Educational Tours: Wednesday, May 5, 2010
7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.: Historic Cherokee Nation and Claremore Main Street
Experience the Old West, Cherokee history, and the unique charm of the city that was home to world famous entertainer and Indian-Cowboy Will Rogers. Incorporated in 1883 by the Cherokee Nation, Claremore is located on Historic Route 66 and offers visitors an abundance of antique shopping and historic architecture, including two buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Come discover Claremore’s thriving downtown and the significance the “Cherokee Kid” and “Oklahoma’s favorite son” Will Rogers still has on this unique city!
Bus and walking; E01: Cherokee Nation/Claremore on the registration form; $45
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.: MidTown Urban Neighborhood Tour
Until 2000, this 81-block area had no name. Some 80 percent of its historic buildings had been demolished, while weeds, cars, trash, and transients filled the vacant lots. Now known as “MidTown,” the area is filled with rehabbed structures, new construction, restaurants, housing, and destination businesses. Public amenities have changed the district from a “drive-through-it-as-fast-as-you-can” area to a friendly neighborhood filled with pedestrians and bicyclists. Learn how this part of town was brought back to life and hear how the district created its signature event, “Ghouls Gone Wild,” where 50,000 people gather for a Halloween parade that includes The Flaming Lips and their “March of 1000 Skeletons.”
Bus and walking; E02: Midtown on the registration form; $25
