If you’ve seen Gallery America’s Oklahoma Antiques newest episode, chances are you’re ready to hit the road and start exploring the art of collecting for yourself. Well, good news: Here’s your first step to finding the art and treasures to transform your own home into a gallery-like space of your own taste and whims.
First, antiques stores are in no short supply in Tulsa and Oklahoma City (including 23rd St Antique Mall, where we visited in our show). (link: https://antiques23.com/) But we’re going to share some towns you might not realize that sort of identify as antique hubs. These are a good starting point for you the next time you hit the backroads of Oklahoma.
ARDMORE
Main Street in Ardmore is a restored marvel of century-old buildings home to lots of energy and lots of places to browse, including the 18,000-foot space of Ardmore Emporium (105 E Main St; https://www.chickasawcountry.com/shop/ardmore-emporium) and Antiques Etc (10 E Main St, https://www.chickasawcountry.com/shop/antiques-etc), where we could not help but pick up a remarkably cute 85-year-old, illustrated book on squirrels.
DEWEY
This town of just 3100, a 10-minute drive north of Bartlesville in northeastern Oklahoma, is likely the state’s most surprising antique hub. Over a half dozen options loom on/off E Don Tyler Ave. A highlight is the charming Linger Longer (814 N Shawnee Ave; https://lingerlongerantiques.com/), with a mix of antique vendors and an old-school soda fountain where you can sit with a $5 milkshake.
GUTHRIE
The state’s original capital is antique central on its lovely red-bricked downtown streets. You can keep busy for hours here. W Oklahoma Ave is the place to start, with seven options on one block (https://www.guthrieok.com/antiquing-guthrie) , including Town & Country Antiques (115 W Oklahoma Ave) , Treasures & Books (114 W Oklahoma Ave) and Above the Rest (110 W Oklahoma Ave), where we shot a segment for the special and very nearly picked up a colorful Hank Williams record for its cover art that looked like an Andy Warhol painting.
JENKS
Tulsa has great antiques, but even locals wanting to make a spree into something of a half-day outing know to head to Jenks, across the Arkansas River from south Tulsa. The area bills itself as the Antique Capital of Oklahoma, and certainly has been a contender since the 1970s.
McALESTER
McAlester’s commercial roots go way back – the town’s namesake, JJ McAlester, set up its first store 150 years ago, which later made an appearance in the book and film(s) True Grit. Today’s Old Town carries the tradition with a handful of antique shops on the old Jefferson Highway, a couple miles north of McAlester’s downtown. (https://www.cityofmcalester.com/tourism/shopping___dining/old_town_antiques_district.php)
PURCELL
We had a superb time in the show telling the story of Clinton Avery Tharp at Main Street Vintage (207 W Main St) in downtown Purcell, a half-hour drive south of Norman. Since Clinton opened his store, a friend opened That Shop (209 W Main St) next door. Down the street are a few more options, including Aunti Mae’s Antiques (129 W Main St) and Butler Antiques (200 W Main St), in a former hotel.
ESTATE SALES
For estate sales, follow Glenda Silvey of Silvey Estate Sales’ advice (https://www.silveyestatesales.com/), get on the email lists and keep an eye on sales (estatesales.net or estatesales.org are good places to start). Most provide preview photos before a sale of what’s on offer. Most are three-day sales, with increasing discounts on day two and day three.
Be sure to watch Gallery America’s Oklahoma Antiques show on our archives or the PBS app!