Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History050

The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History on the campus of the University of Oklahoma features five galleries and thousands of artifacts, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the natural and cultural history of the state.

The museum is filled with fossils and includes several full-scale casts and a "dinovator" - a glass elevator that takes you up 26 feet to look the museum's Apatosaurus in the eye. The Discovery Room allows kids (and grown-ups) to get hands-on with museum artifacts and see some live Oklahoma animals, too. The Discovery Room's hours vary.

The museum also offers programs for adults, children, and families throughout the year, as well as summer day camp programs. Birthday parties for up to 12 children also are available for $135 for members and $150 for non-members.