Lawton Has Some Surprisingly Good Museums

There are probably a lot of people in Lawton who haven't been to the museums located all around us.

I've been to all of them, and Lawton has an impressive collection of museums for a town our size.

The Museum of the Great Plains is probably the obvious starting point, and it's a whole lot more interesting than the word "museum" makes it sound. It isn't just a bunch of old stuff sitting behind glass. There are interactive exhibits, historical buildings both inside and out, and plenty of things you'll find fascinating as an adult.

If you're not from Oklahoma, the Terrible Tuesday tornado exhibit is a must. It tells the story of the 1955 tornado that tore through Lawton, but what makes it so epic is how it's presented. It's not a wall of pictures and news clippings... You literally sit in a large storm shelter while the story plays out around you.

It'll rattle your nerves.

Also, you'll all have fun making crafts in the famous Howard Council Saddle Shop. They moved the shop into the museum after he passed.

Just those two experiences are worth the visit alone.

Then swing around the McMahon Auditorium to the Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center.

That's another one I think people overlook because it's right here in town. It tells the story of the Comanche people through their own history, culture, art and artifacts.

Last, but certainly not least, there's Fort Sill.

The Fort Sill museums are a completely different experience. If you're interested in Oklahoma history, military history or just the history of this part of the country, there's a lot there.

That's the thing about Lawton.

We tend to think these places are for the tourists. They're not. They're ours, but visitors enjoy it just as much.

And there's actually a little urgency to visit Great Plains Museum right now. The museum is scheduled to close its main building after August 15 for major repairs, with full operation not expected to return until 2028.

So if you've lived here for years and keep saying, "I really need to go check that place out sometime," it's go-time.

You'll be surprised how much Lawton's fascinating history is actually sitting right in front of us.