- This event has passed.
Santas of the World at Pawnee Bill Ranch
December 12, 2015, 1 a.m.–3 p.m.
Event Navigation
The Pawnee Bill Ranch invites the community to help celebrate the holiday season on Saturday, December 12. The Friends of the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association’s annual meeting is planned for 11:30 a.m. in the ranch’s big barn, followed by a light lunch. The meal and meeting are open to Ranch Association members and those who desire to become members. As a special treat that day, the ranch is hosting a Santas of the World Tour from 1-3 p.m. in the mansion. The tour is free and open to the public. Visit the ranch, take photographs with these historic Santas, and listen to their stories. Perhaps you might even receive a stick from one of them if you have been “bad.”
The Santa Claus with whom most of us are familiar is the result of the intertwining of Christian tradition, ancient and modern social customs, centuries-old legends, historical facts and the imaginations of a long line of writers and artists around the world. The Oklahoma Historical Society has developed a program depicting historic Santas who tell their own stories. They are dressed authentically from their particular time period and country of origin. Some of the Santas that may be featured are:
Black Peter (The Netherlands, 1550); Grandfather Frost (Russia, 1900) and Babushka (Russia, 1800); LeBefana (Italy, 1800); Ophelia Noel (France, 1800); Civil War Santa (United States of America, 1860); Sinter Claus (The Netherlands, 1808) and his wife; Weihnachtsmann (Germany, 1800); Tundra Santa (United States of America, 1840); Tartan Santa (Nova Scotia, 1850); and St. Nicholas (Turkey, 1100).
In conjunction with the Santas of the World Tour, Pawnee Bill’s 1910 mansion once again will be beautifully transformed for the holiday season. Holiday decorations will be put in place by staff members and volunteers from the community and can be seen during normal hours of operation December 1–31. Pawnee Bill’s home is a Tudor-style Arts and Crafts bungalow and the decorations used for the holiday season are typical decorations that were used in a historic home.
The Pawnee Bill Ranch is located at 1141 Pawnee Bill Rd., one-half mile west of Pawnee on U.S. Highway 64. The home is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Regular admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $3 for students ages 6–18, and free for children age 5 and under. Please call 918-762-2513 for further information about the free Santas of the World Tour or other events at the ranch.
