so many, in fact, that the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation sponsors a weekly television series called “Outdoor Oklahoma.” It features information on “everything from striper fishing to wildlife art, from training your bird-dog to making your own bow, from the latest in outdoor equipment to attracting wildlife to your backyard,” according to the department’s website. In a state with so many distinct ecosystems — Oklahoma has 12, including mesas, sand dunes, wetlands, mountains, and tall grass prairie — that’s news you can use.

Oklahoma has 51 state parks offering just about any kind of outdoor adventure you can imagine. Beavers Bend State Park, for instance, attracts those who love fishing to the Mountain Fork River, where they can angle for largemouth bass. At a higher elevation, Quartz Mountain Resort Park offers a brand-new lodge with $2 million of artwork gracing its lobby. The park offers water-skiing, fishing, and jet-skiing on nearby Lake Lugert, as well as an 18-hole golf course.

In the pine forests of southeastern Oklahoma, you’ll find Robber’s Cave State Park, once reputed as a favorite hideout for the James gang. Today visitors can ride mountain bikes across the park’s 12 miles of trails, camp, fish, ride horses, and watch the sun rise over the mountains from the Belle Star Lodge each morning.

If you prefer more structured entertainment, try Celebration Station. You’ll find one in Tulsa as well as Oklahoma City, and both offer distractions, such as bumper boats, Go-Karts, miniature golf, and electronic games. On a wetter note, OK City’s White Water Bay is a great place to spend a hot day whether you’re an action fan or not. The recently opened Mega-Wedgie water slide is six stories tall, and you’ll actually experience a few seconds of weightlessness as you hurtle earthward. At the other end of the spectrum is Castaway Creek, a gentle inner-tube ride, on which you can float your cares away.

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is one of the newest additions to Oklahoma City’s blossoming downtown area. Photo courtesy of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Museums and monuments

One of the most affecting experiences in Oklahoma City is a visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial, site of the former Alfred P. Murrah building. Its reflecting pool, flanked by two stone monoliths, bears mute tribute to the 168 people who died here on April 19, 1995.

Given the state’s Western heritage, it’s no surprise that many of Oklahoma’s museums celebrate its rich history. In Oklahoma City, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum takes you back to the open range to a day where farming and raising livestock were the mainstays of life. You’ll find works by such icons of Western art as Albert Bierstadt and Frederick Remington here, as well as a full-sized replica of an old cattle town.

Giving equal time to Native Americans is the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, dedicated to preserving and showcasing the tribe’s history. The museum includes a replica of an ancient village the way it might have looked before European settlers arrived in America, as well as a six-gallery exhibit on the infamous Trail of Tears. You also can stroll through the Adams Corner Rural Village that includes restored structures from the 1800s.

The $22.5 million Oklahoma City Museum of Art in the Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center opened in 2002 and now hosts some 130,000 visitors each year from across the nation and the world. Located downtown in the city’s Arts District, the museum features three floors of world-class exhibits and the Noble Theater, which brings classic, independent, and foreign films to the city.

In Tulsa, the Gilcrease Museum boasts the largest collection of American art in the world. The Museum’s permanent collection features more than 10,000 paintings, drawings, prints, and sculptures by 400 of the most prominent American artists, including Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, Thomas Moran, and George Catlin. Permanent galleries include The American West; The Kravis Discovery Center; Enduring Spirit: Native American Artistic Traditions; Ancient Americas: Treasures from the Hispanic Heritage Collections; and American History in Art.

Dining delights

You might not expect to see the words “Oklahoma” and “fine cuisine” mentioned in the same sentence. After all, the state’s Official State Meal includes entrees such as barbecued pork, chicken-fried steak, and sausage with biscuits and gravy. Indeed, it’s not hard to find Southern cooking in Oklahoma City at places like Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, Earl’s Rib Palace, or Mickey Mantle’s Steakhouse.

But look a little harder and you’ll discover more eclectic eateries, such as The Deep Fork Grill, with its large collection of seafood, friendly atmosphere, and classic guitar music. For Italian food, locals flock to Bellini’s Ristorante and Grill, where brick oven specialty pizzas are the big draw. Located in the Waterford Complex, the restaurant even has a dining patio overlooking a tranquil pond. And local chain Jimmy’s Egg, with locations in both OK City and Tulsa, is the place to go for breakfast offerings of every kind.

If you’re looking for the exotic, try Lanna Thai Restaurant in Tulsa. Voted Best Thai by Oklahoma Magazine, Tulsa People Magazine, and Oklahoma Family Magazine, this eatery features a wood-and-brick setting that perfectly complements the delicious menu offerings, which include seafood and traditional Thai dishes.

Attention shoppers

When the urge to buy strikes, you’ll find plenty of opportunities in the Sooner State — especially in its major cities, which offer everything from major malls to unique boutiques. Woodland Hills Mall is Tulsa’s largest shopping venue, with more than 150 stores vying for your dollars. Inside the mall, JC Penney, Sears, Foley’s, and Dillard’s provide the anchors; but there are many other interesting shops, restaurants and movie theaters outside as well.

Utica Square in midtown Tulsa is a more compact shopping destination, but its old-world decor makes for a more elegant and interesting experience. There are just 60 stores here, but they include powerhouse upscale icons such as Saks Fifth Avenue. During the Christmas season, Utica Square is dressed to the nines in sparkling lights and decorations.

In Oklahoma City, the Paseo Arts District has been attracting shoppers since the early 20th century. Today the Spanish-themed village is home to a stained glass works, a pottery studio, a children’s theater group, and an annual arts festival, as well as a host of eclectic shops and restaurants.

On a larger scale, the city is home to the largest shopping mall in the state: Crossroads Mall, where I-240 and I-35 meet south of town. With a total area of some 1,300,000 square feet, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for in the mall’s 125 shops. Anchors include Dillard’s, Foley’s, JC Penney and a brand new Steve and Barry’s store, as well as a 16-screen cinema.

Oklahoma’s cities offer plenty to do, but if you’re looking for room to roam, the state has that, too. Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Tourism.

The Economic Outlook

Oklahoma has come a long way from its agrarian beginnings. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics pegged the state’s employment growth in 2005 at 2.54%, much higher than earlier predictions. Personal income is up in Oklahoma as well, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Income growth was up 1.7% in the second quarter of 2005, says the Bureau, while the national rate stood at 1.5%. Although Oklahoma City’s manufacturing outlook was clouded by General Motors’ announcement of a plant closing there, the ongoing diversification of the city’s industries led the Great Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce to predict a net employment gain of 1.2% in 2006.

Whatever the Chamber is doing, it must be working. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the state’s population rose by nearly 25,000 residents between July 2004 and July 2005 — the fastest growth rate in this decade. As to why, let’s just say these modern-day settlers know a good thing when they see it.

Mark Cantrell is a freelance writer.