The spirit of the Old West complements the New West, blending cowboys and cattle with cosmopolitan cultural arts and adventures in Oklahoma City. During the “Oklahoma Land Run,” Oklahoma City was literally settled in a day. When the government made unassigned land available for settlement, 10,000 homesteaders staked their claim to land and created a tent city in what is now downtown Oklahoma City. The city has been on the move ever since.
Shortly after Oklahoma was admitted to the Union in 1907, Oklahoma City became the state capital and a commercial center. Before WWII, the cattle stockyard was established and oil had been discovered. Through the years, Oklahoma City has not been without troubles and tragedy. From the mid-1960s and into the early 1980s, civil rights issues and a downturn in the economy created a period of stagnation. In 1995, the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building drew the attention of the world. And, Oklahoma City has seen its share of the tornadoes and powerful storms that rip through the Midwest. However, the spirit of the original intrepid homesteaders prevail. Today, the Oklahoma City Stockyards is still the largest cattle market in the world and the city is a center for energy, biotechnology, information technology and health services. Tinker AFB is the largest military air depot in the nation. Business and leisure visitors have re-discovered Oklahoma City.
Will Rogers World Airport (OKC) offers non-stop service to over 30 cities in the U.S. with over 180 flights per day. Amtrak has a downtown rail station with service to Fort Worth and a stop on the Heartland Flyer route. Oklahoma City transportation is limited to a trolley/bus system. Most visitors find that a rental car is best for getting around Oklahoma City.
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