Guthrie, once the state capital of Oklahoma from 1907 to 1910, is a place known for its beauty and magnificent history. Located less than 30 miles to the north of Oklahoma City, Guthrie is a visual treat for visitors. Especially known for its unique and gorgeously built Victorian-inspired buildings and homes, Guthrie has a lot to offer. It is a city that can be perfectly described as a tiny city with a really big allure!
Guthrie, which is renowned for its illustrious past, rose to prominence during the Land Run of Oklahoma in 1889. That incident opened the lands of Indian Territory to the white settlement, which contributed to the very quick development of the place. This even leads to Guthrie becoming the territorial capital, and that too with a railroad stop. And since then the city has been continuously developing. Now it is said that Guthrie is one of the largest historical districts comprising more than 2,000 beautiful, Victorian buildings. Also, it is significant nationally for the collection of great commercial architecture of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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The Beckoning Marvels of the City of Guthrie, OK
Besides glorious history, Guthrie is packed with some super amazing and exciting things such as vintage restaurants, antique shops, insightful sites, beautiful art galleries, carriage tours, and so on. Not only this but it is also designated as a National Historic Landmark. It forms one of the best backdrops for the Territorial style and wild west entertainment. It is a place that has kept and maintained its glorious history and Edwardian beauty for decades.
Besides offering such beautiful experiences, Guthrie is a place that offers great hospitality to its visitors by catering to all their needs and never leaving them disappointed. And this is what makes this place a destination that needs to be explored. So, if you are also excited to explore Guthrie sometime, then let’s help you out by listing out some best things to do in Guthrie. OK
Best things to do in Guthrie OK
#1. Get acquainted with the history of Guthrie at the Territorial Museum And Carnegie Library
One of the best and foremost things to do in Guthrie, OK is to learn about the glorious past of the city. While there are a number of amazing locations where you may underpin more about the history of this fascinating location, the Carnegie Library, and Oklahoma Territorial Museum is the most popular of them.
The museum is housed in the 1902 Renaissance Revival Building and is brimming with amazing artifacts and sources that exhibit the magnificent history of the town. The museum is capable enough to give you glimpses of the Land of Run of 1889, the creation of some unassigned lands, and even the territorial and state government.
The museum also exhibits the beautiful ecology of the area along with Victorian etiquettes and territorial medicine and the breathtaking African-American experience. Here you can go through the significant history of Oklahoma through several archival materials. Here you will not only get to know about the history of Guthrie but also Oklahoma.
Address: 406 E Oklahoma Ave, Guthrie, OK 73044, Phone: 405-282-1889.
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#2. Experience the paranormal happenings in the Guthrie Ghost Walk
Yet another fantastic attraction to discover in Guthrie is to visit the Guthrie Ghost Walk. Guthrie has seen tales of ghosts and spirits in addition to the spectacular and magnificent past. And learning about them is undoubtedly an interesting activity to do here in the city.
The Ghost Walk is known to be the backdrop of some mysterious incidents, broken hearts, and murderous intentions. Here, you can feel all those scary vibes. You can also witness the bullet holes in the ceiling of the Bluebell. Also, the shuttered windows of the territorial jail scream about its terrible past.
Along with the classic and intricate architecture of the Edwardian and Victorian eras, hearing the haunting stories and sightings is something that can give you goosebumps but is an exciting experience at this place.
This scary walk begins at the Apothecary Garden located at the corner of Oklahoma Avenue and lasts for about 90 minutes. So, visit Guthrie Ghost Walk to enjoy 90 spooky minutes on your tour.
Address: 214 W Oklahoma Ave. Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044.
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#3. Taste some mouth-watering delicacies at Billy Simms BBQ
When talking about the best things to do in Guthrie, OK, how can we miss the award-winning BBQ chain that offers another level of tasty delicacies.
We’re confident that nobody wants to miss the smokey meats that have been seasoned for up to 14 hours in Billy Sims’ unique blend of spices. Although it requires a lot of patience and time, the wait is worthwhile.
So, if you’re a die-hard food fanatic, don’t miss trying the unique Billy Sims meat that has been expertly seasoned, smoked, and dry-rubbed. By the way, it is unnecessary to mention all of this because the enticing aroma of the Billy Sims BBQ will draw you in automatically.
Address: 1624 S Division St, Guthrie, OK 73044.
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#4. Witness the culture of Guthrie in Pollard Theatre
Watching a performance at Pollard Theatre is another excellent thing to do in Guthrie. Pollard Theatre is one of Oklahoma’s top performing arts organizations. And knowing that, how could anyone resist visiting this theater? Even though they are no longer as popular as they once were, theaters are nonetheless important. So, while on a tour to Guthrie, don’t miss this opportunity to visit Pollard theater.
The Pollard theater presents six shows in a season that exhibits great versatility and very high artistic standards. Also, this serves as a good way to help you to know about the culture and traditions of localities in the city.
Thus, the Pollard Theatre, a former furniture store that has been transformed into a theater, is one of Guthrie’s top attractions to check out.
Address: 120 W Harrison Ave, Guthrie, OK 73044, Phone: 405-282-2800
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#5. Offer prayers at one of the largest masonic temples in Guthrie
How can we skip the Guthrie Scottish Rite, one of the largest masonic temples in the world? The temple serves as the home base for the Scottish Rite to date. Established in 1919, the temple is a treat for sore eyes. This temple featuring a revival style will leave you in awe with its brilliant Neoclassical architecture.
The cherry on top is that the temple is also the home to Scottish Rite Museum and is sophisticated enough to tell you the tale of Oklahoma’s Adoptive Rites. Additionally, while you are there, you can also explore the 14 creative rooms that are located inside the temple.
Address: 900 E Oklahoma Ave, Guthrie, OK 73044.
#6. Try solving a murder mystery at the Stone Lion INN
Want some excitement in your monotonous life? Visit the hotel The Stone INN.
Distinguishable from its breakfast establishments, the hotel is also popular as one of the murder spots in Guthrie. The Lion Inn even hosts murder mystery weekends that offer an overnight stay with a lavish dinner. This hotel, which had served as a funeral home in the 1920s, is known for hosting murder mystery weekends and is thought to still be home to some paranormal activity.
The best part is that during Murder Mystery the guests are given a character and a script to learn the role and act as they are trying to solve a murder mystery. Sounds fun, right? So, hurry, book your seat to be a part of a real mystery.
Address: 1016 W Warner Ave Guthrie, OK.
#7. Feel the love of nature at Lake Guthrie
Guthrie is not just about the history and architecture but also an amazing place to experience the love of Nature. De-stress your mind and feel the freshness and beauty of Nature at Lake Guthrie. Go for a mild walk around the lake and admire the beauty of nature.
Also, here you can try your hands at fishing and also go boating. Moreover, here you can enjoy camping too. You can also see some movie stars filming close to the lake. This is why this location is known as “America’s Back Lot” because numerous movies are filmed here.
#8. Shop shop and shop!
Guthrie is one of the best places to indulge in a perfect shopping spree. If you are a shopaholic, then you are going to love Guthrie’s shopping spots. From art galleries to antique stores, Guthrie has it all.
Here you can get yourself some of the best souvenirs from pretty handicrafts to custom-made cowboy boots. Some of the shops that you can check out are Prairie Gothic, Utopia Joe Steampunk Surf, Biotique 206, and so on. But remember to plan your day accordingly as shopping needs a lot of time!
#9. Know the sporty history of Guthrie
Jim Thorpe, one of the renowned Olympians, belonged to Oklahoma and is a well-known athlete.
Hence the roots of Oklahoma’s athletic heritage can be traced to a deeper extent. So, how can we miss the opportunity to get glimpses of sporting history and the legends of Oklahoma.
Well, to know about them, Guthrie has one of the best spots, the Capital Sports Museum. The museum has 13,000 square feet of sports memorabilia along with the highlights of the renowned players, their contributions, and the life of different sports. Overall, the place is very inspiring.
Address: 315 West Oklahoma Avenue, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044.
#10. Experience the rodeo show in Lazy E Arena
This is a location that every die-hard fan of rodeo ought to visit.
Incepted in the year 1984, Lazy E Arena serves as a home to some very popular rodeo shows in the US such as National Finals Rodeo and National Finals Rodeo. The arena organizes roughly 40 events a year, some of which even feature highly renowned people.
You can check the calendar of events and plan your visit accordingly as it is one of the best things to experience in Guthrie.
Address: 9600 Lazy E Drive, Guthrie, Oklahoma 73044.
Key Takeaway
Thus, when you’re in Gutherie, there are plenty of options available. There are many exciting and entertaining things to discover in Oklahoma City. Whether you are traveling with family or friends or by yourself, this city will never let you down.