Museum of the Great Plains, History museum in Lawton, Oklahoma, USA
The Museum of the Great Plains is a history museum in Lawton, Oklahoma, housed in an 18,000-square-foot building in Elmer Thomas Park. Its permanent gallery, temporary gallery and mezzanine trace the region from the Clovis culture around 11,500 BCE onward. On the grounds stand a 1902 Elgin Depot, moved there in 1962, and a 1926 Baldwin locomotive.
The museum holds artifacts from the Clovis people, who lived in the region roughly 11,500 years ago and left traces still studied today. Its collections follow the region's human occupation from ancient times through to the development of early towns and industries.
The museum tells stories of how people lived across the Great Plains, from indigenous communities to early settlers and their relationship with the land. Visitors can see how different groups shaped the region through their traditions and daily practices, which still influence local culture today.
The museum stands in Elmer Thomas Park, not downtown, and is managed by the City of Lawton. The 1902 Elgin Depot and a 1926 Baldwin locomotive sit on the grounds outside the main building, so allow time to walk the compound as well as the galleries.
The 1902 Elgin Depot was moved onto the museum grounds in 1962, and a 1926 Baldwin locomotive stands in front of it. The depot and locomotive sit outdoors as part of the museum compound in Elmer Thomas Park.
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