Only 40 miles east of Oklahoma City, Shawnee offers southwestern hospitality, deep Native American roots and a beautiful natural landscape. The jet charter airport in Shawnee makes day trips a breeze, though with all there is to enjoy here, you might want to stay a while. With dozens of restaurants, five casinos and multiple museums that have artifacts from around the globe, visitors will always have a new attraction to explore.
The Citizen Potawatomi National (CPN) Cultural Heritage Center is home to multiple resources about Shawnee and its heritage. Stop by the Heritage Center to learn more about the Potawatomi Lifeways exhibit, the CPN museum collection or Tribal Heritage Productions that record on site. For visitors interested in history from further afield, the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art offers a significant collection of Egyptian, Greek and Roman artifacts. Most notably, the Mabee-Gerrer Museum is home to Oklahoma’s only Egyptian mummy.
Summer in Shawnee is a great time to enjoy the local Twin Lakes. Modestly named Lake 1 and Lake 2, the lakes offer fishing, swimming and boating to residents and visitors. Outdoor enthusiasts may choose to set up their tents in the on-site campsites to spend additional time soaking in some of the spectacular sunsets.
Visitors won’t be able to help noticing the painted horse statues around this quaint, historical town. Over three dozen hand-painted horses can be found throughout the town, and all were completed by local artists. Originally installed for Shawnee’s centennial in 2007, the exhibit continues to grow.
