Locust Grove: History, Culture and Events

Located in Mayes County, Locust Grove brings together local history with themes of poetry, crafts, and wildlife. Its offerings range from changing exhibits on creativity through words to talks about animal habitats and behavior.

Getting Oriented and History

Locust Grove is situated at the intersection of State Highway 82 and U.S. Highway 412. U.S. Highway 412 is also known as Alternate Highway 412 or Scenic Highway 412. Locust Grove is eleven miles south of Salina.

The locust thickets where the Battle of 1862 took place gave the town its name. O. W. Killam founded present-day Locust Grove on May 12, 1912, as a direct result of the construction of the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf (KO&G) Railroad. The historic townsite was laid out with parks and a public marketplace. The town’s name is linked to the Battle of 1862; the founding of the present-day town dates to the era of railroad construction.

Culture and Crafts

The Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry features changing exhibits that explore creativity through words. The main exhibition space offers an interactive experience for all ages. The museum hosts the annual Wonder City Wordfest.

The Rabbit-in-Hat Magic Shop features an elaborately designed Enchanted Courtyard.

Gourds, Etc Art Studio-Gallery offers handcrafted Cherokee gourd masks, gourd art, coil-built pottery, paintings, and handmade Christmas ornaments for sale. The selection may change. Gourds, Etc regularly offers workshops on making gourd masks; confirm specific dates before your trip. This lets you distinguish between buying finished pieces and taking a mask-making workshop.

Wildlife and Learning

Zoo Safari USA is a zoological park and teaching zoo that aims to provide an educational experience for visitors of all ages. Its focus is on teaching about conservation and protecting wildlife. During a visit, you may see approximately 15 animals and listen to keepers talk about their natural habitats, diets, behavior, and personalities. The number of animals and the talks may vary.

Events Throughout the Year

The Rural Oklahoma Museum of Poetry hosts the annual Wonder City Wordfest on the second Saturday in April. Locust Grove’s Annual Founders Day takes place on the second Saturday in May. The April Wordfest and May Founders Day offer two distinct dates to help you plan a spring trip. The Annual Founders Day Car Show includes live classic rock and roll music and entertainment.

Gourds, Etc’s Christmas Art Show takes place annually on the first Saturday and Sunday in December. Locust Grove’s Christmas Parade and Community Tree Lighting takes place on the first Tuesday in December. The two December events fall on different days of the week and differ in duration. If you plan to travel for either event, check the details for that year.

Discover more destinations: Pryor Creek, Strang.

See the parent travel guide: Mayes County.