Oklahoma – The Sooner State

Oklahoma is nicknamed the Sooner State because of the settlers who claimed land in the Oklahoma territory before the area was officially opened for settlement. However, the settlement of Oklahoma did not eradicate the Native American culture from the state. Ranking third behind Alaska and California, Oklahoma still has more than 25 Native American languages spoken in the state. The culture of Oklahoma has actually been influenced by three groups — the Native Americans, cowboys on cattle drives, and Southerners heading west. Oklahoma suffered a major period of population decline from the 1930s to the 1950s. It started with the Dust Bowl caused by a long period of little rain, high temperatures, strong winds, and poor farming practices. Soil and water conservation projects including building dams, reservoirs, lakes, and flood control systems helped resolve these issues. The population has returned to a pattern of growth since that time. Two-thirds of the state’s current population live in either Oklahoma City or Tulsa.

Geographically, from east to west, Oklahoma is part of the interior highlands, Cross Timbers, and great plains areas of the United States. The interior highlands is a mountainous region between the Appalachian and the Rocky Mountains. The Cross Timbers area is the western geographic habitat border for many species of mammals and insects. The great plains is flat land filled with prairies and grasslands. So, Oklahoma is comprised of forests in the east with mountain ranges, mesas, and prairies further west. The prairies are home to species such as American bison, armadillos, and prairie dogs that many states do not have. Oklahoma’s economy is based on oil, natural gas, and agricultural production, Aviation, telecommunications, energy, and biotechnology also play an important role.

Oklahoma City

Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city in Oklahoma. The Land Run of 1889 played a big role in the founding of the city. The Land Run caused the city’s population to grow to over 10,000 in a few hours. Most of the city is in the Great Plains region of Oklahoma. However, the northeast corner of Oklahoma City is in the Cross Timbers section. Oklahoma City is located on the famous Route 66 and on the I-35 Corridor. The I-35 Corridor runs north from Texas and Mexico to Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas. The economy of Oklahoma City is based on livestock, oil, natural gas, and petroleum. Oil derricks have even been placed on the grounds of the capitol. In the Bricktown entertainment district, Oklahoma City added a canal with water taxis. This area includes a new baseball park, a renovated convention center, a central library, and the fairgrounds.

Sports are a big part of the Oklahoma City culture. The National Basketball Association (NBA) team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, moved there in 2008. They play at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The arena is in downtown Oklahoma City and also provides a locale for concerts, NHL exhibition games, and some of the games of other Oklahoma City sports teams. The Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team, the Oklahoma City Dodgers, play at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. The Dodgers are the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate team. The city is also the home of the United Soccer League team, the Oklahoma City Energy FC; the USA Rugby team, the OKC Crusaders; and the Central Hockey League team, the Oklahoma City Blazers. Since 2014, the Blazers have been a Western States Hockey League junior team. For the sports fans in Oklahoma City, Dish Network offers 24/7 sports coverage with the Multi-Sport Pack.

Residents can relax at home and watch any number of sports programs on Dish Network’s wide array of offerings. Customers always have access to an affordable, convenient menu of benefits, channels and programs. For more information, and to start getting all that Dish Network has to offer, check out the website.

Among the places to visit in Oklahoma City is the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum that commemorates the 168 victims of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995.

The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum features exhibits on Western history, art, and culture including the Hall of Great Western Performers. It is located at 1700 Northeast 63rd Street and is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

The American Banjo Museum promotes and preserves the heritage and music of the banjo. The exhibits detail the history of the banjo from the American slave culture through bluegrass and folk music to the world stage. It is located in the Bricktown Entertainment district at 9 East Sheridan Avenue and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm.

Unpluggits Playstudio, in nearby Edmond, provides fun offline activities for children from 18 months to 10 year’s old. They are encouraged to draw, paint, or sculpt, and are provided with easels, chalk tables, and Play-Doh. There is also an indoor play area that includes dress-up clothes, air hockey, trains, sand, a sunken pirate ship, and a toddler tree house. It is located at 575 Enterprise Drive, Suite 110 and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm, Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 8 pm, and Sunday from 1 pm to 6 pm.

The Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler examines the life that Route 66 created in the communities along it from the 1920s through today. It is located at 400 East 1st Street in Chandler and is open between May and September on Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. In June, July, and August, it is also open on Monday from 10 am to 5 pm. It is closed on Saturday in January and February.

Tulsa

Tulsa, part of Oklahoma’s Green Country, is 99 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. It is the center for the arts in the state. It supports both a ballet and opera company along with two art museums. In addition, the architecture of many of its buildings is art deco. This is due to its growth spurt between 1901 and 1930 when art deco was popular. The growth spurt occurred after the discovery of oil and helped Tulsa become the second largest city in Oklahoma. The growth spurt also brought a different demographic into Tulsa. Previously, settlers in Oklahoma came from Texas and other southern states. However, the discovery of oil attracted people from the East Coast and the Midwest creating a demographic with a larger Catholic and Jewish population than other Oklahoma cities. The economy in Tulsa is now based on oil along with finance, aviation, technology, and telecommunications.

The idea for building Route 66 to link Chicago and Los Angeles originated with Tulsa businessman, Cyrus Avery. The route used a section of a road running between Amarillo, Texas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma and helped the development of all the communities along it including Tulsa. For a fun experience, enjoy driving the full length of Route 66 or take short road trips to sites such as the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, or the World’s Largest Totem Pole on Highway 28A off Route 66 in Foyil, Oklahoma.

To get more Route 66-style flavor visit the Woody Guthrie Center dedicated to the folk singer and songwriter. It is located at 102 East Mathew B. Brady Street in Tulsa and is opened Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.

While Tulsa is a wonderful place to explore, it’s always a good idea to have a backup. By purchasing an affordable television and internet bundle from Dish Network, you can indulge in some of your favorite programs from the comfort of your own home. As an added bonus, new customers get three free months of HBO®, Cinemax®, and Showtime®.

Norman

Norman, located 20 miles south of Oklahoma City, is the third largest city in Oklahoma. Like Oklahoma City, it was settled during the Land Run of 1889. The eastern section of Norman is in the Cross Timbers region while the western section is part of the plains. The University of Oklahoma is located in Norman. Due to the university, the economy in Norman is based on education and research. The university also has created opportunities for enjoyment for those with diverse interests. Sports fans can enjoy the university’s various teams while cultural arts enthusiasts can enjoy the multiple museums provided by the university.

The National Weather Center also is located in Norman. It is a cooperative venture between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the University of Oklahoma, and other federal, state, and private organizations. These groups study the weather, and one division, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), issues nationwide severe storm and tornado warnings. The National Weather Center provides free tours with reservations required.

The University of Oklahoma provides symphony and jazz performances at the Catlett Music Center. These performances are open to the public. Drama, dance, and musical theater can be enjoyed at the University’s Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts

Norman also has quite a few annual community events including the Norman Medieval Fair held in late March or early April at Reaves Park. The Norman Music Festival also is held in April in the downtown section of Norman. From the Spring through the Fall, the Summer Breeze Concert Series brings musical performers to various parks in Norman. The series is sponsored by the Performing Arts Studio. Jazz in June features both jazz and blues and is held in multiple venues. Another music festival is Groovefest held in September at Andrews Park. The annual arts festival, May Fair, showcases fine art, crafts, performers, and food. In June, the Midsummer Nights’ Fair is held over two nights in Lions Park by the Firehouse Art Center. Every fall, they also hold a festival that provides weather-related activities for all ages. Everything chocolate can be found at the annual Chocolate Festival. Norman also has its own Mardi Gras and Christmas parades.

In nearby Noble, Oklahoma, you can visit the Rose Rock Museum. Rose rocks resemble roses and are formed by barite rock crystals. They are found in only a few places in the world. The museum is located at 419 S. Highway 77 in Noble.

The Chisholm Trail also ran through this area. The natural spring at Enid that is now part of the Government Springs Park was a watering hole for cattle on the trail.

With so much to see and explore, you’re bound to miss some of your favorite shows and television specials! Fortunately, Dish Network’s Hopper is an HD DVR program that enables you to pause, rewind, and record live TV Now you enjoy the nightlife of Cedar Falls without skipping out on the newest episode of Game of Thrones or Keeping Up with the Kardashians. What’s more, with 2,000 hours of recording space, there’s no need to argue about who gets the TV during primetime hours.

Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow is the fourth largest city in the state and has a mixed economic base. It is part of the Green Country region of Oklahoma. When the Creek tribe was relocated here from Alabama, they brought the name of their former village, Rekackv or Broken Arrow, with them. The nearby city of Glenpool is where the oil was discovered that created Tulsa’s growth spurt.

A long-standing event in Broken Arrow is Rooster Days. It started in 1931 when many farmers were selling eggs for a living. Because non-fertile eggs keep longer, roosters were not desirable. So farmers brought their roosters to market on the annual Rooster Days in May to sell them. There was music, and each year more entertainment was added. Rooster Days continued even after farmers switched from poultry farms. Now, Rooster Days offers a rodeo, a parade, a queen’s pageant, a carnival, live entertainment, and an egg hunt,

Lake Bixhoma in Bixby is near Broken Arrow. As a public reservoir, it offers fishing from the bank or from a boat, stand-up paddle boarding, and kayaking. Charcoal grills, fire pits, and picnic areas are available.

Weather

The weather can be treacherous in Oklahoma. The state is part of “Tornado Alley” that runs from Texas north to Canada. Studies show that one-fourth of the more serious tornadoes occur in Tornado Alley. Most of the tornadoes occur from March through June.

Services Available in Oklahoma

Whether your interests align with the sports fans in Oklahoma City or the cultural arts enthusiasts in Tulsa, you may find yourself hosting a tailgate party or a cocktail party for those with similar interests. Catering services are available in Oklahoma to help you plan any type of gathering from small parties to large events. Hiring a catering company makes things easier for you and lets you enjoy the event.

If you plan on taking a road trip on Route 66 be sure to have your automobile checked and serviced before you hit the road. That way you can relax and see the sites and not deal with breakdowns that interfere with your travel plans. You can schedule an appointment with an automotive service center and be all set to go. Many companies assist you with transportation needs while your car is being serviced.

Whether you are a sports fan or a cultural arts enthusiast, Dish Network also provides services tailored for you. They start with a line-up of more than 200 national HD channels and international channels and provide award winning HD DVR technology. The Hopper Whole-Home HD DVR allows you the power to pause, rewind, and record live TV in any room with up to 2,000 hours of recording space. In addition, HBO®, Cinemax®, and Showtime® are free for 3 months for new customers. Dish Network now also can be paired with any Amazon Alexa-enabled device. The On Demand library allows you to choose from over 20,000 TV shows and movies. With 24/7 customer support, they are ranked number one nationally in customer service by J.D. Power. For the Spanish-speaking population of Oklahoma, DishLATINO has the best of Spanish and English language programming. Check with Dish Network for TV and high-speed internet bundles that are available for one convenient payment.

So whether you prefer sports or cultural arts, Dish Network, just like Oklahoma, has entertainment for you.