The Mercy Train has been restored as a landmark and returned to the Santa Fe Depot in Ardmore. It first arrived there more than 100 years ago. The Healdton Oil Museum offers another historical focus: it recalls the oil boom that began in Healdton in 1913.
Museums with a Regional Perspective
The collections at the Greater Southwest Historical Museum focus especially on Ardmore and Carter County, while also exploring the social, cultural, and economic history of South-Central Oklahoma. The museum also houses a military museum with exhibits on wars and conflicts, from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and Indian Wars to World Wars I and II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and the Gulf and Iraq Wars.
The Eliza Cruce Hall Doll Museum at the Ardmore Public Library offers a very different perspective. More than 300 rare and antique dolls from the United States and Europe are on display there. The Wilson Historical Museum, in turn, has a database of more than 10,000 obituaries and 3,000 images from Wilson and surrounding communities. Each collection and archive has a different focus: the history of the region, a distinctive doll collection, or memories from individual towns.
The Tucker Tower also brings together several themes: it is a geological museum and nature center for Lake Murray State Park. Exhibits explore the history of the tower and the surrounding region.
Architecture, Art, and Remembrance
Heritage Hall is an Art Deco building in downtown Ardmore. The building hosts concerts and gatherings; dates vary by event. The Charles B Goddard Center for Visual & Performing Arts includes a visual art museum, a performing arts theater, a sculpture garden, and a studio for hands-on art experiences. Offerings also include traveling exhibits, guest performances, educational lessons, screenings, and hands-on art classes.
Memorial Square and the Oil Patch Warrior statue are located in Memorial Park. Both are dedicated to the history of Ardmore and its citizens. Together with the museums, these places tell different stories of the local past, from culture and art to public remembrance.
Annual Festivals
The Carter County Free Fair is the county’s longest-running event. It promotes the area’s agricultural heritage with free exhibits and tours. Healdton Oilfield Days is an annual, two-day festival featuring mutton busting, rodeo competitions, a car show, and a parade. The Ardmore Festival of Lights offers a different experience: the seasonal drive-through display is 1.5 miles long and features more than 125 animated light displays. Festival dates and seasonal display operating details may change; check the latest information before your trip.
Lake Murray and Trails in the State Park
Lake Murray lies entirely within Lake Murray State Park. The park encompasses 12,500 acres of wooded, gently rolling landscape. It has more than 30 miles of scenic trails for hiking and biking. In addition, the trail system includes ten miles of trails for beginner hikers and mountain bikers. One clearly identified shorter route is the one-mile Heart Healthy Trail, which runs from the lodge and cabin area to the park office and fishing pier.
The park grounds include nearly 1,000 acres of trails for ATVs, motorcycles, and dirt bikes. For a different kind of activity, Lake Murray State Park’s 18-hole golf course features tall oak trees, tree-lined fairways, strategically placed water hazards, and a natural waterfall. The course has a pro shop and practice facility; private and group lessons are also available.
At Lake Murray Water Sports & Mini Golf, visitors can rent pedal boats, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and sailboats. The facility also offers mini golf on an 18-hole course. Both are seasonal offerings; operating dates may change. For road directions, Carter County is centrally located on I-35 between Dallas and Oklahoma City. From I-35 Exit 24, it is three miles east to Lake Murray State Park.
More Things to Do in Ardmore
Ardmore Regional Park has trails for hiking, jogging, and roller skating. Hardy Murphy Coliseum has 550 horse stalls and a climate-controlled arena. Ardmore Community Water Park features winding slides, water basketball, and a zero-entry pool for small children; its seasonal access may change.
Discover more destinations: Sequoyah County, Major County, Caddo County, Pushmataha County, Seminole County, Woodward County, Johnston County.
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