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It is with enthusiasm that we welcome you here to tour our little City in the heart of the Osage Hills.  Pawhuska is blessed with a number of unique tourist attractions.  Within the City Limits we have two museums featuring early day pictures and memorabilia of our City and County.  The Osage Indian Tribal Museum features original Indian costumes and artifacts of the early day Osage migration into Osage County.  This museum is located on the historic Osage Indian Agency Campus, which is also a tourist attraction itself; The Superintendent's House, The Million Dollar Elm and the new Tribal Council Buildings.

Our second Museum is the Osage County Historical Museum.  The Museum houses several thousand exhibits in five categories: Oil, Indian, Western, Pioneer and the First Boy Scout Troop in America.  You will find as you enter the Museum you are greeted by a statue of a Boy Scout commemorating the first Boy Scout troop in America here in Pawhuska chartered by Rev. John Mitchell, an English Missionary in 1909.

Downtown Pawhuska has some 98 buildings of which 87 are on the National Register of Historic Places.  Among the most interesting are the Triangle Building, The Constantine Theatre, City Hall and the old Blacksmith House.

Pawhuska is also the gateway to the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.  This 39,000 acres is one of the main attractions for our area.  Many guest registering from just about all fifty states and many from foreign countries.  Currently there are approximately 1,600 Bison free roaming on the 10,500 acres.  In a few years we will have a bison herd numbering 3,200 animals that will also be free roaming on over more than 30,000 acres.  This attraction offers local speakers on bus tours and headquarters to give color and knowledge to visitors of the Tallgrass Prairie.

Another unique tourist attraction of Pawhuska is the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with its world-renowned stained glass windows commissioned in 1919 and then installed in 1921.  A tour with a very informative lecture on the German made stained glass windows and what makes their color quality among the best in the world, is available by appointment.

Pawhuska is recognized as the unofficial capital of America's steer roping and the hometown of Academy Award winning actor the late Ben Johnson.

Friendly, Pawhuska is ready to welcome you!  Come and enjoy our hospitality.

Pawhuska, OKlahoma

Home of the Osage Nation Indian Reservation

The county seat of Osage County

2003 population - 3,571

City Manager/City Council form of government

Well-known residents have included Ben Johnson, actor

Local Events include:

-Trout Derby in February

-National Indian Taco Championship, first Saturday in May

-Ben Johnson Memorial Steer Roping, Father's Day

-4th of July Freedom Celebration Parade

-International Round-Up Club Cavalcade, the world's largest amateur rodeo, third week in July

-Western Swing Festival-second Saturday in September

-High Frontier Rocket Launch, first weekend in October

-Lighted Christmas Parade, first Saturday in December

Nearby parks & recreation:

Osage Hills State Park

Lake Pawhuska

provides trout fishing from Nov. 1 to Mar. 31.  This 96 acre lake with clear water and rocky shorelines is located 3 miles west of Pawhuska on Highway 60 and 2 miles south on the county road.  Boat ramps and a fishing dock are available with parking areas and restrooms, all handicapped accessible.  Camping at Lake Pawhuska is limited to primitive sites.  Camp sites with eletrical hook-ups are available at nearby Lake Blue Stem.  There is no charge for lake access, and the City of Pawhuska has waived boating and fishing permits during trout season.

Bluestem Lake

Birch Lake

Keystone Lake

Wah-Sha-She State Park

Tallgrass Prairie Preserve

Woolaroc

Historic sites & museum:

Osage Tribal Museum

Osage County Historical Museum

Blacksmith House

Constatine Theater

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church

Swinging Bridge

Civic organizations:

Boy Scouts

Elks Lodge

ESA

GFW Heeko Club

Girl Scouts

Kiwanis

Lions

Masonic Lodge

Osage County Arts Association

Rotary

Population by race:

White                  64.98%

Native American   25.42%

African American 2.80%

All Others            6.80%

Climate:

The average January temperature is 43 degrees F, with a July temperature average of 85 degrees.  The area receives as average of 34 inches of rain annually and 10 inches of snow.  The average number of flying days is 343.

Media:

Pawhuska has one weekly newspaper, the Pawhuska Journal Capital.  There is cable available, one AM radio station and one FM station.

Educational resources:

Pawhuska has one elementary school grades K-3, one middle school grades 4-6, one junior high grades 7-8 and one high school grades 9-12.  The total enrollment is approximately 1,100.  Pawhuska is only 26 miles from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Tri-County Technology Center.

Medical Facilities:

Pawhuska is home to one hospital with 33 beds and one medical clinic with three practicing doctors.  There is also a chiropractor and a dentist.

Financial institutions:

Citizens Bank of Oklahoma

First National Bank

Osahe Federal Bank

Pawhuska has one public library, one swimming pool and the Carl & Virginia Short Health Center.

There are two real estate agencies in Pawhuska - Town & Country Remax and Tolson Agency.

Pawhuska maintains a general aviation airport, including a 3,200 ft. asphalt runway.  The nearest commercial airport is 50 miles in Tulsa, OK.

Utility companies:

Pawhuska Light & Water    918-287-3040

Oklahoma Natural Gas      800-664-5463

AT&T Telephone                800-640-8911

Allegiance Comm. - Cable 800-455-6460