Best Things To Do In Tishomingo: How To Spend One Day In Oklahoma’s Most Charming Small Town

Are you planning to visit Tishomingo? Then be sure to have a look at this guide to the best things to do in Tishomingo, Oklahoma! It’ll cover all of the best sights and show you exactly how to spend one day in Tishomingo, one of Oklahoma’s most charming small towns.

Tishomingo is located in south-central Oklahoma about 115 miles south of Oklahoma City. It’s the perfect place to take a day trip from Oklahoma City since the drive is only two hours.

South-Central Oklahoma is Chickasaw Country, a large area that stretches from Oklahoma City to the Texas border. This part of Oklahoma is still relatively undiscovered even though it is packed full of adventure. In Chickasaw Country you’ll find beautiful state parks and a number of adorable small towns such as Tishomingo — although Tishomingo is the most adorable of them all!

This charming small town in Oklahoma is full of southern hospitality and an excellent destination for a relaxing escape or romantic getaway. History buffs will also appreciate visiting Tishomingo since the town is rich in First American history.

Tishomingo is the capital of the Chickasaw Nation and was named after their heroic chief, Tishomingo. You can learn about Chickasaw people and their history at several museums located on or near Main Street.

If you’re a Blake Shelton fan, you will absolutely love Tishomingo! The superstar owns a restaurant and live music venue here and if you’re fortunate enough, you may even catch him giving an intimate performance at the Doghouse.

Funnily enough, the entire town is a shrine to Blake Shelton and no matter which downtown store you pop into, you’ll likely find a cardboard cut out figure of the country crooner.

Here’s a guide to all of the best things to do in Tishomingo and exactly how to plan out your day in one of Oklahoma’s most charming small towns.

Best Things To Do In Tishomingo

Learn about Chickasaw history at the Chickasaw National Capitol

Begin your morning with a self-guided tour of the Chickasaw National Capitol. Built in 1898, this historic building served as the seat of the Chickasaw government until Oklahoma statehood in 1906.

Inside the museum you’ll learn all about the Chickasaw people; from their removal along the Trail of Tears to their settlement in Oklahoma, and how they fought for their tribal identity and independence.

There are a number of fascinating exhibits that are displayed in chronological order which covers everything from the civil war era to post civil war. On display are artifacts that include clothing, ranch hardware, traditional sporting equipment and old photographs.

The building itself is quite spectacular and was constructed using red granite from nearby Pennington Creek Quarry. These granite blocks weighed over 170 pounds per cubic foot and had to be pulled by mules to the construction site.

On your visit, be sure to walk around the property grounds to view the historic building from different angles. Also, don’t miss seeing the impressive life-sized Chickasaw sculpture that stands out front.

Admission to the museum is free! It’s open from Tuesday through Saturday 9am to 4pm. Allow at least an hour for your visit.

See the original log council house of the Chickasaws at the Chickasaw Council House Museum

Next, visit the Chickasaw Council House Museum which is adjacent to the capitol building. This museum holds one of the largest collections of Chickasaw art and artifacts in the country.

The museum is broken up into three different display areas; an art exhibit, an exhibit that commemorates the historical accomplishments of the Chickasaw people, and a room that displays the original log council house of the Chickasaws (built in 1856) where the first Chickasaw Constitution was written.

There is also a gift shop with a variety of really cool souvenirs such as jewelry, pottery, clothing and music made by local Chickasaw artists.

Hear about Tishomingo’s bank heist at Chickasaw Bank Museum

The Chickasaw Bank Museum built in 1901 was at one time the bank of the Chicksaw Nation. Unfortunately for them, the bank came to ruin only a few years later in 1909 when a staff member who was a cashier with access to the bank’s vault took off with about $40,000. This person was never caught.

Today, visitors can explore the inside of the historic building which houses the county historical museum. The first floor has been restored to its original appearance as the Chickasaw’s official bank. You’ll see artifacts from the turn of the century and be able to peek into the bank’s vault.

Upstairs is a Victorian era tea room and another huge room that displays historic memoribila from Tishomingo such as a barber chair, dentist chair, and clothing from the early 1900s.

The building itself which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 is an impressive sight! Even if you don’t have time to explore this museum be sure to check out the facade of the building.

Have lunch at Gonzalez Mexican Restaurant

After visiting all of the museums in town, it’ll likely be close to lunch time. I suggest heading to Gonzales Mexican restaurant to rest and replenish.

This restaurant features all of the typical fare you might expect at a Mexican restaurant like tacos, fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, and tamales. I wouldn’t say the food is anything special but it will certainly satisfy your appetite.

The best thing on the menu is the table-made guacomole! While ours was not made “at the table”, it was most definitely very fresh and really, really good. Be sure to order a serve as an appetizer or enjoy as a light lunch.

Two things are a stand-out here; the fun and brightly-colored interior and the exceptionally friendly staff. Whether you pop in for lunch or a quick beer, you’re guaranteed to have a pleasant experience. And if it’s hot out… you’ll surely appreciate the air conditioning!

Sift through one-0f-a-kind finds at Junk Stars

If there’s one store you can’t miss in town it’s Junk Stars! Especially if you’re a Blake Shelton fan. In case you don’t already know, this cute boutique shop is owned and operated by none other than Blake’s mother, Dorothy Shackleford!

Her store is filled from top to bottom with Blake memoribilia including his old guitars, furniture from his home, and even taxidermy of animals he hunted himself! Not only will you see Blake memoribilia, but a ton of Gwen Stefani stuff too. Records, posters, costumes, photos, you name it!

Junk Stars also sells a huge variety of repurposed junk, recycled art, antique items and other one-of-a-kind finds. You’ll definitely want to set aside at least thirty minutes to sift through the merchandise here.

If you’re lucky, Blake Shelton’s cousin who does work here, might give you some back stories on some of Blake’s personal possesions that can be found in the store.

Enjoy a wine or cocktail at Mulberry Wine Bar

Mulberry Wine Bar is an upscale bar on Main Street in Tishomingo. An upscale bar in Tishomingo? Yes! This classy establishment will woo you with its rustic yet elegant interior design which features concrete flooring, red brick walls and a minimal layout.

You can order from a rotating selection of red and white wines from California, France, New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentina. They’ve also got craft beer, champagne and cocktails. The bar’s signature drink which you must try is the blueberry-lemon drop; made with craft blueberry vodka, lemon juice, and fresh blueberries!

Don’t be afraid to ask for different variations of their cocktails though. I ordered the California Love (strawberry gin, strawberry puree syrup and club soda) but asked the bar tender if she could make it with just muddled strawberries instead of the syrup which she happily obliged. It turned out to be one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had!

While ordering a drink, you’ll notice a neon yellow sign behind the bar which spells “Chokma”. It means “welcome” in Chickasaw and perfectly sums up the atmosphere here. You’ll most certainly feel welcome to hang around and enjoy the space as long as you like.

End your day with dinner and drinks at Ole Reds

End your day trip to Tishomingo with dinner at Ole Reds! Ole Reds is a restaurant and live music venue owned by Blake Shelton. If you don’t know who he is by now, you either have been living under a rock or don’t pay attention to the country music scene.

But just incase you do need to be filled in, he is one of the biggest country musicians of all time! Needless to say then that Ole Reds is Tishomingo’s most popular attraction.

Why would someone as famous as Blake Shelton choose to open a restuarant in Oklahoma let alone in one of Oklahoma’s smallest towns? Well besides the obvious reason that Shelton is an Oklahoman, he has said that he chose Tishomingo because he got his start in the music business performing at a nearby venue in Ada. He wanted to contribute to the community that helped him become successful by providing a place where other young local artists could showcase their talent.

Besides getting a large dose of country music at Ole Reds, you can enjoy Southern comfort food and some great cocktails! Their onion burgers are BIG and they make some really interesting cocktails which come in souvenir mason jars that you can take home.

Where To Stay In Tishomingo

The Mulberry Inn

A stay at the Mulberry Inn will transport you back to the early 1900s. This cute boutique hotel was once owned by country singer Miranda Lambert. She personally decorated all eight rooms in this historic building.

Each room is unique and you can request which room you prefer to stay in. Your stay comes with a complimentary breakfast in the “tea room” which is a communal area.

The Mulberry Inn is located on Main Street and right next door to the Mulberry Wine Bar. It’s an easy walk to all of the msuesums and restaurants in town and the perfect place to enjoy a weekend in Tishomingo.

Couples will especially enjoy this property as it is so unique and a great place to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday or wedding anniversary.

*Check availability and see room rates at Mulberry Inn here.

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