OKC Underground Indoor History Tour

The OKC Underground is one of the city's best-kept secrets. Beneath the streets of downtown, a network of pedestrian passages links buildings, offices and public spaces, built as a way to get around in a climate that swings from scorching summers to icy winters. A guided indoor history tour uses that network as a backbone, taking visitors through the tunnels and above-ground atriums while explaining how the city grew from a tent town founded in the Land Run of 1889 into a modern capital. Because most of the route is indoors, it works when the weather outside does not, which on the plains can change within an hour. The tour covers the layers of downtown history that a surface walk can miss. Guides tell the story of the land rush, the oil boom, the urban renewal programs that tore down old blocks and built new ones, and the redevelopment that brought back the streets, the Myriad Gardens and the districts around it. Along the way you see lobbies, art installations and architecture that most visitors never enter, which gives the tour the feel of a backstage pass to downtown.

Plan this tour for the hottest, coldest or wettest part of your trip. Oklahoma weather is changeable, with summer heat well over 90 degrees, winter ice storms and spring thunderstorms, and an indoor route offers a reliable alternative to the outdoor sights. It also suits people who find long outdoor walks tiring, because the pace is gentle and the route is mostly flat, although some parts include stairs or elevators. Check accessibility details with the operator.

Confirm the meeting place, start time and length when you book. Many such tours operate on weekdays when office buildings are open, since access to some of the passages depends on building hours. Weekend availability may be limited, so book for a weekday if your schedule allows. Wear comfortable shoes and expect a fair amount of walking. Bring a small bag, as you may be asked to pass through security in some buildings.

The tour pairs well with a visit to the Myriad Botanical Gardens and its Crystal Bridge Conservatory, which sits at the edge of the downtown core, and with the Oklahoma City National Memorial, a short distance away. It also makes a good first activity on arrival, because it helps you understand downtown geography before you head to Bricktown, Midtown or Scissortail Park. Many visitors use the guide's knowledge to choose where to eat and drink that evening, and some ask for a short recommendation list for the rest of the trip.

This outing is aimed at curious adults, couples and families with older children who like local history. Very young children may find the talk long, although the novelty of tunnels holds attention. Photographs are usually fine in public areas, but ask before taking pictures inside private lobbies. If you have time for only one history activity besides the Memorial, this one gives the city the context that the Memorial and the museums assume you already know. Build in a coffee stop after the tour and review your notes before heading out to the districts.