One of downtown Oklahoma City's most unique treasures, the American Banjo Museum is home to the world's largest collection of publicly displayed banjos, featuring over 400 individual instruments. The 21,000-square-foot facility honors the vibrant spirit and rich history of this beloved American symbol, from its humble African roots to its heyday during the Roaring ‘20s to its current standing in bluegrass, folk and jazz music.

Experience a slice of Native American history in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, at the first Chickasaw Council House built in Indian Territory. Today, the Council House Museum honors the rich culture of the Chickasaw people and features one of the largest collections of Chickasaw arts and cultural artifacts in the state.

Chosen CNN’s top travel destination for Oklahoma in 2014, the Chickasaw Cultural Center is one of the largest, most comprehensive tribal cultural centers in the United States. Come celebrate, embrace and share the heritage that binds the Chickasaw Nation together.

A trip to Chickasaw Country isn't complete without a stop at the 5,500-square-foot Chickasaw Nation Welcome Center, providing informational kiosks, expert travel information from the trained staff, a gift shop, an outdoor playground, dog park and travel stop.

The Chickasaw National Capitol Building provides the ultimate trip back in time through Chickasaw history. The Victorian, gothic-style building was dedicated in 1898 and served as the Nation's capitol until 1906. Today, it acts as a stately museum representing the Nation's past.

The Chickasaw Visitor Center was designed to provide information about and tell the story of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the only national park established at the request of a Native American tribe, the Chickasaws.

If you're a cowboy or history buff, make it a point to tour the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center & Garis Gallery of the American West in Duncan, Oklahoma. This interactive museum immerses visitors in the rough-and-tumble world of the historic Chisholm Trail, which was used in the post-Civil War era to drive cattle from Texas ranches to Kansas railheads.

For a first-hand look at authentic, Native American art, visit the Chokma’si Gallery in Ada. Located within the Chickasaw Nation’s Division of Arts and Humanities building, the gallery features handcrafted pieces and also features a retail section with jewelry, pottery, prints and more.

Fort Washita Historic Site and Museum is a must-visit destination for military history buffs. Established in 1842 in the Choctaw Nation, Fort Washita served as the southwestern-most military post of the United States and protected the recently immigrated Choctaws and Chickasaws from intruders who posed a threat to the stability of the area. Today, Fort Washita is a National Historic Landmark and free museum.

The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, located on the University of Oklahoma campus, is known as one of the finest university art museums in the country. Established in 1936, the museum now boasts a nearly 17,000-object permanent collection featuring such visionaries as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Georgia O'Keeffe and Edward Hopper, as well as a large collection of Native American and American Southwest art.

Artifacts of all varieties can be found at the Greater Southwest Historical Museum, ranging from an early electric car to a steam-pumper fire engine to the Wichita Falls Spudder Rig that was widely used in the Ardmore area oil fields from the 1920s to the 1940s. The centerpiece, however, is the Sam Noble Hall, featuring exhibits that recreate Western life at the turn of the century.

Harn Homestead, claimed during the Land Run of 1889, is a 10-acre historical homestead in Oklahoma City. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Harn now serves as a museum and popular field trip destination where kids can learn about life during the territorial days of Oklahoma.

Witness the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s collection of more than 28,000 Western and American Indian art and artifacts that preserve the history and cultures of the American West. Be sure to check out the variety of works by renowned American artist Frederic Remington, as well as the massive “End of the Trail” sculpture that greets visitors upon arrival.

USA Softball presents a meaningful opportunity to delve further into the history of the sport with the National Softball Hall of Fame and Museum. This memorial pays tribute to the great players and contributors of the past who have played a part in the success of the game of softball. Fewer than 400 members have been inducted since the Hall of Fame and Museum was established in 1957 – a testament to the level of prestige an accolade of this magnitude holds.

When you walk into the National Weather Center, you'll see a six-foot diameter sphere dangling from the ceiling. Called Science on a Sphere, this model earth is a global display system that uses computers and video projectors to display planetary data, essentially creating for a giant animated globe. Both budding meteorologists and those who appreciate the wonder of the elements will love a tour of the National Weather Center.

Norman’s National Weather Museum and Science Center is a burgeoning state-of-the-art facility that preserves weather artifacts and showcases scientific innovations. Watch as the history of weather research comes alive through the museum’s immersive exhibits!

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is home to one of the world's largest, most comprehensive collections of Chihuly glass, with a 55-foot, multi-colored Chihuly tower greeting visitors as they enter the museum's atrium.

This breathtaking memorial honors the lives lost in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. Inside the Museum, walk through the events of, and response following, that fateful morning, and leave knowing the world holds far more good than bad. The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, from the Survivor Tree to the Reflecting Pool to the 168 empty chairs in memory of the fallen, is a moving piece of American History that must be experienced.

When driving down Broadway near Automobile Alley, you’re sure to spot a curious, grey and white rectangular structure standing tall in the distance. That’s the showroom for Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, a nonprofit organization that has led the way in offering progressive and innovative art exhibits to the people of Oklahoma City for over 20 years.