Attractions - Historical Sites

Completed in 1928, the University of Oklahoma's Bizzell Library is significant for its association with the historical movement to racially desegregate public higher education in the South in the mid-twentieth century and the federal government’s position on eliminating racial segregation within a democratic society.

Boyd House, also known as the President's House and the OU White House, is the official residence of the president of the University of Oklahoma. In 1976, the Department of the Interior added it to the National Register of Historic Places, citing the building's "great contribution to the growth and development of Oklahoma."

Constructed in 1899, The Moore-Lindsey House is the best example of the late Victorian, Queen Anne architectural style to be found in Norman. Stroll back through time when you tour this charming house of spindle work porches, opulent furnishings and glorious landscaping. Also being restored is the original Carriage House. The exterior has been remodeled to its former size and painted to match the House. Originally it housed the carriages and horses for the Moores and the Lindseys and later the Lindsey’s car. Around World War II, it was sold and then became a rent house. The City of Norman purchased the building in 2000-2001, when it came up for sale. Funds have now been freed to complete the work on the outside of the structure. Various artists’ works are also on display throughout the year. Free admission

One of our best kept secrets, this museum contains some of the original works by Galileo and also the first book on agriculture in Europe printed with moveable type and dating back to 1467. Some of their 90,000 plus volumes and most valuable books are kept in a temperature-controlled vault that can be viewed by an appointment.

Take a historical walk through a beautifully landscaped and paved trail with sculptures and historical points of interest. Along the way you’ll marvel at the stunning bronze sculptures, the majority created by Norman’s local foundry, the Crucible. View a nine-foot statue of James Garner and see an enormously detailed replica of the University of Oklahoma in 1942. The newest addition to the trail is the historic clock tower.

Among the finest university-based museums in the nation, the SNOMNH offers world class entertainment for everyone in the family. Six breathtaking galleries give visitors an in-depth tour of more than 500 million years of Oklahoma’s fascinating natural history.

The adventure begins in the Hall of Ancient Life with a journey through Oklahoma’s Age of Dinosaurs, including the world’s largest Apatosaurus and a Guinness-World-Record-holding Pentaceratops. In the Hall of the People of Oklahoma, you’ll learn how the state’s earliest people lived and worked thousands of years ago. The Hall of Natural Wonders surrounds you with the sights and sounds of Oklahoma’s native landscapes in a series of dioramas so realistic they seem to come alive. The Gallery of World Cultures features artifacts from cultures around the world, and the family Discovery Room offers hands-on exploration and fun for children and adults to share. Finally, the Fred and Enid Brown Native American Art and Special Exhibitions Gallery offer several traveling exhibits through the year, so there’s always something new to see.

If all this exploring makes you hungry, the museum’s Redbud Café offers fresh, affordable lunch options and gourmet coffee. And be sure to stop by Excavations, the museum store, on your way out to shop for a wide variety of gifts for every budget: from fine jewelry and accessories to educational toys and books.

Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors, $3 youth ages 6 to 17. Free for children ages 5 and under. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It is also open Labor Day, Martin Luther King Day and Memorial Day. Group tours, event rentals, educational programs and birthday parties are available. Please check the Website for information on special exhibitions, events and programs for children and adults.

The present depot was built in 1909 and served the city continuously until passenger service ended in 1979. During the 1980’s, a concerned group of citizens oversaw restoration of the depot. The depot was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on January 25, 1991. In 1999 the depot resumed its original use when passenger service was restored to Norman.

See a graceful mix of bronze sculptures by artists from around the country in their outdoor sculpture garden. The Crucible is responsible for some of Oklahoma’s most important art pieces, including The Guardian, which sits atop the state capital building, and all 46 Land Run pieces, which celebrated the state’s centennial in 2007.

One of the largest and five most important collections of Western history documents, maps and photos in the United States. Over 2,000 manuscripts and 800,000 photograph prints and negatives are securely kept and preserved for the public. The collection houses a rare multivolume portfolio on the Indians of the United States and showcases the Noah H. Rose collection, which includes original photographs of great warriors, chiefs, and civilized tribes. One of the newest additions are the manuscripts from the hit series “Maverick” donated by Norman native James Garner.