Museum of the Great Plains - Elmer Thomas Park - Lawton, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 34° 37.053 W 098° 23.867
14S E 555208 N 3830796
This is an interactive museum dedicated to the preservation, research and exhibition of the culture of the Great Plains.
Waymark Code: WM126V4
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 03/14/2020
Views: 3
NOTE: March 2020 - Due to the critical nature of the corona virus outbreak, it is recommended that you call the museum or the City of Lawton before visiting, to determine whether the museum is open to the public. At the present time it is open, but circumstances could change.
Though this is advertised as a children's museum, it is definitely a museum which is enjoyed by all ages. The museum originated in conjunction with the Comanche County Historical Society in 1952, and opened on its own in 1961. Originally having 18,000 sq. ft., in 1997 it was expanded to 25,000 sq. ft.
The mission of the museum is: The Museum of the Great Plains is dedicated to the collection, preservation, research, interpretation and exhibition of items pertaining to the cultural and natural history of the Great Plains region of North America in effort to increase knowledge and understanding of humankind." There are permanent exhibits, as well as large collections of artifacts, archives, a library and hands-on workshops and exhibits.
Outdoors, the museum has a replica of Fort Sill, and a log cabin, as well as the original Elgin railroad depot and a locomotive. The museum has a replica of an archeological dig site, and large bone specimens. There are tepees, and exhibits of Native American life, artifacts from early settlement by Paleo-Indans, and early white settlement. There is a movie auditorium where documentaries and cultural movies are shown. To see a display of photos from the interior,
Click Here