The Heart in the Park labyrinth with its time line of Tonkawa history and the Grand Heart Walk of panels are the latest additions to Centennial Park. A number of historical monuments and three museums – the McCarter Museum of Tonkawa History, the Tonkawa Tribal Museum and the A.D. Buck Museum of Science and History – give glimpses into the history of the area.

The town takes its name from the Tonkawa Tribe, which was removed to the area in 1885.

Because of abundant wheat production in the area, Tonkawa styles itself “Wheatheart of Oklahoma.”

With the discovery of oil in the Tonkawa (Three Sands) Field in 1921, the town briefly was known as “The Billion Dollar Spot.” Several beautiful homes and churches built during this time still stand. German prisoners of war were housed here in a POW camp during World War II, and the site is identified by a stone marker engraved with a map of the original compound.

Northern Oklahoma College is the home of the Eleanor Hayes Art Gallery, which hosts outstanding exhibits by Oklahoma artists. Its landscaped grounds delight the eye with individual memorial gardens and sculptures. Numerous cultural events are open to the public.

For more information, contact the Tonkawa Chamber of Commerce, 580-628-2220 or www.tonkawachamber.org.

Tourism:

Arts and Humanities

• Eleanor Hays Art Gallery, located at the Kinzer Performing Arts Center on the campus of Northern Oklahoma College. Exhibit times vary. Call 580-628-3400, Audrey Schmitz, Director.

• McCarter Museum of Tonkawa History, located at 220 East Grand (downtown Tonkawa). Hours of operation: 1-3 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday

• A.D. Buck Museum of Science & History, located at 1220 East North Ave.. Hours of operation: 2-5 p.m., Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri., 628-3318

• Tonkawa Tribe of Oklahoma Tribal Museum, Fort Oakland (on Allen Drive), 628-2561.

• Tonkawa Public Library, located at 216 N. 7th, 628-3366

Parks and Recreation

• Centennial Park, located on East Grand (downtown). The park includes the “Heart in the Park” Labrinyth, a unique timeline of Tonkawa’s history from 1879 to present.

• Blinn Memorial Park, located at 900 block of North Main. The park includes baseball/softball fields, playground and walking path.

• Ray See Park, located on South Main before the historic Salt Fork River bridge. This park has a playground and picnic facility.

• Family Park, located at the corner of 10th Street and NOC Drive. The park has a sand volleyball court and basketball court.

• Northern Oklahoma College Botanical Gardens, located around the campus.

• Northern Oklahoma College Wellness Center and Pool, located on the north side of the campus. The Wellness Center has an indoor track and exercise equipment. Hours of Operation vary. Call 580-628-6331 for additional information.

• Tonkawa Indian Casino, located at 10700 South Allen Drive (Fort Oakland), 628-2624

Historical Monuments and Places of Interest

• German Prisoner of War Camp, located on the Highway 60 frontage road, just west of Public Street.

• “Chief Joseph”, located on Highway 60, 0.8 miles east of Highway 177.

• “Nez Perce Burial Ground”, located one mile south of Highway 60 on Allen Dr.

• “Indian Burial Ground” with the “Buck Bill Monument”, located 1 mile south of Fort Oakland on Allen Dr. (dirt road).

• “Jim H. Stone” horse monument, located south and east of Tonkawa on Highway 77. Travel approximately 5 miles south and east from the Salt Fork River. The monument is on the east side of the road.

• “Three Sands” monument located at RaySee Park on South Main. The “Three Sands” oil field is a few miles south of Tonkawa on Highway 77.

• “Santa Fe Depot”, located downtown. The depot was recently placed on the list of “endangered historic places” and is undergoing renovation efforts.

• I.O.O.F Lodge, located at 100 East Grand, 628-2268

• Masonic Lodge, located at 112 North 7th Street.