Chisholm Trail Heritage Center Association

We live, work and teach by our mission: "To celebrate and perpetuate the history, art, and culture of the Chisholm Trail, the American Cowboy, and the American West." Guests recognize us for being a top attraction in Oklahoma and a Top Western Museum, but we're so much more! In the early 1990s, a group of citizens came together to reinvigorate educational programs about the Chisholm Trail in south-central Oklahoma. In 1998, the first phase of the Chisholm Trail opened with the "On the Chisholm Trail" bronze by artist Paul Moore and an interpretive welcome center. In 2003, 2005, and 2007 the Center added the Experience Theater, the Garis Gallery of the American West, and the Centennial Chisholm Trail walkway. A covered portico was added in 2015, providing a three-seasonal outdoor area for summer art programs, receptions, reunions, civic gatherings, and our annual cowboy poetry gathering. Our primary program is our rotating education program. Students are guided through sessions that focus on the Abernathy Boys, Holidays on the Trail (territorial survival skills), History Heroes (required by OK Dept. of Ed), and the Oklahoma Land Giveaways. Over the last few academic years, more than 10,000 students visited us annually for a complete educational experience from Oklahoma and North Texas. Most of them attend on a scholarship, as we don't charge admission to Title I-funded schools. We have earned numerous awards over the years, including, but not limited to being named an Oklahoma Attraction of the Year by the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association, a Top Western Museum in the USA by True West magazine, Oklahoma's only non-profit certified as a Great Expectations Model School since 2006 (13 consecutive years!), and a Cowboy Keeper Award by the National Day of the Cowboy Foundation. Our facility is an official "Best Heritage Attraction" named in 2018. Here's what teachers have shared with us in their reviews: "I am a firm believer in concrete learning before abstract learning. I also believe hands-on experiences are vital for kinesthetic learners. When students are able see in real life how what they learn impacts, influences and pertains to the world around them, the knowledge "sticks" better. Upon taking a trip to the museum, my students are better able to understand elements in science as it relates to habitats of animals. They now have a reference to recall information. This experience also makes them better writers because they have more thoughts to pull from. I appreciate the staff at the Chisolm Trail Heritage Museum for sharing of their time and knowledge with my class." DeMarsha Williams, Kindergarten Teacher/Almor West Lawton "Our trip was indeed enjoyable. I must say that it is truly a blessing that our students are able to participate in such a hands-on and fun field trip which educates them on the wonders of southwest Oklahoma. The fact that you are able to fund this opportunity for our students is truly what touches my heart. As an educator of 29 years, it is a sad reality that my students today are not allotted the same opportunity to experience hands-on learning through field trips like my students experienced 10 years ago. We thank you and your wonderful and talented staff for having the perception of knowing what you are giving to our students and finding a way to remove the barriers which keep these experiences from happening. Thank you for all you do!" Donna Newkirk, SPED 4th/5th at Hugh Bish Elementary Our purpose is to provide every student and visitor an engaging, educational experience in which they leave knowing more about the Chisholm Trail than when they arrived. We want everyone to understand the Chisholm Trail's historical significance to our nation. Offering the highest quality educational programming, exhibits, and interactive experiences, allows us to accomplish these goals. We want everyone to have fun while here! Interactive exhibits, our 4D Experience Theater and Campfire Theater, and Garis Gallery of the American West attract visitors from around the world. We rely on grants, private funding through donations, and memberships to continue the educational aspects and events like the annual National Day of the Cowboy, art exhibits, and others. Recently our Garis Gallery of the American West got a new look in signage and art display. The art gallery is a big part of our educational programs, from worksheet scavenger hunts to creative writing programs and art enrichment. Of course, all of this means we need your donations to keep coming in! If you want to learn more about our history, please visit our website!

Who We Are

We live, work and teach by our mission: "To celebrate and perpetuate the history, art, and culture of the Chisholm Trail, the American Cowboy, and the American West...