Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to show you around the Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum in Oklahoma City. Let’s get started!
Museum Misson: “The Oklahoma Hall of Fame tells Oklahoma’s story through its people. From diverse programming to the historic Gaylord-Pickens Museum, we are creating an enhanced sense of pride for all Oklahomans.”
Museum History
In 1927, the Oklahoma Heritage Association was founded by Anna B. Korn to celebrate statehood day. A year later the first induction ceremony for the Oklahoma Hall of Fame took place. Dennis T. Flynn and Elisabeth Fulton Hester were the inductees.
In 1970, the museum had its first permanent home – the Hefner Mansion. Robert A. Hefner, Sr. had generously donated his home to the organization. The museum opened its doors to the public in 1972.
In 2001, the organization purchased a new building with a gift from Edward Gaylord. The museum moved to the Mid-Continent Life Insurance Building where it currently resides. In 2005, T. Boone Pickens generously matched Gaylord’s gift to the museum which allowed the organization to make renovations and develop new exhibits. The museum opened to the public in 2007!
In 2027, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame will celebrate its centennial birthday. They will have been telling Oklahoma’s stories for over one hundred years at that point – how exciting 🙂
Exhibitions
Here are a few photos from around the museum! There was so much to see and learn. The interactive exhibits were fun and engaging for people of ALL ages!
I loved the use of quotes and clips from interviews around the museum. This wall of quotes is probably my favorite, but there were so many good ones!
There were more paintings and images in this museum than artifacts. These cases were on the second floor near an interactive area which was fun!
Jim Shoulders
I loved the interview and video they had of Jim Shoulders who forever changed the world of rodeo. I also loved the sculpture as well.
Concluding Thoughts
I enjoyed walking around the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and learning about the inductees. There have been several Oklahomans who have changed the state and impacted the world. I left this museum feeling inspired and can’t wait to go back!
You’ll also want to check their website for information on their rotating exhibits. “Roots Culture History: The Works of LaQuincey Reed and Marks Muse” was on exhibition when I visited and it was very cool. We weren’t allowed to take photos in that area or I would show you some of the pieces… But you should go see this exhibit!
Finally, the gift shop had several cool ‘made in Oklahoma’ items. I picked up the cutest gold Oklahoma silhouette ring!
I hope you’ll go check the Oklahoma Hall of Fame out. Happy Traveling! I’ll talk to ya soon 🙂
Visit
1400 Classen Dr.
Oklahoma City, OK 73106
The Active Historian 
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