Press Release
March 17, 2022
Contact: Nicole Harvey
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-5202
nharvey@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/grants
Okeene Historic Preservation Group Awarded Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is proud to announce that the Okeene Historic Preservation Group has been awarded a grant through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program.
The Okeene Historic Preservation Group has been awarded $20,000 for a project titled “Okeene History Exhibit Project,” which will bring traveling exhibits to Okeene from the Oklahoma History Center, the Smithsonian, and the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia. With the implementation of this project, Okeene will have an interesting day trip destination for anyone in a 60-mile radius, an educational program will be available for area schoolchildren and anyone passing through can make a comfort stop at the Welcome Center and learn some Oklahoma history.
“The Okeene Historic Preservation Group, through this grant, will now be able to bring well-researched, insightful and varied Oklahoma history into our local community through traveling exhibits,” said Sen. Darcy Jech, Kingfisher. “Congratulations to them on this funding and for helping to preserve and share history for our region.”
“The Okeene Historic Preservation Group has created a unique destination for travelers in northwest Oklahoma as well as an attractive venue for local events and attractions,” said Rep. Mike Dobrinski, Okeene. “This grant will enable them to attract additional visitors and host more events to display unique historical artifacts and promote rural tourism at a time when many urban residents are seeking options outside of the metro area. I appreciate the OHS grant program recognizing the efforts of our Okeene Historic Preservation Group with this generous award.”
“We are excited about this opportunity to offer history exhibits right here in Okeene,” said Jeremy Osmus, president of the Okeene Historic Preservation Group Board of Directors. “Over the next few weeks, we will be deciding which exhibits to bring to town and when. Entry to the exhibits will be free of charge. People of all ages will want to visit the exhibits and learn a little more about Oklahoma history.”
The total amount of funds that will be distributed this year is just over $558,000, with projects ranging from collections care and strategic planning to exhibit development and educational programming. “Entering our third year of the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program, the OHS is thrilled with the program’s success,” said Nicole Harvey, director of strategic initiatives and grants administrator for the OHS. “To date, the program has funded over 120 projects that are aiding with collecting, preserving and sharing Oklahoma history for local communities across the state.”
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is a grants-in-aid program offered by the Oklahoma Historical Society with a goal of encouraging the collection, preservation and sharing of Oklahoma history at the grassroots level in all parts of the state. Open to tribal and municipal governments and not-for-profit historical organizations located in Oklahoma and registered with the Oklahoma secretary of state, this grants program offers funding ranging from $1,000 to $20,000 for projects focused on collections, exhibits and programming. Applications for this annual program open in the fall and award announcements are made in January. For more information visit www.okhistory.org/grants.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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