1. Kiddie Park
City: Johnstone Park, OK
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (918) 336-5337
Address: 200 N. Cherokee Ave.
Description: If it’s summer and you’re traveling with little ones, this stop is a must. Since 1947 this little amusement park has been a highlight of summer fun for children 12 and under. The rides are tiny and tame and so inexpensive. Your child will have a great time and your wallet will not be much lighter. Most rides are just a quarter or two. And the little carousel is sporting spruced-up horses thanks to a local Boy Scout’s Eagle project. If you yearn for simpler times, visit Kiddie Park. The Kiddie Park opens the first weekend in May and is open Fri and Sat only until the last weekend in May. In June, July, and Aug, the park is open Tues through Sat evenings. It’s closed on the Fourth of July.
2. Nellie Johnstone No. 1
City: Johnstone Park, OK
Category: Tours & Attractions
Address: 200 N. Cherokee Ave.
Description: Oil slicks were noticed on the surface of small streams in the Bartlesville area as early as 1875. In 1897, George Keeler and William Johnstone began drilling a well near their store on the west bank of the Caney River. Cherokee Indians in the area immediately protested. In 1898 the U.S. Congress passed a law that cleared the way for the men to take legal title to the land. The site was named for Johnstone’s daughter Nellie, who was a granddaughter of Delaware chief Journeycake. The derrick was rebuilt and the well began producing—Oklahoma’s first commercial oil well.Over the years, several replicas of the original derrick have been erected on the site. The current incarnation is part of a more extensive plan for a plaza honoring the Nellie Johnstone. There’s a large sign that describes each part of the derrick and how it works.You won’t need to spend much time here, but it’s worthwhile to swing by this historic site.