Museum of the Great Plains (MGP)

Located in Lawton, Oklahoma, the Museum of the Great Plains is an interactive history museum that is designed around engaging the whole family, not just children. The museum’s focus is on the human history of the Great Plains with its ancient mammoth hunters, Indigenous cultures, agricultural settlers and homesteaders, and the founding of Lawton itself. MGP was first established in 1961 but received a massive expansion in 1997 and a complete gallery renovation from 2012 to 2015.

Along with our indoor gallery, which includes a STEAM space on the mezzanine, MGP also has outdoor exhibits including the Elgin train depot, Blue Beaver one-room schoolhouse, the 1526 Frisco steam engine, and a replica of an 1830s fur trading post. We use an open floor plan and self-directed interpretive displays to allow visitors to explore and learn at their own pace. Some of our exhibit highlights include a tornado simulator in a fake cellar, a movie theater with mission-relevant programming, a frontier general store, a chuckwagon, a leather shop, a print shop, a take-apart bison, and two rotating exhibit spaces. While the museum does not offer guided tours, our educational staff are always ready to answer questions or provide assistance.

As a municipal trust of the City of Lawton, MGP operates as an independent 501(c)(3) and is certified by the American Alliance of Museums; MGP was also the first museum in the state of Oklahoma to receive AAM certification.

The Museum of the Great Plains regularly hosts Neuro Night, a quarterly event geared towards a sensory-friendly experience for neurodiverse individuals and their families to visit the gallery. Visit https://www.discovermgp.org/ to learn more about Neuro Nights, including event dates and times. Sensory bags are available upon request.

Our gallery is designed to be fully wheelchair accessible.