14 Best Things To Do In Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Key Takeaways

• Pawhuska, located on the Osage Nation Reservation, is a historic town with outdoor and entertainment activities to fill a weekend.

• Visit the historic downtown and museums about cowboys, the Osage Nation, and pioneer life.

• Roam prairie trails, shop for Western apparel, and fill up at the town’s saloon.

Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, has launched an empire from her home in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. While at the helm of a popular blog, product lines, and a TV show on the Food Network, Drummond brings a pioneer spirit to the way we think about food. She’s a former city girl with a deep love of her Oklahoma home—and we see why. This small town is known for welcoming visitors with open arms. Located on the Osage Nation Reservation, you’ll find Pawhuska is brimming with charm and fun things to do on a weekend trip.

Related: 26 Best Things To Do In Tulsa, Oklahoma

What To Do

Stroll Through Historic Downtown

Stroll through downtown Pawhuska, a spot that celebrates its rich history. The town was founded in 1872 and has 86 buildings in the downtown area on the National Register of Historic Places. The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was built in 1910—visitors flock to marvel at its unusual and stunning stained-glass windows. Tours are available Fridays. Then sit down for a meal at Bad Brad’s Bar-B-Q joint and enjoy Pawhuska’s combination—and celebration—of past, present, and future.

pawhuskaiccc.org, 1314 Lynn Ave., Pawhuska, OK 74056
instagram.com, 1215 W Main St, Pawhuska, OK 74056

Visit The Osage Nation Museum

Named for Chief Paw-Hiu-Skah, Pawhuska is home to the headquarters of the Osage Nation. The museum was founded in 1938 and is the oldest tribally-owned museum in the country. Today, the Osage Nation Museum offers programming and exhibits that celebrate the history and culture of the Osage.

osageculture.com, 819 Grandview Ave., Pawhuska, OK 74056

Learn About The World’s Greatest Cowboy

If you have a penchant for all things Western, head to The Ben Johnson Cowboy Museum, which bears the name of the “World’s Greatest Cowboy”. While the title might be subjective, as it stands, Johnson, according to the museum’s website, is the only man to have won both an Academy Award and a Rodeo World Championship. At the museum, you’ll go on a whirlwind tour of cowboy, Western, and oil history, including a Western Art Gallery.

benjohnsoncowboymuseum.com, 201 East 6th Street, Pawhuska, OK 74056

Stop At The Osage County Historical Society Museum

Delve into the history of Osage County with its five main exhibits: Boy Scouts, Western Life, Pioneer Life, Early-Day Oil Industry, and Indian Life. The museum is also known for its impressive collections of books pertaining to Oklahoma history. Spend the afternoon wandering through the galleries before picking up a book to take home—the museum offers popular historical novels.

travelok.com, 700 Lynn Ave, Pawhuska, OK 74056

Hike On The Prairie

Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is the largest protected stretch of tall-grass prairie found in North America. While the continent was once home to 170 million acres of tall-grass prairie, now only four percent remains. Enjoy a visit to the 39,650-acre preserve, and bring your hiking boots. Stop by the visitors’ center for information on self-guided tours, exhibits, and hiking trails. Keep your eyes peeled; you might even see a herd of bison roaming the landscape.

nature.org, 15316 Co Rd 4201, Pawhuska, OK 74056

Visit The Swinging Bridge

A local landmark in its own right, the Swinging Bridge provides a little small-town thrill for those brave enough to walk across the rickety slats. It’s located down the road from the Mercantile off of Kihekah Avenue. Depending on your fear (or lack thereof) of heights, you may want to pay the bridge a visit before grabbing a meal. In the early days of Pawhuska, the bridge, constructed in 1926, was the only means by which travelers could cross Bird Creek to get into town.

visittheosage.com, South Kihekah Avenue and East 2nd Street, Pawhuska, Oklahoma 74056

Catch A Show At Constantine Theater

The Constantine Theater is the second-oldest performing arts venue in the state. Constructed in the later half of the 19th century, the building has weathered fire, flood, abandonment—and even ghosts. It takes the name of Charles A. Constantine, who immigrated from Constantinople in 1911 during the oil boom. He purchased what would become the theater, but at the time was a hotel damaged by fire. Over the decades, the theater has changed hands many times and now, after extensive restoration, is back to hosting theater productions, movies, and talent shows.

constantinetheater.com, 110 West Main St., Pawhuska, OK 74056

Tour The Drummond Ranch Lodge

Time your visit right and you may be able to tour the Drummond Ranch Lodge, the production location of The Pioneer Woman show on the Food Network. Tickets are handed out at the Mercantile store the same day, so make sure to pick yours up by 3:30 so you’ll have time to drive out and explore the space.

Tickets: themercantile.com, 532 Kihekah Ave., Pawhuska, OK 74056

Where To Shop

Pop Into The Pioneer Woman Mercantile

When in Osage County, you have to stop by The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. Drummond’s bakery-deli-shop hybrid welcomes you for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and it offers a general store-style selection of carefully curated kitchen tools, pioneer gear, and games. Stay and sit awhile, or stay and shop for something clever to commemorate your trip. (Just be sure to get there early, because the Mercantile has been known to average 6,000 customers a day.)

themercantile.com, 532 Kihekah Ave., Pawhuska, OK 74056

Check Out The Buckin’ Flamingo

This is the one shop you literally won’t be able to miss. Whether it’s the flamingo rig (an 8-foot saddled flamingo riding in a trailer) or the bright pink storefront, Cody and Lauren Garnett’s shop is a cabinet of curiosities sourced by the pair themselves. The former math teacher and rodeo cowboy now travel across the country searching for goods like turquoise jewelry and metal art to bring back to Pawhuska.

buckinflamingo.com, 134 E Main St. #4205, Pawhuska, OK 74056

Try On Western Apparel

Osage Outfitters has it all when it comes to fun and fashionable Western wear, cowboy boots, leather bags, and jewelry. You can even pick up a set of reins for your horse. The Corral is a mobile custom hat bar where you can fashion a unique hat for your next cowgirl soiree.

shoposageoutfitters.com, 519 Kihekah Ave., Pawhuska, OK 74056
facebook.com, 126 E Main St., Pawhuska, OK 74056

Visit An Indoor Farmer’s Market

Farm Hippie aims to be a friendly one-stop-shop for all things local. The indoor farmers market carries produce, meat, dairy, baked goods, and eggs, as well as plants, skincare products, pantry items, and other products made in the area. After opening in Collinsville, the family-run business opened a Pawhuska location in 2024.

farmhippiefarmersmarket.com, 134 E 6th St, Pawhuska, OK 74056

Where To Eat & Drink

Stop In At The Saloon

There are plenty of casual restaurants to try in Pawhuska after you’ve had a big breakfast at The Pioneer Woman Mercantile. The Dirty Laundry Saloon Bar & Grill is a popular spot for Taco Tuesdays or Fish and Chips Fridays. The eclectic bar also is known for excellent cocktails and a fun ambience. Wherever you take a seat for pizza, burgers, or barbecue in this town, it’s not totally out of the ordinary to see the locals stop in on horseback, as Instagram photos will attest.

112 E 6th St., Pawhuska, OK 74056

Grab A Drink At Dry Hollow Bar

The decor in this historic downtown bar is a sort of frontier chic: walls lined with Stetsons and a ceiling decked in chandeliers. Grab a stool and settle in for cold beers on tap, a diverse wine collection, and fun drink specials.

517 Kihekah Ave., Pawhuska, OK 74056

Where To Stay

Relax At The Pioneer Woman Boarding House

Of course, if you decide to visit Pawhuska, you’ll be needing a place to stay. And, what better hotel than the Pioneer Woman’s Boarding House? The eight rooms of this “cowboy luxury” historic hotel offer a unique stay, from The Photograph Room to The Boudoir and The Ranch Room. Rest assured you’ll also eat well. Whether that means running over to the Merc or ordering room service (the menu was specially crafted by Drummond), you won’t be hungry.

pwboardinghouse.com, 540 Kihekah Ave. Pawhuska, OK 74056

Book A Room At The Historic Frontier Hotel

Also in downtown Pawhuska, this century-old flat-iron style building has been restored into a 20-room boutique hotel. From the luxe velvet and marble-clad lobby to headboards repurposed from historic wooden doors, the Frontier Hotel is an establishment worthy of Pawhuska’s oil-boom days.

frontierhotelpawhuska.com, 101 West Main St., Pawhuska, OK 74056

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