Free & Cheap Things to Do in Muskogee

History & Military Sites

A World War II submarine you can walk through — the USS Batfish (SS-310) sank three enemy subs in just 76 hours and is one of only 14 American WWII submarines on public display. The surrounding War Memorial Park adds tanks, missiles, and a Walk of Honor. Admission is by donation, making it one of the best military-history values in the state.

Address: 5201 Three Forks Rd, Fort Gibson, OK 74434 (temporary site)

Tip: Open Monday-Friday 9-3:30; admission is by donation. The park recently moved to a temporary Fort Gibson location while a permanent home at Three Forks Harbor is built — call ahead to confirm before visiting.

Parks & Nature

Muskogee's 132-acre crown jewel and its number-one attraction — a landscaped park famous for the April Azalea Festival, when tens of thousands of azaleas bloom. Year-round it offers a rose garden, arboretum, dogwood collection, five fishing lakes and ponds, walking trails, a splash pad, and playgrounds. The Garden of Lights transforms it each Christmas.

Address: 1400 Honor Heights Dr, Muskogee, OK 74401

Tip: Free year-round. Peak azalea bloom is mid-April during the Azalea Festival. Fishing docks are ADA-accessible; the Papilion butterfly house operates here in summer.

Family & Wildlife

An open-air sanctuary inside Honor Heights Park filled with native Oklahoma butterflies, where kids can watch the daily metamorphosis up close through the summer. It's a small, delightful, and genuinely cheap add-on to a free park day — just $3 a person, and free for the littlest visitors.

Address: 837 E Okmulgee Ave, Muskogee, OK 74403 (Honor Heights Park)

Tip: Open Mother's Day weekend through September 30; Monday-Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-4. $3 all ages, under 3 free.

History & Culture

Set in the 1875 Union Indian Agency building on Agency Hill, this museum preserves the art, history, and culture of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole nations. Ground-floor exhibits trace each nation's story and removal to Indian Territory; upstairs is a rotating gallery of Native art and a historical film. Small, but consistently praised for knowledgeable staff.

Address: 1101 Honor Heights Dr, Muskogee, OK 74401

Tip: On Agency Hill next to the VA Medical Center (use the museum's own lot). Open Tuesday-Saturday. Admission is only a few dollars — confirm the current rate by phone, as the museum's own website was down at publish time.

History & Culture

Regional history housed in a beautifully restored Midland Valley Railroad depot in Muskogee's Historic Depot District. Exhibits cover the area's settlement, railroads, and figures like Bass Reeves. The museum is also the hub for the town's specialty tours — walking, trolley, and caravan tours, including a dedicated Bass Reeves tour.

Address: 220 Elgin St, Muskogee, OK 74401

Tip: Open Wednesday-Saturday 10-5. Ask about the Bass Reeves and historic cemetery walking tours; the Bass Reeves statue stands just outside on the east side.

Iconic Landmarks

A statue honoring Bass Reeves, one of the first Black deputy U.S. marshals west of the Mississippi, who made thousands of arrests across Indian Territory and is thought by many to have helped inspire the Lone Ranger. Reeves policed and later died in Muskogee. Unveiled in 2025, the monument stands free and outdoors beside the Three Rivers Museum.

Address: East side of Three Rivers Museum, 220 Elgin St, Muskogee, OK 74401

Tip: Free and outdoors anytime. Pair it with the Three Rivers Museum's Bass Reeves walking tour for the full story.

Music & Entertainment

Oklahoma has produced a staggering number of musicians, and this museum celebrates them — from Woody Guthrie and Bob Wills to Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, and the Flaming Lips — with exhibits, memorabilia, and interactive displays. It doubles as a concert venue, so check the calendar for live shows during your visit.

Address: 401 S 3rd St, Muskogee, OK 74401

Tip: Open Tuesday-Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-2. Kids under 12 are free. Evening concerts are ticketed separately from museum admission.

History & Military Sites

Oklahoma's oldest military post, established in 1824 on the Grand River, brings frontier history to life with a reconstructed log stockade plus original stone barracks, a mess hall, a commissary, a sutler store, and a working bakehouse. Living-history events and Bake Days run through the year. About eight miles east of Muskogee.

Address: 803 N Garrison Ave, Fort Gibson, OK 74434

Tip: Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-4:30. Groups of 10+ pay $7 per person; veterans and active military are free. Roughly a 15-minute drive from downtown Muskogee.