Sitting atop a beautiful hillside overlooking Claremore is a world-class museum complete with stories, artifacts, and films chronicling the life and times of the inimitable Will Rogers, one of our favorite cowboys and Hollywood legends.
Every gun enthusiast’s dream, the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum displays the world’s largest privately owned gun collection, with more than 12,000 firearms and thousands of non-firearm artifacts.
In addition to featuring the city’s most notable former residents—including Helen Walton Robson, astronaut Stuart Roosa, singing legend Patti Page, Bunion Derby winner Andy Payne, and world-famous playwright Lynn Riggs—Claremore Museum of History showcases the original “surrey with the fringe on top” from the musical Oklahoma!
The Nut House is located just a few miles south of town on Route 66. With a full-service deli, an extensive gift shop, fresh fudge and, of course, nuts, The Nut House is a tourist’s dream stop. If you don’t have time to stop and browse, online ordering is available.
Take a step back in time and visit this original Route 66 service station. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Mother Road icon is being refurbished to its former glory. Guests are invited to stop and take a picture of this historic landmark.
Your Route 66 trip isn’t complete without a stop at the World’s Largest Totem Pole. You literally can’t miss it, as it stands 90 feet tall and is made of red sandstone, steel, wood, and concrete. Artist and veteran Ed Galloway spent his retirement building a unique park and, in 1999, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Nearby is a “Fiddle House” displaying Galloway’s handcrafted fiddles and other inlaid wood artifacts. Roadside tables supported by small concrete totems provide travelers with the perfect spot for a picnic.
Part of the original Route 66 alignment, this historic 123-foot bridge is the only unaltered bridge left in Oklahoma today. While it is no longer drivable, visitors can walk along this incredible piece of Oklahoma and Route 66 history.
Take a trip under Route 66! Walk through one of the only open underpasses on the Oklahoma stretch of the Mother Road while taking in bits of Route 66 and Chelsea history. A mural pays tribute to historical elements of Chelsea, from a 1930s gas station to the Hogue House, and guests are invited to sign the mural to document their visit.
Located in Rogers Point Park, this 18-hole disc golf course includes par-4 holes and shorter tees to accommodate players of all skill levels. A mixture of wooded and open spaces, Twin Bridges features a putting area with three baskets, as well as a driving range with three tees.
Located off historic Route 66, this scenic park is bordered by the Verdigris River. Rogers Point Park is home to the Twin Bridges Disc Golf Course, two boat ramps, a floating dock, covered picnic areas, and restroom facilities.
Catoosa is home to one of the more unique and recognizable Route 66 attractions. Conceived by Hugh S. Davis, a zoologist and family man, the Blue Whale was created as a special place where his grandchildren could play and swim. The whale took Davis two years to construct, welding the metal framework and applying hand-mixed cement. Since its completion in 1972, the Blue Whale has attracted visitors from around the globe.
Today, it remains a popular tourist destination and photo hotspot. Guests are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch and head to the Blue Whale for a fun-filled day of fishing.
Spanning two buildings, the D.W. Correll Museum offers something for everyone. Guests can explore antique automobiles and other items of general interest and history, such as an antique Texaco gas pump. The second facility houses an extensive collection of rocks, gems, minerals, and seashells from around the world, along with highlights from the construction of the Tulsa ports.
Home to hundreds of antique vendors, eateries, coffee shops, bars, and specialty shops, The Lilac District in downtown Claremore is a favorite stop for residents and visitors.
