Events for March 1, 2023 - April 1, 2023
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March 2023
Taking Flight: Oklahomans Explore the Skies exhibit opens
On Wednesday, March 1, the Oklahoma History Center will open a new exhibit Taking Flight: Oklahomans Explore the Skies featuring the first steps toward air travel, as well as the remarkable ways that Oklahomans contributed to all aspects of aviation. In the Vose Atrium Gallery, a timeline of flight begins with a large-scale mural of a 1900s-period balloon created by artist Manuel Cruz III, which represents the dawn of exploration of the skies. This exhibit explores both military aviation and…
Find out more »Hidden Oklahoma: “Notable Archaeological Discoveries in Northwestern Oklahoma” presentation by Dr. Leland Bement
On Wednesday, March 1, at 2 p.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will hold a free virtual webinar on "Notable Archaeological Discoveries in Northwestern Oklahoma" presented by Dr. Leland Bement. This presentation is part of SHPO's 2023 Archaeology multipart webinar Hidden Oklahoma: How Archaeology Reveals Secrets From our Past. Hidden Oklahoma Guest archaeologists and researchers discuss important sites in Oklahoma and illustrate why archaeology is critical to understanding our history. Registration is required. Register for this event.…
Find out more »Living History Education Day
On Thursday, March 2, the Fort Towson Historical Site will bring history to life through a FREE educational event to teach what life was like at Fort Towson over 180 years ago. This is a great opportunity to watch demonstrations of living historians who will be presenting historic skills, and educating guests while dressed in period clothing. Education Day presents multiple learning experiences about life at the military outpost during the 1840s when it was a vital re-supply point for…
Find out more »Auto Show lunch at the Oklahoma History Center
On Thursday, March 2, the Oklahoma History Center and the 2023 Oklahoma City International Auto Show invite the public to have lunch outside the museum from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. A beautifully restored 1946 Flxible Clipper Airporter will be parked on the museum grounds for car enthusiasts to enjoy. The motor coach was restored by Jerry Jones. Clippers were used as intercity coaches, used by smaller bus companies, and typically seated 30 passengers. See the classic Airporter while enjoying…
Find out more »1840s Encampment
On Friday, March 3, Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5, the Fort Towson Historic Site will host an 1840s Encampment on its grounds. This three-day living history event will give observers and participants a sense of stepping back in time. The historic site will be open and free to the public each day of the encampment, holding historic skills demonstrations throughout the day. Tents will dot the grounds, and the fort will be brought back to life with reenactors…
Find out more »Museum OKademy volunteer training class and lecture
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) will host a six-session Museum OKademy course in 2023 to train volunteers and provide lectures on history. The classes will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., beginning on Saturday, January 21, and concluding on Saturday, April 1. The six-part lecture/workshop series, Museum OKademy, will be led by CSRHC Director Jake Krumwiede, CSRHC Director of Education Neal Matherne, and other CSRHC staff. These classes are aimed at both prospective volunteers and other adult…
Find out more »Blacksmithing Demonstrations with the Saltfork Craftsmen
Visit the Cherokee Strip Museum in Perry to watch the Saltfork Craftsmen give a blacksmithing demonstration on Saturday, November 4. The forge will be lit at 10 a.m., and the demonstrations will take place until 2 p.m. The Saltfork Craftsmen Artist-Blacksmith Association is a non-profit organization of amateur and professional craftsmen. Guests can watch the craftsmen work and will have an opportunity for safe hands-on experiences. This educational event is free to attend, but donations are appreciated. For more information,…
Find out more »Bob Wills Day at the Capitol
On Monday, March 6, the Oklahoma Historical Society is partnering with the Oklahoma Arts Council to bring the music and memories of an Oklahoma legend—Bob Wills to the Oklahoma State Capitol! From 1 to 5 p.m., enjoy an afternoon of live performances under the dome on the second-floor rotunda of the Oklahoma Capitol building. At 6 p.m., catch a special live recording of A Very OK Podcast at Ponyboy in Oklahoma City. Open to all, the event commemorates Wills, the Country Music Hall…
Find out more »A Very OK Podcast LIVE: The Bob Wills Story
A live recording of A Very OK Podcast will take place on Monday, March 6, starting at 6 p.m. at Ponyboy in Oklahoma City. A panel discussion will focus on the life of Bob Wills – the “King of Western Swing” – who was born on March 6, 1905. To commemorate his birthday, it will also be Bob Wills Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The podcast is hosted by Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) Executive Director Trait Thompson and former…
Find out more »2023 People with Disabilities Awareness Day and Awards Ceremony
On Tuesday, March 7, the Oklahoma History Center will host the 2023 People with Disabilities Awareness Day and Awards Ceremony. The event will take place at the OHC from noon to 4 p.m., and will include more than 70 disability-centric exhibitors and the presentation of Awareness Day awards.
Find out more »Gardens on Blue Hawk Peak gardening group meeting
The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum has formed a gardening group: "Gardens on Blue Hawk Peak," which will focus on the improvement of the gardens and landscape of the ranch and museum. Everyone is welcome to attend! The group will work on establishing flowerbeds, and shrubs and promote the monarch butterfly, other butterfly species, and insects. They will also be working to reestablish hiking trails along the ranch property. Please attend to learn about Oklahoma native plants that attract and…
Find out more »Lunch and Learn: “Who is Elmira Sauberan Smyrl Scott?” presentation by Sara Werneke webinar
On Thursday, March 9, at noon (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will hold a free virtual webinar entitled "Who is Elmira Sauberan Smyrl (Scott)?" presented by Sara Werneke and Kristina Wyckoff of SHPO. Elmira Sauberan Smyrl (Scott) was a pioneering female architect and concrete construction specialist who got her Master’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma in 1955. Her master’s thesis project was the design of an agriculture-based living and…
Find out more »“Early 19th-Century Trading” living history program
On Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 3 p.m., on both days, Fort Gibson Historic Site will hold a living history program about early 19th-century trading. This come-and-go program will provide an interpretation of trade that occurred among the American Indian nations and other settlers in the area. Examples of trade goods of the era will be on display. When Fort Gibson was established in 1824, it was the westernmost military…
Find out more »Museum After Dark: Night Tours
On Friday, March 10, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) will host “Museum After Dark: Night Tours” in the historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village. Living history interpreters will entertain and educate visitors while sharing their unique, historical perspective of life in northwestern Oklahoma before statehood. Short vignettes from the CSRHC’s living history interpreters will occur at each stop in the village. The CSRHC will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on March 10, with the…
Find out more »“Second Saturday Silents” film screening featuring Tom Mix in The Last Trail (1927)
On Saturday morning, March 11, at 11 a.m. at Circle Cinema in Tulsa, the Second Saturday Silents film series will feature Tom Mix in The Last Trail (1921). The silent film will be accompanied by Bill Rowland of the American Theater Organ Society (Sooner State Chapter) on Circle’s restored 1928 theater pipe organ. With support from Play Music Tulsa. All tickets to the special showing are FREE courtesy of the Hughes Lumber Company of Tulsa and Dewey! The Last Trail…
Find out more »Te Ata (2016) film screening
On Saturday, March 11, from noon to 2 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will screen the film Te Ata (2016).
Te Ata (TAY’ AH-TAH) is based on the inspiring, true story of Mary Thompson Fisher, a woman who traversed cultural barriers to become one of the greatest Indigenous performers of all time. Born in Indian Territory and raised on the songs and stories of her Chickasaw culture, Te Ata’s journey to find her true calling led her through isolation, discovery, love, and a stage career that culminated in performances for a United States president, European royalty and audiences across the world. Yet, of all the stories she shared, none are more inspiring than her own.
The film will be shown in the Chesapeake Event Center and Gallery. Register for the film screening by clicking here. Registration closes on March 4.
Find out more »Spring Break Activities
Five afternoons of fun, games, and learning about Will Rogers are in store for children ages 17 and younger during Spring Break, March 13–17. Activities are planned from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and at the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch near Oologah on Tuesday and Thursday. On Monday at the museum, kids will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes. Visitors to the ranch on Tuesday will…
Find out more »Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined exhibit closes
On Saturday, January 28, The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will open the traveling exhibit Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined. The exhibit will run from January 28 to March 16. Westward expansion was one of the most transformational elements in American life throughout the nineteenth century. Printed imagery played an important role in the dissemination of knowledge and understanding about the West and those who inhabited it. Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined features 48 hand-colored engravings…
Find out more »Story Time at Hunter’s Home
Every month, from March to June, Hunter’s Home will have a monthly story time for children of all ages. Watch for a new book title to be introduced every third Thursday of each month! Story time titles will feature The Mitten (1996) by Jan Brett in April; Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt (2017), by Kate Messner in May; and Dance at Grandpa’s (1995), by Laura Ingalls Wilder in June. Adding to the stories, parents and children are…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting
Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meetings are scheduled on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. However, Executive Committee meetings are not usually held on the months in which the full board meets. Agendas will be available online 24 hours prior to the meeting at okhistory.org/BOARD. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105.
Find out more »Mid-Afternoon Frolic Talent Show
On Friday, March 17, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will be having a Mid-Afternoon Frolic Talent Show. Children ages 5–12 and 13–18 can showcase special talents! Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of each age group. Awards for the Talent Show are provided by BancFirst. Preregistration is required by March 15. Register for the Talent Show
Find out more »Museum OKademy volunteer training class and lecture
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) will host a six-session Museum OKademy course in 2023 to train volunteers and provide lectures on history. The classes will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., beginning on Saturday, January 21, and concluding on Saturday, April 1. The six-part lecture/workshop series, Museum OKademy, will be led by CSRHC Director Jake Krumwiede, CSRHC Director of Education Neal Matherne, and other CSRHC staff. These classes are aimed at both prospective volunteers and other adult…
Find out more »Poultry workshop
On Saturday, March 18, from 10 to 11 a.m., learn about historic chicken care practices at Hunter’s Home that are still a part of the daily life of the historic property. From keeping chickens watered and fed, to keeping track of where they lay their eggs, and luring the flock back into the chicken coop to roost, this workshop will cover the basics of caring for free-range chickens and give the public a chance to meet the historic home’s new…
Find out more »Carriage House Sit and Sew
National Quilting Day is March 18! Sewers of all ages are invited to join the "Carriage House Sit and Sew" at the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion in Oklahoma City to celebrate sewing and quilting traditions. The "Carriage House Sit and Sew" is a free monthly event for makers and crafters of all kinds and all skill levels. Participants are encouraged to bring their supplies and projects to sew and create in a different setting. Register for each session at…
Find out more »Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival
The Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will hold the Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival on Saturday, March 18, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. This FREE, community-wide fair highlights historic and modern farm life to demonstrate how food and household items travel from their sources to our homes. Families will experience perspectives from Colonial America to the modern day with hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. Admission is free to the public, and the event will be held primarily outdoors on the OHC grounds…
Find out more »Nature Journaling class
On March 18, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., the public is invited to learn about the practice of nature journaling—recording and sketching one’s natural surroundings. Artist Jim Mullenax of Rocky Pond Pen and Ink in Prairie Grove, Arkansas will be visiting Hunter’s Home in Park Hill to teach the importance of making a nature journal. The class will help to teach how to be inquisitive about the world around you by making simple sketches in a journal which can become…
Find out more »2023 Oklahoma Historical Society Awards Banquet
The 2023 Oklahoma Historical Society Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, March 23, 2023, at the Oklahoma History Center. A cocktail reception begins at 6 p.m., and dinner and the awards program will follow at 6:30 p.m. OETA Vice President of Production Susan Cadot will emcee the event. The evening will include a special musical performance by The Savoy Trio and catering by Rococo. Cocktail attire is requested, and guests must RSVP by March 10. Individual tickets are available for $100…
Find out more »“School of the Soldier” living history program
On Friday, March 24, and Saturday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1 to 3 p.m., Fort Gibson Historic Site will conduct "School of the Soldier," a come-and-go living history program, free with paid admission. Just like the modern-day military, 19th-century soldiers were expected to attend school sessions. While learning basics like drilling and troop movement, soldiers were also taught in the classroom. During this living history weekend, staff will demonstrate a variety of 19th-century military…
Find out more »“History and Hops: Oklahoma’s Tiny Jails (Calabooses) Survey” presentation by Matt Pearce and Mike Mayes
On Friday, March 24, from 6 to 8 p.m., Preservation Oklahoma will continue its History and Hops series with a presentation about Oklahoma's tiniest jails, called calabooses. The word calaboose takes its origins from the Spanish word for "dungeon." In areas around the state, these small one-room holding cells were constructed to temporarily hold prisoners awaiting transport to county jails or larger cities. Matt Pearce and Mike Mayes of the State Historic Preservation Office will explore the history of jails…
Find out more »Chuck Wagon Gathering
Visit the Chisholm Trail Museum Saturday, March 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day filled with cowboy fun! The Chuck Wagon Gathering is a great way to see a variety of working chuck wagons from across the region as the cooks prepare some of their favorite dishes. Activities include live music with Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road, Straka longhorns, cooking demonstrations, gunfights, Wild West Show performers, medicine man shows, and more. The daytime activities are free! Please…
Find out more »Modern Soapmaking workshop *canceled*
Learn to create a batch of homemade soap using a modern variation of this historic practice at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) on Saturday, March 25 from noon to 3 p.m. Class participants will learn to make a cold processed batch of soap that they can take home!
Find out more »“Hands-On Historic Skills: Dutch Oven Cooking”
On the fourth Saturday of each month, the Fort Towson Historic Site welcomes visitors to take part in the Hands-On Historic Skills series of demonstrations.
Every month, guests can try their hand at using period artifacts and tools with the guidance of Fort Towson staff members and historical interpreters. Hands-on demonstrations allow individuals to experience the past by touching, using and gaining an appreciation for historical objects while in the Fort Towson setting.
Updates on monthly programs and special events can be found on the Fort Towson Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.okhistory.org. For more information, email fttowson@history.ok.gov or call 580-873-2634. The Fort Towson Historic Site is located north of U.S. 70 near Fort Towson.
Find out more »Frozen in Time: A Photographic History of Northwestern Oklahoma exhibit opens
On Tuesday, March 28, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will open the exhibit Frozen in Time: A Photographic History of Northwestern Oklahoma. The exhibit will feature selected photos from noted Enid photographers Mike Klemme and Wess Gray, with historic photographers William S. Prettyman, William Edson, and Richard J. “Dick” McConkay. Photographs can capture our imagination and transport us back in time. These images can unlock memories, remind us of our past, and also show us how our lives have…
Find out more »Vietnam War–Era Veterans Commemoration Ceremony
On Wednesday, March 29, on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will hold a special commemoration ceremony to honor the servicemen and servicewomen who served anywhere in the world during the Vietnam War Era. This includes service from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975 regardless of location. The event will be held in the Devon Great Hall of the OHC from 10 a.m. to noon. This event is free and open to the public. Doors…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Will Rogers in They Had to See Paris (1929)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a Movie Night featuring the film They Had to See Paris (1929), starring Will Rogers, in its theater on Friday, March 31, at 7 p.m.
“Horsing Around with Will” will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., during which families can enjoy activities and crafts relating to the movie’s theme. Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested. This event is FREE to attend, thanks to sponsorship by the Bank of Commerce. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Will Rogers Movie Night is held on the last Friday of the month.
Find out more »April 2023
Hammered Aluminum Ware exhibit opens
A new exhibit at the Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will focus on hammered aluminum ware. From Saturday, April 1, to Sunday, April 30, visitors can view beautiful examples of hammered aluminum metalware, such as salad dishes, cookie trays, and pitchers with matching tumblers. During the early 1900s up to the 1950s, many homemakers would use cheaper and lighter hammered aluminum for their card games, birthday celebrations, church events, and monthly coffee socials. With many metals in short…
Find out more »Museum OKademy volunteer training course and lecture
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) will host a six-session Museum OKademy course in 2023 to train volunteers and provide lectures on history. The classes will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., beginning on Saturday, January 21, and concluding on Saturday, April 1. The six-part lecture/workshop series, Museum OKademy, will be led by CSRHC Director Jake Krumwiede, CSRHC Director of Education Neal Matherne, and other CSRHC staff. These classes are aimed at both prospective volunteers and other adult…
Find out more »Introduction to Basketry: Create a Woven Tote class *canceled*
Join Marcia Balleweg of Oklahoma Basket Supply on Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) and learn to craft your own woven tote. This introductory class is great for beginners, or people looking to get back into basketry. As this is an all-day class, please bring a lunch or plan accordingly. This class is $70 for members and $85 for nonmembers, and is for ages 16 and up. The class will take…
Find out more »Annual Heritage Hills Easter Egg Hunt
On Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Heritage Hills Historical Preservation group invites parents and children to their Annual Heritage Hills Easter Egg Hunt. Hundreds of colored eggs will be hidden on the grounds of the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion for children to discover. Drop-in hours for the historic home will be curtailed on Saturday, April 1 because of the event.
Find out more »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
Step back in time and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
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