Okies head to Muskogee

Written for TulsaPeople magazine, online publication

Merle Haggard hit the nail on the head when he called Muskogee "a place where even squares can have a ball." Less than an hour from Tulsa, Muskogee is sprinkled with small-town charm and Oklahoma flavor.

Five Civilized Tribes Museum

Learn more about Native American life, history and culture at the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. Housed in the historic Union Agency Building, the museum boasts an expansive collection of Native American art, featuring artists such as Johnny Tiger, Willard Stone and Joan Hill. The museum is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday. Admission is $2.

1101 Honor Heights Drive | 918-683-1701 | fivetribes.org

 Chet’s Dairy Freeze

Round out the day with a hot dog and some ice cream at Chet’s Dairy Freeze, one of Muskogee’s favorites. Recently reopened with an improved menu and eight ice cream flavors, Chet’s is a classic hometown eatery. Pro tip: Try their legendary chili dogs. You won’t regret it. Chet’s is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday.

3510 W. Okmulgee St. | 918-687-9364 | facebook.com/chetsdairyfreeze 

 Girl Scout Cookies’ 100th Anniversary 

Celebrate America’s most beloved cookies in the town where they were born. In 1917, cookies were first sold as a service project by the Mistletoe Troop in its high school cafeteria. Throughout 2017, Girl Scouts of America will honor girls selling cookies, but a special event will take place on Jan. 21 as Girl Scouts of Eastern Oklahoma celebrates with a public event with live music, outdoor s’mores, cookie tastings and a "living history" visit from the Girl Scouts founder herself, Juliette Gordon Low. Free events are scheduled from 1-4 p.m. at the Three Rivers Museum and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.

Three Rivers Museum: 220 Elgin St. | 918-686-6624 | 3riversmuseum.com

Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame: 401 S. Third St. | 918-687-0800 | omhof.com

 Muskogee War Memorial Park

Take time to visit Muskogee’s War Memorial Park. The park is dedicated to historical preservation and contains over 4,000 artifacts of American military history. The Muskogee War Memorial Park also is home to the USS Batfish, the most successful submarine of World War II. Tour the USS Batfish and view the USS Oklahoma’s mast, a remnant that survived the ship’s bombing at Pearl Harbor 75 years ago. The park is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thursday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday. Tickets are $7, adult; $5, student, 62+ and retired military.

3500 Batfish Road | 918-682-6294 | warmemorialpark.org