Heavener Runestone Park

Heavener Runestone Park is a 55-acre park on Poteau Mountain near Heavener, Oklahoma, created in 1970 around the Heavener Runestone, a carved rock discovered in 1923. The stone has drawn lasting attention because some have interpreted its inscription as a Norse claim marker, though no evidence places Norse people in the area and no comparable finds are known elsewhere in the Midwest. Two other sandstone slabs with short runic markings were found nearby, but the carving is most likely tied to early Scandinavian presence in Heavener. The park pairs that mystery with recreation, educational programs, and strong local stewardship since the city assumed control in 2011.

Oklahoma · United States