An illuminated tunnel beneath a runway adds an unusual feature: the Airport Trail passes right underneath it. In Pottawatomie County, details like this sit alongside art collections, Indigenous cultural history, memorial sites, and landscapes. You can shape your explorations around a wide range of interests.
Art, Culture, and History
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art was founded in 1919. Its permanent collections include Egyptian, Greek, and Roman objects; art from the Middle Ages and Renaissance through the early 20th century; and extensive collections of Indigenous American, African, Oceanic, and Eastern cultural artifacts. The collection thus brings together many eras and regions of the world in one place.
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center shares and presents the culture, traditions, and history of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation—for tribal members and the public alike. The Santa Fe Depot offers a different view of history: built in 1903–1904, it operated as a train station until 1973. The Milburn Center, which opened in 2021, houses the Pottawatomie County Historical Society and local exhibits of interest. Their content may change.
A mission founded by the Society of Friends for the Absentee Shawnee Indians was established in 1871; the original log cabin was replaced in 1885. A memorial stone marks a site near the Jesse Chisholm Trading Post and Spring, a historically significant trading post and spring from the territorial period.
In Shawnee, the Oklahoma Veterans Memorial features a five-pointed star, with each point representing a branch of the armed forces. The park includes a ten-section granite wall bearing the names of all known Oklahoma residents who have died in service since the Spanish-American War, and a 1965 Huey helicopter mounted above the memorial.
Downtown and Events
Historic Downtown Shawnee is a pre-statehood district along Main Street. It includes a one-mile, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly stretch with restaurants, bars, boutiques, antique stores, art galleries, a water park, and entertainment. Recurring block parties take place from April through September, along with a car show in July, a Halloween festival in October, and the Parade of Lights in December. Check the specific event dates before your trip.
The Pottawatomie County Free Fair also offers a range of activities: the program includes livestock shows, a petting zoo, live music, barrel racing, and team roping. Since it is an annual event, check that year’s program.
Lakes, Wildlife, and Outdoor Activities
The Citizen Potawatomi Nation Eagle Aviary provides a permanent home for injured eagles and other birds of prey that cannot return to the wild. Free tours are offered Thursday through Saturday by appointment. The land around Shawnee Twin Lakes serves as a wildlife sanctuary. At Lake #1, Isaac Walton Park includes a pavilion, campsites, and picnic areas.
There are also specific ways to explore actively. The Airport Trail passes through an illuminated tunnel beneath the runway. Water hazards come into play on 13 of the 18 holes at FireLake Golf Course; the course also has 11 lakes and a natural creek running through its center. These offer a variety of nature and recreation experiences: a protected landscape, an unusual trail route, and a course where water shapes the game.
For getting around, Shawnee Regional Airport offers a courtesy car or an on-site Enterprise rental car; check availability before your trip. Other useful planning details include the Aviary’s set tour days, the appointment requirement, and seasonal event schedules—helping you match your interests with the right visit dates.
Discover more destinations: Maud, Custer, Pontotoc, Delaware County, Tillman County, Sequoyah County, Cherokee, Okmulgee County.
For the broader travel overview: Oklahoma.
