The visitor’s center offers an in-depth look at the amazing civilization behind these mounds, which at its height is thought to have covered two-thirds of the current United States. Mounds were created by prehistoric people for various reasons some were burial mounds and some were house mounds. The site preserves 150 acres of living history along the Arkansas River. There are several life-size recreations of dwellings and a wooden canoe and plenty of maps and artifacts.Īs you continue exploring prehistoric life in Oklahoma, make a stop at Spiro Mounds, the only American Indian archaeological site open to the public in the entire state. This exhibits boasts the oldest painted object in North America a now-extinct bison skull painted with a red zigzag pattern. The Hall of the People of Oklahoma explores nearly 30,000 years of human history in Oklahoma. Don’t be afraid to ask museum employees questions they offer a wealth of information. This area has a plethora of other fossils, many of them from Oklahoma, along with interactive exhibits. Don’t miss the world’s largest Apatosaurus (a long-neck herbivore) and the Guinness Book of World Record holder Pentaceratops skull. The Hall of Ancient Life takes visitors on a journey through natural history and introduces kids to ancient life in Oklahoma. This museum explores both natural and human history in creative ways. The first stop on your prehistoric adventure in Oklahoma should definitely be the Sam Noble Museum in Norman.
Here are four must-see attractions for dinosaur lovers and ancient history lovers. Do you ever wonder what Oklahoma was like before our time? What kinds of dinosaurs roamed the forests and plains? What kinds of plants did the Apatosaurus munch on? If your kids have a fascination with all things prehistoric, Oklahoma is a great place to feed that passion.