Major County: Glass Mountains and History

The Glass Mountains, also called the Gloss Mountains, rise 150 to 200 feet above the flat surface of Major County. Both names refer to the same mountain landscape. In Gloss Mountains State Park, a hike leads to Cathedral Mountain; daily hours for hiking and picnicking are listed from sunrise to sunset. Check current access and trail conditions before your visit.

Architecture and Regional History

The Major County Courthouse is a roughly square, four-story building made of dressed stone blocks. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Its architectural form and the dated listing provide two specific points of reference if you are interested in the building and its history.

The Sand Creek Heritage Center & Museum in Fairview features two churches, an early 20th-century two-story hotel building, a one-room schoolhouse, a railroad depot with a locomotive, and a blacksmith shop. The different exhibits connect topics such as community life, education, railroads, and craftsmanship. The center also includes a veterans memorial. The Major County Historical Society & Museum in Fairview has been connected with the region’s history and heritage since 1985.

Motorsports, Exhibits, and Wine

The Hajek Motorsports Museum displays motorsports memorabilia and racing driver uniforms. It has the largest collection of historic dragsters. Visits are by appointment; arrange a time in advance.

At the Ames Astrobleme Museum, a catastrophic event is explained through videos, computer animations, graphics, and diagrams. For motorsports enthusiasts, the Hajek Museum has a clear focus on racing history; the Ames Astrobleme Museum, by contrast, presents its subject through several visual media.

Indian Creek Village Winery offers wine tastings without an overnight stay. Wines made from grapes grown in the on-site vineyard are served in the tasting room. Check in advance whether a tasting is available on your visit date.

September Event and Getting Oriented in Fairview

The Major County Free Fair takes place every September at the Major County Fairgrounds in Fairview. The program includes an open horse show. If you want to plan your trip around the fair, check the dates for that year’s event before setting your travel dates.

Fairview is the county seat of Major County and lies at the intersection of State Highway 8 with State Highway 58 or U.S. Highway 60. Its transportation history also includes a former railroad role: in 1908, Fairview became a railroad division point with a maintenance shop and locomotive roundhouse. The highway intersection helps you orient yourself on the map, while the year 1908 puts this historical role in context.

If the Sand Creek Heritage Center & Museum or the Major County Free Fair is the focus of your stay, you might consider Fairview as a location to search for a hotel. For your travel plans, the landscape, the museums’ different themes, the wine tasting, and the September event each offer a distinct focus.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Fairview, Chester, Choctaw, Woods, Canadian County, Oklahoma, Woodward County, Washita County.

For the main travel overview: Oklahoma.