Experience the great outdoors, history in Sallisaw, OK

The city of Sallisaw has two main types of attractions: scenic expanses of outdoor space where you can connect with nature and fascinating historic sites that explore the state’s unique history. Whether you’re an outdoor fanatic or a history buff, here are four of the top things to do in Sallisaw, Oklahoma.

Brushy Lake Park

If you’re looking for a quiet, relaxing place to go fishing, swimming, or boating, head to Brushy Lake Park. The 90-acre park just north of town features a scenic, 358-acre lake with several miles of shoreline and beautiful spots for visitors to camp or play with their pets. Plan for a picnic at one of the group shelters equipped with electrical outlets or picnic tables with available grills. It has 23 spaces for campsites and RVs, playgrounds nearby for the kids, and showers for those who need that creature comfort while camping.

Sequoyah’s Cabin

Explore the life of the famous Cherokee man, Sequoyah, in the one-room log cabin he built in 1829. This silversmith, blacksmith, and trading post owner created the written alphabet for the Cherokee language. The on-site museum details the history of the Cherokee and the basics of Sequoyah’s alphabet. He had originally attempted to create a symbol for each word in Cherokee, then after realizing that wouldn’t work, he created symbols for the sounds of Cherokee words.

14 Flags Museum

Sallisaw’s 14 Flags Museum honors Oklahoma’s history and acknowledges the influence 14 nations had on the state. Located near the railroad tracks, the museum consists of three cabins and a train depot. Samuel Lattimore, a survivor of the Civil War, built the oldest building, Lattimore Cabin, in 1835 out of hand-cut logs.

Judge Franklin Faulkner, a man who married a Cherokee woman and was forced into Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears, built another cabin. A third cabin houses artifacts from the Trail of Tears. Among the 14 flags flown over the museum, you’ll see the royal standard of Spain circa 1541, the standard of the French Republic in 1800, the confederate battle flag, the present Oklahoma flag that was designed in 1925, and the union of Great Britain circa 1663.

Kerr Lake

A year-round local favorite, Kerr Lake is especially beautiful in the spring when flowers start to bloom and in fall when the landscape is full of color. Opt for swimming and splashing in the water, head out on your boat, or fish for largemouth bass, walleye, or catfish in the lake. Bring a picnic and set up in one of the picnic areas, or simply relax on one of the many beaches.

Camp areas are open all year, and sites have full hookups, picnic tables, washrooms, showers, and potable water. Walk to the Visitors Center to check out the view from the observation decks; you’ll be able to see the boats passing through the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.

Spend some time enjoying nature or exploring the history of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, at one of these top places to visit.

 

Image via Pixabay

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