Events for July 1, 2023 - August 12, 2023
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July 2023
Guided tours
Honey Springs Battlefield is pleased to announce a unique tour opportunity at the site. Students from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) will serve as tour guides on the six trails that cross the 1,100-acre battlefield on three Saturdays in June: June 3 and 10, as well as, Saturday, July 1. The students will point out the exact locations of military actions, highlight key aspects of the engagement, and discuss its historical importance. Normally, the park and…
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…
Find out more »“A History of Oklahoma’s 46-Star Flag” presentation by Karen Smith Hunter
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host a special presentation on the history of Oklahoma’s first flag on Saturday, July 1, at 11 a.m. Karen Smith Hunter will be the featured presenter. Oklahoma became a state in 1907, but the first state flag was not adopted until 1911. It consisted of a red field with a five-pointed, white star edged with blue. The number 46 in blue, denoting Oklahoma’s position as the 46th state, was placed in the star’s…
Find out more »Overnight at the Chuck Wagon **event is full**
Pack your sleeping bag, pajamas, toothbrush, and toothpaste for Overnight at the Chuck Wagon at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. This overnight event will take place from 6 p.m. on Friday, July 7, to 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 8. This event is for children ages 5–12, accompanied by at least one adult. Participants will bed down in various parts of the museum for a night of 19th-century activities, movies, arts and crafts, games, and storytelling, with a chuck wagon…
Find out more »Quilting workshop with Martha Ray
The Quilting workshop with Martha Ray meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Sod House Museum at a cost of $5 per person. Ray teaches how to create appliqué designs, traditional block patterns, original designs, crazy quilts, landscape designs, and paper piecing. New members of any skill level are always encouraged to attend! Share in the happy exchange of shared skills, fun, camaraderie, door prizes, refreshments, discussions, quilt patterns, and old-fashioned bed…
Find out more »Carriage House Sit and Sew
Sewers of all ages are invited to join the "Carriage House Sit and Sew" at the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion in Oklahoma City. This free monthly event is 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 https://www.preservationok.org/shop Registration is limited to 20 people. Guests can bring their food and drink. Coffee and water will…
Find out more »Second Saturday Sewing Circle
The Fort Towson Historic Site holds a free, informal monthly Sewing Circle every second Saturday. Sewing and historic domestic skills—part of the fort’s history—will be demonstrated and taught. All skill levels are welcome in the group, allowing more experienced guests to guide beginners and share ideas. Participants are encouraged to bring their own projects or purchase kits from the site’s gift shop. Monthly programs and special event updates are on the Fort Towson Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.okhistory.org.…
Find out more »Experimenting with Sun Printing class
On Saturday, July 8, from 1 to 4 p.m. the Oklahoma History Center will host an Experimenting with Sun Printing class. Students will learn cyanotype processes and create their own artwork using native plants and sun printing techniques. Photographer and artist Jim Meeks will be the instructor. Meeks is the photo editor in the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Division. The class costs $30 for members of the Oklahoma Historical Society and $40 for nonmembers. All supplies are included in the…
Find out more »Watch Out for Flying Chairs: Professional Wrestling in Oklahoma exhibit opens
On Tuesday, July 11, from 4–6 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will hold an opening event for the photography exhibit Watch Out for Flying Chairs: Professional Wrestling in Oklahoma. The exhibit examines professional wrestling in Oklahoma from its emergence in traveling carnivals to today. Oklahoma has been at the forefront of professional wrestling through its continued popularity across communities, as well as the contributions of Oklahomans in and out of the squared circle. Over the last 80 years, traditional wrestling…
Find out more »“How to Advocate for Route 66 Resources” Lunch and Learn webinar
On Thursday, July 13, at noon, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will host a free, virtual Lunch and Learn webinar entitled “How to Advocate for Route 66 Resources.” In this session, Kaisa Barthuli, Program Manager of the National Park Service’s Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, will talk about the history and significance of Route 66 in Oklahoma and will share information and resources on how to preserve Route 66 buildings, signs, roadbed, and bridges in your community. Register for…
Find out more »Battle of Honey Springs Memorial Service
Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service honoring the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah on Saturday, July 15, at 10:30 a.m. John Beaver, curator for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Cultural Center and Archives, will be the guest speaker. The memorial service will be held outside on the lawn of the visitor center. The program will include a welcome and opening remarks from site director Adam Lynn and the presentation of colors by the…
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…
Find out more »Kids Make History
Young people can learn about the natural world around us with a forestry program presented by Oklahoma Forestry Services Education Coordinator Tony Pascall. The program will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, and will feature hands-on activities that teach about what the forest is, the role of the forest, and how people can better interact and care for a forest. Pascall plans and implements education and outreach events for schools, clubs, scout groups, and more all around the…
Find out more »USCIS Naturalization Ceremony
On Tuesday, July 18, at 10 a.m., the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will host a naturalization ceremony at the Oklahoma History Center. Eligible candidates from across Oklahoma will take the Oath of Allegiance, the final step to becoming a US citizen. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Estela Hernandez, field representative for US Senator James Lankford, will be the guest speaker. Register for the event. The Oklahoma Historical Society Multicultural Office…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting *canceled*
The Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting previously scheduled for July 19 has been canceled. 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 »Historic Preservation Review Committee meeting
The regular quarterly meeting of the Historic Preservation Review Committee (HPRC) will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2023. The HPRC will meet in the Leroy H. Fischer Boardroom, Oklahoma History Center (third floor), located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK. The public is invited to attend. (NOTE: If you are a person with a disability and require accommodation, please contact Lynda Ozan at 405-522-4484 or lynda.ozan@history.ok.gov, at noon on Wednesday, July 19, 2023). Additionally,…
Find out more »Barn Quilt workshop
Join in the fun at the Chisholm Trail Museum (CTM) on Friday, July 21, or Saturday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a Barn Quilt workshop. Barn quilts are not made of fabric, but are instead square-shaped boards painted to resemble a quilt block. The colorful wooden patterns are placed on the exteriors of structures and have evolved into a rural development initiative to boost tourism in communities all across the United States. Oklahoma State University Extension…
Find out more »Barn Quilt workshop
Join in the fun at the Chisholm Trail Museum (CTM) on Friday, July 21, or Saturday, July 22, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a Barn Quilt workshop. Barn quilts are not made of fabric, but are instead square-shaped boards painted to resemble a quilt block. The colorful wooden patterns are placed on the exteriors of structures and have evolved into a rural development initiative to boost tourism in communities all across the United States. Oklahoma State University Extension…
Find out more »Hands-On Historic Skills: Choctaw Nation’s “Growing Hope” Program
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 »Native Oklahoma Plant Dye class
On Saturday, July 22, from 1-4 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will host a class specializing in using native Oklahoma plant dyes. Students will learn how to create natural dyes from plants and vegetables. Attendees will need to bring white clothing or fabric items to dye during class. The class costs $15 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for nonmembers. All supplies are included in the class cost, except for the items that will be dyed. The registration deadline…
Find out more »Question-and-answer session for First Kansas Colored Infantry Volunteer Regiment
Fort Gibson Historic Site is calling for interested parties to join its inaugural First Kansas Colored Infantry Volunteer Regiment living history group. Fort Gibson and Honey Springs Battlefield have partnered to develop a regiment to help conduct programming depicting the All-Black Civil War regiment that was instrumental in helping the US Army defeat Confederate forces in Indian Territory, most notably in the Battle of Honey Springs. The First Kansas Colored Infantry was made up of free Black and formerly enslaved…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meeting
The Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meetings occur on the 4th Wednesday of the first month of each quarter at 1:30 p.m. with the exception of the April meeting which will take place on Friday, April 21, also at 1:30 p.m. 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 »National History Day Boot Camp
On Thursday, July 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Education staff of the Oklahoma History Center will host a workshop to show middle and high school teachers how to bring project-based learning and critical thinking skills into their classrooms through the adaptable curriculum of the National History Day program for grades 6–12. Registration for National History Day Boot Camp is $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $15 for non-members. The deadline for registration is Friday, July 14.…
Find out more »Career Night at the Museum
On Thursday, July 27, from 4 to 6 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will host Career Night for K-12 students and their families. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and talk with professionals from a variety of fields, explore exhibits, and enjoy fun activities! This event is free, but registration is required. Register for Career Night.
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Togo (2019)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a Movie Night featuring the film Togo (2019), in its theater on Friday, July 28, 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 »August 2023
Antique Handkerchiefs exhibit opens
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home will have a collection of antique handkerchiefs displayed in the historic home from August 2 through 31. The special collection of dainty squares of fabric will feature a variety of cheerful designs. In the late 1800s, women often carried a handkerchief to dab their nose and dry a tear. Before the mass production of disposable facial tissues after the Spanish Flu of 1918, handkerchiefs were commonly carried by men and women. Women of the…
Find out more »Hidden Oklahoma: “Out of the Earth: Revitalizing Choctaw Traditional Art” presentation by Dr. Ian Thompson
On Wednesday, August 2, at 2 p.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will hold a free virtual webinar on “Out of the Earth: Revitalizing Choctaw Traditional Art," presented by Dr. Ian Thompson. From brain-tanned bison robes processed with stone tools to traditional meals cooked in shell-tempered pots made from Choctaw homeland clays, this presentation will share some of the exciting cultural revitalization work happening at Choctaw Nation. This work both informs and is informed by Indigenous archaeology.…
Find out more »The People’s House: The Story of the Oklahoma State Capitol DocOKC Film Festival screening
On Friday, August 4, at 7 p.m., The People’s House: The Story of the Oklahoma State Capitol documentary on the Oklahoma State Capitol will be screened at the DocOKC Film Festival at the auditorium at the Douglass in Oklahoma City. The documentary features a spectacular four-minute drone tour of the Capitol with glimpses of the House floor, Senate floor, and Oklahoma Supreme Court, providing rare views of the building’s interior and exterior. It walks through the history of the Capitol,…
Find out more »Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in WWII exhibit closes
The exhibit Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in WWII will be on display at the Cherokee Strip and Regional Heritage Center until Saturday, August 5. In the years leading up to World War II, racial segregation and discrimination were part of daily life for many in the United States. For most African Americans, even the most basic rights and services were fragmented or denied altogether. To be Black was to know the limits of freedom—excluded from…
Find out more »American Indian Boarding Schools in Oklahoma workshop
The Oklahoma History Center will host a workshop on Saturday, August 5, that focuses on American Indian boarding schools in Oklahoma. A 2022 report from the US Department of the Interior detailed the assimilationist policies and inherent abuse that the schools employed for decades. The report identified more than 400 schools across 37 states that operated between 1819 and 1969, including 76 in Oklahoma. From 10-11:30 a.m., Dr. Farina King (Diné) will give an overview of the history of American…
Find out more »Family Fun Day
Experience “Family Fun Day” at the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School in Perry on Saturday, August 5, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bring the whole family to enjoy this free admission day full of cake walks, apple peeling, sack races, rope-making demonstrations, living history gunfights, and live banjo music. The Rose Hill schoolmarm will hold short class sessions, a petting zoo will be on-site, and a fun photo station will be set up at the jail. The Blacksmith’s Shop…
Find out more »Blacksmithing and Wheelsetting Demonstrations with the Saltfork Craftsmen
On August 5, during Family Fun Day, the Saltfork Craftsmen will be holding a Blacksmithing Demonstration in the blacksmith shop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can enjoy watching the craftsmen work and will have an opportunity for safe hands-on experiences. The team of expert blacksmiths will be demonstrating the wheelwright’s craft. Tom Nelson, CSM’s resident blacksmith, will demonstrate the special skills involved in the construction of heavy wheels, including the finishing touch of adding a metal ring or…
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…
Find out more »The People’s House: The Story of the Oklahoma State Capitol Fly Film Festival screening
On Saturday, August 5, at 5:45 p.m., The People’s House: The Story of the Oklahoma State Capitol documentary on the Oklahoma State Capitol will be screened at the Fly Film Festival at the Gaslight Theatre located at 221 N. Independence in Enid. The documentary features a spectacular four-minute drone tour of the Capitol with glimpses of the House floor, Senate floor, and Oklahoma Supreme Court, providing rare views of the building’s interior and exterior. It walks through the history of…
Find out more »“Totem: As Monument” lecture and panel discussion
On Sunday, August 6, from 3 to 5 p.m., the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host a free lecture and panel discussion with Pablo Barrera, associate curator at Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center; Russell Cobb, associate professor of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta and author of The Great Oklahoma Swindle: Race, Religion, and Lies in America’s Weirdest State; Annalise Flynn, art historian and curator of SPACES Archive at the Kohler Foundation, Kohler, Wisconsin; Emily L. Moore,…
Find out more »History OffCenter: “OkieKaraoke” at the Cabin Boys Brewery
The Oklahoma Historical Society will host “OkieKaraoke” on Wednesday, August 9, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. inside Cabin Boys Brewery at 1717 E. 7th Street, Tulsa, in the Pearl District. The public is invited to show up in their best Oklahoma-inspired gear to sing their favorite Oklahoma songs—inspired by the creatives who will be featured in OKPOP! This event is part of the OHS’s History OffCenter series, which focuses on immersive, engaging experiences. With an emphasis on community outreach, this…
Find out more »“History of the Seminole” presentation by Jake Tiger
On Friday, August 11, from 10 a.m. to noon, Jake Tiger, historic preservation cultural specialist for the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, will present a history of the Seminole Nation at Fort Gibson Historic Site. Tiger will discuss the history of the Seminoles, including their life before Indian Territory and how they were removed to Oklahoma. The presentation will take place in the visitor center of Fort Gibson Historic Site, located at 907 N. Garrison Ave. in Fort Gibson. The program…
Find out more »Wreath-laying ceremony and flyover at Will Rogers Memorial Museum
On Friday, August 11, at noon, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a wreath-laying ceremony and flyover to mark the anniversary of the August 15, 1935, death of Will Rogers and Wiley Post in an Alaskan plane crash. Jennifer Rogers Etcheverry, Will Rogers’ great-granddaughter, will be joined by several generations of descendants of Will’s sisters, Sallie Rogers McSpadden and Maud Rogers Lane, for a wreath-laying rite at noon Friday, August 11, at the family tomb on the…
Find out more »Quilting workshop with Martha Ray
The Quilting workshop with Martha Ray meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Sod House Museum for $5 per person. Ray teaches how to create appliqué designs, traditional block patterns, original designs, crazy quilts, landscape designs, and paper piecing. New members of any skill level are always encouraged to attend! Share in the happy exchange of shared skills, fun, camaraderie, door prizes, refreshments, discussions, quilt patterns, and old-fashioned bed turnings at the…
Find out more »2023 Oklahoma All-Black Towns State Conference
The Oklahoma Historical Society, in partnership with the Oklahoma Conference of Black Mayors, will host the Oklahoma All-Black Towns State Conference on Saturday, August 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center. The conference is designed to encourage a network of state agencies to join with the mayors of some of Oklahoma’s historic All-Black towns to share resources and discuss ideas. In the early 20th century, Oklahoma was home to more than 50 All-Black towns and…
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