Claremore: Discover Route 66, Museums, and Nature

Claremore sits at the intersection of historic Route 66 and State Highways 20 and 88. Your stay can focus on different interests: the history of the highway corridor, museums and collections, or outdoor activities.

Route 66 and Claremore’s History

The Belvidere is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. If you are considering a visit, check the current visiting conditions before you arrive. Another landmark is Claremore’s Route 66 Centennial Monument. It is located at the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum, 330 N. J.M. Davis Blvd. Before you arrive, check whether the monument is still on display at this location.

Museums and Collections

The J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum displays more than 12,000 firearms. The collection also includes thousands of artifacts that are not firearms.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum includes twelve galleries as well as a 2,400-square-foot research library and archives that preserve the complete works of Will Rogers. The galleries and preserved works offer different areas of focus within the museum. The original Surrey with the Fringe on Top from the musical Oklahoma! is on display at the Claremore Museum of History. If this particular exhibit is important to your trip, check in advance to confirm its current display status.

Trails, Lake, and Downtown

Claremore Lake has more than four miles of paved trails for running, walking, and cycling. Fishing and boating are permitted with the appropriate permit. Since permit rules may change, check the city’s lake page before your visit.

Cat Creek Dog Park has separate areas for large and small dogs. If this arrangement is important to your visit, check its current status in advance. You can explore historic downtown Claremore on foot: it has unique shops, eateries, bars, and historic sites. The options for a stroll around town are quite different from the trails and activities by the lake.

Events and Seasonal Experiences

The Will Rogers Stampede PRCA Rodeo takes place annually on Memorial Day weekend. Events include bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, mutton busting, steer wrestling, and saddle bronc riding. Dates and programming may vary from year to year; check the details for your travel dates.

From May through October, food trucks, live music, and activities for children take place in the historic downtown on the fourth Thursday of the month. In the summer months, the Claremore Community Band also performs concerts at the Gazebo in Claremore. It is worth checking the dates and programs for both offerings before planning your trip around them.

At Swan Brothers Dairy Farm, visitors can watch dairy cows being milked daily at 4 p.m. Confirm the time before your visit. At Claremore Lake, visitors can take an evening drive-through to see festive Christmas lights and decorations. The seasonal program and its dates may vary.

Explore more destinations: Catoosa.

Return to the main travel overview: Rogers County.