Chickasaw Cultural Center

Beautiful grounds and wonderfully air conditioned exhibits. Well worth $ 6 admission. Can tour grounds without paying.

This is a beautiful place to be. The scenery is beautiful. The center gives you immersive insight on the Chickasaw nation and their way of life. I went on a Wednesday, nothing special was going on besides movies, which I didn’t get a chance to partake in. Nonetheless, I appreciated my visit and will come back again!

Where do I start? First off, the grounds and buildings are beautiful. All of the Chickasaw Cultural Center employees were beyond wonderful. I was with my family which included my 93 yr old grandmother who is legally blind and struggles to get around. They asked how we were many times and even gave her a golf cart ride to the village area! The food in the café was amazing, I had a salad and the rest of the family had a Buffalo burger. While in the café there was a lovely lady that noticed my mother had sat on a chocolate cookie. She offered to get us some cleaning solution and a cloth so my mom could clean up! I cannot say enough about how gracious and polite everyone was. I have Cherokee lineage and enjoyed learning about another tribes history. I have visited many museums and this facility, without doubt, was one of the nicest I have ever toured. There were films being played but we missed them due to time constraints. The canoe exhibit was very interesting and had fascinating artifacts on display. There were many interactive things to do throughout the cultural center. In the village, there were people making bows, teaching how to play stick ball, others making leather goods and doing bead work and yarn dolls. One of the elders was singing in her native language and it was so beautiful! I am glad to see the Chickasaw are taking such great efforts to preserve their history for the children, grandchildren and all future generations. Thank you again for being so wonderful. Can’t wait to come back!

Having heard & seen lots of advertising on this, I was excited to see all the culture portrayed here so we took a Spring Break roadtrip to see it. We’ve been to enough museums to fairly rate this. We thought the exhibits were sparce of real artifacts. There was lots of reading boards but not a lot of visual exhibits & artifacts. I thought it was the Three Sisters Spring Celebration but the only special exhibit was the Dugout Canoe exhibit. We saw some people showing of their craft of bow & arrow making, leather work but didn’t see any dancing or shows. There was a group playing stickball & they allowed visitors to participate. It was certainly cheap enough to visit but we won’t go back.

The Chickasaw Cultural Center is a truly impressive complex of buildings serving as a worthy home for Chickasaw culture. We were lucky enough to be guided on our visit by the Director as part of our Unilocal road trip, and while that expertise helped ensure we got to experience the entire area, we didn’t experience anything that was « Unilocal-​unique» that we wouldn’t have been able to experience on our own. I was particularly impressed with the exhibit hall; they’ve made a point to present Chickasaw history as interactive and very much alive today: A stuffy museum, this ain’t. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity we had to learn about Chickasaw language and etymology, too.
I’m pretty critical about museum exhibits, because too often they become an extended shrine of hagiography commemorating their subject. (See also: Every middle school US History class ever taught, ever.) So I was especially impressed by how well the Chickasaw present their own history through the Center. It would be so understandable and so easy to present the tribe’s history as one of complete mistreatment and brutality at the hands of invading Europeans,* but the history is instead presented in a very balanced and honest way. It’s as accurate a discussion of the period’s history as you could ask for in a public exhibition, and I was very excited to see it.
Besides the history on display, we had the chance to see (and participate in) some of the traditional dances, see a film about some of Chickasaw history, look at some art and craft work performed today, and see a model village at the edge of the recreation area. We also sampled some of the traditional food at the Center’s café, finishing it off with Indian tacos (not because they are particularly unique to the Chickasaw, but because they taste really good).
I loved that I learned a lot during my visit to the Cultural Center, but I know I just scratched the surface. This is a spot that would be well worth a visit for anyone, and one I look forward to enjoying again in the future.
* There was a historiographical trend a few years ago noting that the vast majority of deaths caused by the European colonization of North and South America were the indirect results of diseases and invasive species which spread far ahead of the Europeans themselves. While this is true — the vast majority of Native Americans were killed by out-​of-​control epidemics which spread far ahead of any actual Europeans — one shouldn’t go too far the other way and pretend that no indigenous members were ever mistreated by colonists who didn’t exactly see these people as, you know, people (with rights and such). Get Jackson off the damn twenty!

It was a great facility and provided lots of information. The interactive exhibits worked and kept the attention of a 5 year old and were interesting for everyone else. The reconstructed buildings were fascinating and made our history book seem real.

I am absolutely 100% in love with the Chickasaw Cultural Center. I can honestly say that I will be back again and again and again and will require that all of my family and closest friends join me!
My husband and I had the opportunity to check out the CCC this past weekend as part of a Unilocal Super Elite group road trip to Chickasaw Country. The CCC was our first stop and we had a special tour arranged for us.
First stop was the Stomp Dance demonstration. It was awesome! After the demonstration, the audience was invited down to participate in some other dances. I’m so glad I worked up the courage to do that– it was a lot of fun. We then watched a short film about the history of the relationship between the Chickasaw tribe and the defeat of De Soto. After that we toured other exhibits and my favorite part, the Spirit Forest. I also really enjoyed the lunch at the café– especially the grape dumplings!
The grounds are breathtakingly beautiful and the architecture is equally lovely. Everyone was very friendly and eager to share different aspects of Chickasaw culture. I loved every aspect of our visit and can’t wait to go back!

The Chickasaw Cultural Center is a place that I will definitely bring my family back to explore. I had the opportunity to visit the site during a Unilocal Super-​Elite trip. I can honestly say that I did not feel that we were treated like we were special.
Instead, the passion and joy that all of the staff had for their work clearly expressed that everything and everyone was special. This was not a tour to explore dry history. This was a welcome to a living breathing culture. «Yes, we are here. But, here is where we came from. Come, walk the path that lead us through the years.»
From the performance (with audience participation), to the films, to the touchable displays each aspect enveloped the audience member in a rich history.
The mock village brought another aspect of the living history to the present.
There is much much more to explore and learn, and I look forward to going back and discovering more.
ps: The food in the café was good too. :-)

Impressive buildings and the people were pretty friendly until I made a suggestion… lol…then the weird vibes came crashing down. I liked the exhibits pretty well, but having worked in a museum, I would say there’s a little too much going on and too much of a mis-​mash, sometimes less is more. I liked the 3D exhibits best both indoors and out. It was a beautiful day so walking around in the village was very pleasant. The corn growing was ready for picking, nice-​looking plants. I got to see 4 boys play stick ball and they were having a good time. Back to the weird vibes… so I was walking thru the exhibit hall when a guard or docent walked by spraying something the whole time she walked. Before I knew it I started having an asthma attack. I had to leave the hall. I asked a docent what was being sprayed and he said he didn’t know for sure, but probably air freshener. Another person said it might be Lysol. No one knew why they needed to do this. There was no apology that I had to leave just silence and weirdness. I have never heard of anyone spraying the place down in a museum or any other space. It was very offensive and I got an instant headache as well as couldn’t breath (I’m usually not that sensitive, but some colognes/​perfumes have this affect as well.) I went to the gift shop after recovering somewhat, but they had a vanilla something, something Airwick product going that they said they just loved. They didn’t comprehend that it too was making it hard for me to breath and that quite a few people have asthma. All I can say is it’s too bad the place stinks, otherwise it would have been an awesome day. If you or your kids have asthma BEWARE. Others might say, hey, it’s only $ 5, but still…

As others have stated the grounds are beautiful. The architecture is impressive and although it is amazing to look at it’s 90% modern and has no relation to Native Americans or their history as a people/​culture.
No one was friendly except for the man at the gate. We went in the Welcome Center and no one even looked up (we were the only ones in there besides 2 employees) let alone «welcomed us». We went on a Sunday and perhaps that has something to do with the fact that there were only 3 buildings open to the public. There were NO demonstrations and we couldn’t visit the village because it had rained the night before.
At least 85% of their «history» is from 1904-​to present. There was very very little information given about their people before 1904. Even the 17 min introductory video to the museum only caused more confusion and questions. They barely touch on any one subject. I think they used the words sovereign nation and persevered at least 50 times in that video. We would have liked to learn HOW they persevered not just that they did.
Nearly all the exhibits and artifacts were replicas made of plastic or resin. Even the canoe that is featured prominently in a display was made from plastic. Really! There are also no directions as how to travel about to receive the best experience in their exhibits, museum, etc. And although wheelchair accessible I would far from consider this place wheelchair friendly-​nice smooth paths but A LOT of up and down hill. And no one is going to lift a finger to help you open a door.
The employees sitting at tables with «authentic» pieces (musical instruments, stickball, etc) could demonstrate the use of the item but had NO IDEA of the history behind the item. And when we tried to talk to them, they seemed annoyed and extremely uninformed.
All in all the 2 stars is for the facilities and grounds. I would never recommend this place to anyone unless they’ve already seen everything else there is to see in Oklahoma. And honestly you could learn more about the Chickasaw from a book. However, there were NONE in the gift shop for purchase. Not even a postcard… tshirts and stuffed animals… and ALL the tshirts had the exact same logo on every shirt. Very disappointed…

This place is a must see if you’re driving to or from Texas. If you’re ignorant like me and want to learn more about the Chickasaw nation and some general Native American history, this place is great. It’s one of the gems Oklahoma has to offer.

I love, love, love this place! The Chickasaw Cultural Center (and the Chickasaw Recreation Area nearby) is one of my favorite day or overnight trips from Dallas.
The grounds and buildings are stunning. There are lots of water features, lovely flowers, great sculpture.
The story of the Chickasaw nation is presented in the Exhibit Hall in a powerful and engaging way. First, you hear an audio presentation, which is so appropriate, given the Native American oral history tradition. Then there is a short, really well made, film. From there, you pass through the «Spirit Forest» into the more museum-​like Hall. There’s really something here to engage anyone. I could’ve spent all day at the interactive language stations, while my MIL was drawn to the historical stories, and daughter’s eyes caught by the beautiful artifacts. I think even young kids would like the Spirit Forest and Stomp Dance circle.
Sadly, the Art Gallery was closed today. I greatly enjoyed an exhibit of Mike Larsen’s artwork that was here last time I was here, and was hoping to show his stunning portraiture to my daughter.
Also enjoyed the Aaimpa’ Café (tasty food, attractive patio) and the Traditional Village. Try to visit on a pleasant weather day, as the grounds are well worth exploring.
On a previous visit, we saw the Honor Garden, a respectful and lovely memorial to deceased members of the Nation, and saw a dance performance. (Great experience, but try to snag a shaded end of the bench!)
The greatest thing about the Center, is that it isn’t just a museum, but is a research facility and focus point for the Chickasaw Nation. Because their story is alive and on-​going, not just ancient history.
So, thank you all for sharing it with me in such an amazing and enjoyable way!

Okay, so, I was going to give our second stop on the itinerary, the Chickasaw Cultural Center, four stars, then my roomie and I started talking about our day there and unfortunately had to reduce our rating by a star. ‘Please read on to find out why.
Positives: The cultural center is beautiful. The architecture is modern, with beige and brown stone making up much of the building facades. There are gardens, an amphitheater, a traditional village display, a café, a welcome center, and two gift shops. Most of the staff were friendly, and there were two water stations set up – one on the traditional grounds and one in front of the Chikasha Poya building. We enjoyed learning about the Chickasaw people, and we also enjoyed the fashion show in the Anoli Theater. We also loved that there’s a time capsule in front of the warrior sculpture, and that many of the signs were translated. I will now remember that Hika means «Stop». :-) We also found some inexpensive souvenirs in the gift shops, and one of us, a teacher, bought a book about native american tribes to share with her classroom for $ 2.50!
Negatives: The cultural center, while very nice, wasn’t great about making sure that it delivered when it came to the events scheduled. We were so excited to check out the traditional grounds because on the website, and on a sign outside the center, there were several activities scheduled from 10a-4:30p that we wanted to try – archery, stickball, chunkey marbles, and witness the language demonstrations and storytelling. We were sorely disappointed when we finally made our way in the scorching heat to the traditional village and saw nothing going on. There were two men dressed in Native American garb near one of the summer houses, with a table and some artifacts set up. I asked them about the various events and neither one knew what I was talking about. When I called the main line, the woman who answered apologized, which I did appreciate, but she mentioned that the events were supposed to be underway. She said that perhaps the others had gone to lunch and I asked if there were any other interactive exhibits we could visit. She gave us a few options, including a fashion show, artist visit, and something else I can’t remember. We decided to cool off and see the fashion show, which was cute. However, if something is advertised, it should be actualized. Period.
Would I go back? Absolutely! I would love to have the opportunity to see the cultural demonstrations and see any new exhibits they may have. This is still a good place to check out some of the history of Chickasaw Country. Just be sure to bring a water bottle and/​or shades and a sun hat (in the summer months) and to call ahead to double check on events before you go. :-)

We came here on our way back from Dallas and really enjoyed the center. The workers were all extremely friendly. The exhibits were neat to look at and there was a wide variety of things to see.
We did not go down to see the village or the movie as it was way too hot but we will definitely go back for those pieces of the center.
I enjoyed the grounds outside and the limited weaponry inside. My wife enjoyed hearing the 3 Chickasaw women singing in the native language.
P. S. They give discounts for Senior Citizens, military, and tribal members of all tribes!

This place may be 10 miles off I-​35 but it is worth every mile and the time that you spend instead of traveling.
The gorgeous new facility flows in and out of the rolling landscape reflecting both the modern thriving aspect of this Indian nation as well as providing historic context and texture.
The people working at the center couldn’t be more welcoming. In fact, as we came down the winding path down the hill a woman emerged from the front office and hustled over to tell us that the stomp dancing was just starting in the village area. Glad she made sure we didn’t miss it. My daughter and I enjoyed participating, but a bit more instruction from the leaders about whether we were supposed to try and repeat the sung phrases or copy the female dancers’ feet movements would have been helpful. One of the staff woman spent a LONG time showing my daughter how to make a corn husk doll. I had the sense people enjoy their work there.
We spent about 3 hours there total and had to get back on the road, but I wished I had a bit more time in the museum part. The Spirit Room that you enter after the film was a particularly nice way to transition visitors into the educational space.
Finally, loved the fact that the cafeteria served more than boring road food and also had some Chickasaw options. It was a beautiful space too.
Thanks to everyone at the center for making this a memorable stop on our drive through Oklahoma.

The campus here is quite large. I brought my family on a Saturday where they are only open from 12−4pm. We showed up around 12:40 and were told the next show would be at 3. I sure would like to see more shows on the schedule than that.
The day we went, it was about 400 degrees or so outside (give or take ~5 degrees) so we opted to walk the campus instead and then leave. The grounds are gorgeous and they have at least one free cold water station along the walking path that I was VERY tempted to pour over my head. We didn’t get to see the show but I did appreciate the grounds.
I highly recommend calling them in advance to time your visit and the show schedule accordingly.

I didn’t get to see everything because I came an hour before closing but the main museum was so nice and interesting. The guides were so friendly and knew so much and could answer any question. I would suggest planning on spending at least 2 hrs.

This is the best Native American museum/​cultural experience I’ve ever seen. It accomplished what the Smithsonian museum of the American Indian tried to do – the story of a native peoples curated and told by native peoples as both an historical and active living nation. It succeeds where the Smithsonian failed because it tells a coherent story of a single nation, the Chickasaw Nation.
The first striking feature is the architecture. The sprawling campus has a very modern feel which borrows elements from modern prairie architecture and elements from historical Chickasaw settlements. The buildings have beautiful Forms which seem to rise out of the prairie.
The exhibit hall has a nicely produced introduction movie, followed by a walk in the spirit forest, an indoor forest in which Chickasaw stories are told by recorded voices which are activated by motion sensors. The glowing pond was the highlight as those stories are animated by pictures at the bottom of the pond. My kids kept going back to explore the spirit forest. This is followed by an extensive exhibit space utilizing all the interactive elements one would expect from an exhibit that opened in 2010. Small motion-​activated theaters tell about various features of Chickasaw life; touch panels speak key words in Chickasaw language; artifacts trace historical Chickasaw life. All of this is placed in an arc from ancient stories of Chickasaw migration east of the Mississippi through the Trail of Tears to modern times. As an example of how this story is told by Chickasaw, no burial artifacts are on display, and a statement about the introduction of alcohol to Chickasaw by Europeans does not mince words about the evils of alcohol or the intentions of Europeans. Outside the entrance, four members of Chickasaw Nation were displaying traditional craft: belt weaving, bow making, basket making, and drums. These rotating cultural experiences give you a chance to talk with living Chickasaw about their craft. Two gift shops, one Chickasaw specific and one across Nations, have lots for sale.
The historical recreation of an 18^th century settlement gives you a real sense of scale. The cafeteria allows you to sample Chickasaw fare for lunch (get the Chickasaw Special). If you still have time after all that, you can explore the outdoor gardens.
My two criticisms: they could use a few maps posted around the campus to let you known about hours, prices, and what is available for the public in different locations. Second, the cafeteria used all throw away plates and utensils – not very sustainable.

it is awsome from the visiter center to the spirit forest, Amphitheater, the traditonal village, exhitbit center, there are people there doing bead work, bow making, flute making, story teller, stick ball stick maker.
there is so much to see and do. and there is a café servise is friendly & the food is good. its beautiful the buildings are beautiful.
my favorite thing was the spirit forest it was so cool. and yes planing on going back.
I-​35 DAVIS OK. EXIT 10 MILE EAST.