Museum of the Great Plains — Attraction in Lawton

Absolute worst museum experience I've ever had and we didn't even get to experience it.

As soon as we walked in, the rude lady behind the counter was quick to tell me to take my kids water flasks back to my car as they do not allow "food or beverages." I then asked, "even my kids water flasks?" Which she was quick to disrespectfully gesture to the sign at her register/stand that said "no food or beverage."

I understand the no food and even most drinks, however small children's drinking cups have always been accepted literally anywhere I have ever been in my life, even all museums. I even said kids water cups aren't usually induced in these types of rules.

I expressed my concern as it was a hot day nearing 100 degrees and my kids needed their drinks. I said "what are we supposed to do? They are kids, they will dehydrate. The lady then told me they had water fountains the kids could use.

ARE YOU SERIOUS? I can't even believe water fountains are even used these days, especially after covid. Public water fountains propose and create a huge hygiene concern for any and all those that use them. I am not allowing my kids to put their mouths near where complete strangers/other kids have used and could have potential life threatening germs.

Is my 1 year old daughter expected to somehow use the disgusting water fountain? Shall I put her face near the faucet where she potentially makes contact with the water hole where any stranger could have put their lips on it? Makes no sense.

I then asked "what about the outside part of the museum?" She also said no to that as well, we could only use their drinks outside in the parking lot.

There was literally no compromise, no reasoning, no answers to why we weren't allowed to have our water flasks. Did they think we'd allow our kids to open them up and start pouring water on the attractions? I do not understand. We've been to countless museums in multiple countries and have never had this issue.

This was extremely upsetting as we looked forwarded to visiting for weeks after moving to our current location. We will never visit again and I will passionately express to anyone I know to never visit as well.

TLDR: The rude museum staff lady preferred my kids to not be allowed water and to dehydrate or use a germ infested public water fountain. There was no reasoning or answers to why, just a weird control rule. Land of the...

A museum that punches WELL above its size.

This museum is awesome. I didn't anticipate little Lawton, Oklahoma having such an amazing place. I was there for hours with my children, and we didn't run out of things to see.

My kids had an absolute blast. They loved digging for fossils, taking apart the life-size plastic buffalo to learn about how their parts were used, and they ESPECIALLY loved dressing up and playing store in the General Store. They enjoyed trying out the printing press, making the little windmills turn, and more. I'm not sure how to not turn this review into a list, but it really is hard to write this and not praise everything about this place.

Visitors should know that there's also a very good-sized outdoor portion of the museum as well! There's an old train station to check out (with a fun, hands-on Morse Code machine), a real train engine, and a full old schoolhouse.

As an adult, I learned a ton, and enjoyed doing it. The exhibits are really interesting. I've been to too many museums that are basically just a bunch of posters to read -- not so here! Nearly everything has some sort of hands-on or cool visual component.

My one caution would be that they have a (truly incredible!) exhibit that simulates what it may have been like during a very powerful tornado. It is amazing, but it may be too intense for small children. Recordings from real-life survivors narrate their experience while the exhibit responds. It's highly immersive, and a powerful experience. I was very emotionally moved by the end. Kids might find it a bit too scary, so just know that before you enjoy that room.

I absolutely, absolutely recommend this place. There's so much to learn and do. Tons of legitimately fun, hands-on things to explore. I have no complaints whatsoever. When I pass through Lawton in the future, I will definitely be visiting this place a...

Drove 2 hrs for our 1st visit and was quite impressed. Wished we had known of this place when our kids were young. It's quite educational and LOTS of hands-on exhibits.

Kids can go into a tipi (correct spelling) and feel all the animal hides from skunk to badger to coyote. They have a buffalo on the floor who's hide lifts up and all the inside parts of it are visible for you to take apart and around the outside on the floor the parts are labeled so you know what they were used for. They can learn how to lasso a model cow and practice. They can put together letters on a magnetic board and make their own brand for cattle (see photo). They can go into a general store, pick up a basket that has a grocery list in it, pick up a bag of money and fill up their basket while inside and pay at the register. They can make a bead pattern with what looks like checkers on a board representing beadwork by the Kiowa Indians. You get the point. SO much to do, so awesome and fun for kids!

The other really neat exhibit was the Terrible Tuesday Tornado Theater you can sit inside. It holds very few people, maybe 10 or 15, and is very realistic. It has old footage from the 1979 tornadoes that came through Wichita Falls and Lawton and you hear the voices of people who went through it and the whole place shakes like you're in the cellar and the lights flicker. It would not be good for someone who's been traumatized by a tornado or for small children.

There's also an old train, train depot, old farm implements, and a fort outdoors to visit.

The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because the guide map is unreadable. The print for each exhibit is so small and stretched out that it's impossible to read so it does you no good. They really need to invest the time and money into making a large fold-out map. After all, a map is an integral part to...