Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park
4.5(1.1K)google
4.2(18)yelp
Folk ArtRoad Trip
Overview
Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park is a park created by American sculptor, woodcarver, and folk artist Ed Galloway. The site consists of eleven sculptures and one building on 14 acres (57,000 m2) in Rogers County, in northeastern Oklahoma. The park is ten miles (16 km) north-east of Claremore and is located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east of historic U.S. Route 66 and Foyil.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1-1.5 hours
Best TimeFabulous between 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM on a clear afternoon in May or October. Sunlight hits this folk-art park's centerpieces, including the 90-foot-tall world's largest concrete totem pole; the angled rays brilliantly highlight the hand-painted Native relief carvings and historic stone artifacts.
Getting ThereTucked inside rural farmlands at 21300 E Highway 28A near Foyil. No mass transit options exist; driving is required. Take US-66 North from Claremore into Foyil, turn right onto OK Highway 28A East, and proceed for 3.5 miles. The folk park offers an open, free unpaved gravel guest lot.
Travel Tips
- Located off rural Highway 28A with zero street lighting, night driving presents severe deer-collision hazards. Complete your tour and depart the area before 16:00.
- The interior of the world's largest concrete totem pole is tiny and traps intense heat, regularly exceeding 100°F in summer. Avoid ascending if prone to claustrophobia.
- The park is maintained by volunteers. Entering the historic Fiddle House requires a small cash-only donation at the threshold; credit cards and Apple Pay are not accepted.
Reviews
Positive
- The world's largest totem pole statue packs a perfect visual impact, hand-built over years with complex concrete and murals with immense artistic value.
- The park environment is clean and rustic, with expansive lawns meticulously maintained and signs detailing the creator's life story.
- Entering the park is completely free (donations welcome) with stress-free large parking, creating an elegant, quiet walking environment.
- The park also houses a unique fiddle museum, displaying a vast collection of beautifully handcrafted violins, adding a great surprise to the visit.
Heads up
- The location is far off main highways, deep down remote country roads; public transit is unavailable, and the drive is narrow with poor night marks.
- The surface paint of the main totem pole shows minor peeling and fading due to year-round weather, requiring more frequent professional maintenance.
- The public restrooms are traditional vault toilets; during hot midsummer days, the interior odor is strong and lacks convenient accessibility features.
- Aside from the large statue and fiddle display, there are no snack shops, vending machines, or commercial services; visitors must bring all water.