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April 2023
Spring Bake Day
On Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the smell of fresh-baked bread will once again permeate Fort Gibson Historic Site. Bake Day is a unique and delicious experience for the public to enjoy. Staff will operate the oven all day Saturday, and the fresh loaves will be available around noon and 3:30 p.m. from the tent in front of the bakehouse. There is no cost to sample the fresh-baked bread, but donations are appreciated. Fort Gibson coffee…
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 »“The Coalition of Historical Trekkers” living history program
The Coalition of Historical Trekkers (COHT) will be at Fort Gibson Historic Site from April 13–15, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at the palisade fort. The COHT is a group of living historians dedicated to the preservation and study of the pre-1860 frontier people in America. COHT has deeply researched the lifeways of the pre-1860 frontier people, including what foods, clothing, weapons, and methods were authentic to those used by early frontier people in America. The COHT…
Find out more »“The Coalition of Historical Trekkers” living history program
The Coalition of Historical Trekkers (COHT) will be at Fort Gibson Historic Site from April 13–15, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at the palisade fort. The COHT is a group of living historians dedicated to the preservation and study of the pre-1860 frontier people in America. COHT has deeply researched the lifeways of the pre-1860 frontier people, including what foods, clothing, weapons, and methods were authentic to those used by early frontier people in America. The COHT…
Find out more »“The Coalition of Historical Trekkers” living history program
The Coalition of Historical Trekkers (COHT) will be at Fort Gibson Historic Site from April 13–15, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day at the palisade fort. The COHT is a group of living historians dedicated to the preservation and study of the pre-1860 frontier people in America. COHT has deeply researched the lifeways of the pre-1860 frontier people, including what foods, clothing, weapons, and methods were authentic to those used by early frontier people in America. The COHT…
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 »“Traveling by Keelboat” living history program
On Saturday, April 22, staff and volunteers at the Fort Gibson Historic Site will demonstrate the operations of a working keelboat during the special riverside program “Traveling by Keelboat.” This is a good opportunity to learn about the history of water travel and transport in the 19th century. Historians at the riverside will ensure the safety of guests while teaching about the skills needed to operate a keelboat, and how these vessels were depended on to deliver goods and supplies…
Find out more »Hands-On Historic Skills: Genealogical Research
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 »“Glass and a Glass!” glass fusing class
On Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host a special glass fusing class, “Glass and a Glass!,” with artist Audrey Schmitz. In two sessions—one at 1 p.m. and another at 3 p.m.— participants will make a “meadow flower”–themed suncatcher to take home with them. Participants will learn about the process of making fused glass while enjoying a complimentary drink. No prior experience with glass is required to create original art, have fun, and get your…
Find out more »May 2023
Spring Agricultural Day
Learn about 19th-century agriculture at Hunter’s Home on Saturday, May 6, from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. as staff prepares for the upcoming growing season. Adults and children can check out the gardens, fields, animals, and house observing the changing of seasons at the only remaining pre–Civil War plantation home in Oklahoma. Spring Agriculture Day is included in the price of regular admission to Hunter’s Home. For more information, call 918-456-2751. Hunter’s Home is located at 19479 E. Murrell Home Rd. in…
Find out more »Blacksmithing and Wheel Setting Demonstrations with the Saltfork Craftsmen
Visit the Cherokee Strip Museum in Perry to watch the Saltfork Craftsmen give a Blacksmithing and Wheel Setting Demonstration in the blacksmith shop. The forge will be lit at 10 a.m. and the demonstration will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The wheel setting demonstration will take place at the May 6 gathering with the museum’s resident blacksmith, Tom Nelson. The wheelwright’s craft goes back thousands of years and was essential in an age of wagon use. They…
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 »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 »Wood Turning Demonstration with the Southeastern Oklahoma Woodturners
On Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., members of the Southeastern Oklahoma Woodturners Club will be presenting a wood-turning demonstration at Fort Towson Historic Site. This is a come-and-go event will showcase turning wood on a lathe, wood carving, and other masterful skills of the woodturners club. Craftsmen will be demonstrating the process of turning pieces of wood into wonderful and often usable pieces of art such as bowls and rolling pins.
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 »Leather Repair demonstration
The Fort Gibson Historic Site will host a leather repair demonstration. Participants can sign up for Friday, May 26, or Saturday, May 27. The class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1 to 3 p.m. on both days. Attendees will learn leather repair skills, including how to properly clean, repair and care for leather items. Leather was used in various parts of a soldier’s uniform in the 1800s and 1900s, including vests, coats, boots and…
Find out more »Leather Repair demonstration
The Fort Gibson Historic Site will host a leather repair demonstration. Participants can sign up for Friday, May 26, or Saturday, May 27. The class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1 to 3 p.m. on both days. Attendees will learn leather repair skills, including how to properly clean, repair and care for leather items. Leather was used in various parts of a soldier’s uniform in the 1800s and 1900s, including vests, coats, boots and…
Find out more »June 2023
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 »Musket Cleaning demonstration
Staff at the Fort Gibson Historic Site will host four musket-cleaning demonstrations on Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10. The class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1 to 3 p.m. on both days. These demonstrations will show visitors the behind-the-scenes work of musket maintenance done by staff members before and after historical programs at the site. Muskets are muzzle-loaded long guns that evolved in 16th-century Spain. Rifles eventually replaced them. The musket cleaning…
Find out more »Musket Cleaning demonstration
Staff at the Fort Gibson Historic Site will host four musket-cleaning demonstrations on Friday, June 9, and Saturday, June 10. The class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1 to 3 p.m. on both days. These demonstrations will show visitors the behind-the-scenes work of musket maintenance done by staff members before and after historical programs at the site. Muskets are muzzle-loaded long guns that evolved in 16th-century Spain. Rifles eventually replaced them. The musket cleaning…
Find out more »Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show
The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will celebrate the lives of Major Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie, his wife May Lillie, and their famous Wild West Shows with a one-day celebration on Saturday, June 10. Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the original historic ranch site. Stagecoaches will roll amid thundering horse hooves while the lightning of gunfire explodes around Pawnee Bill, May, and their cohorts, as the talented performers…
Find out more »“19th-Century Weapons and Tools of Survival” presentation by Seth Goff
A program at Hunter’s Home on Saturday, June 17, will focus on historic firearms. Seth Goff, historical interpreter at Hunter’s Home, will present a selection of reproduction and original firearms used for self-defense, hunting, or recreational shooting during the 1840s and 1850s. The program will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. and is free with paid admission. For more information, call 918-456-2751. Hunter’s Home is located at 19479 E. Murrell Home Rd. in Park Hill. It is Oklahoma’s only remaining pre-Civil War…
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 »Hands-On Historic Skills: “Chicken, Newspapers, and Pencils: Union Camp Life during the American Civil War”
Have you ever wondered what camp life was like for 19th-century soldiers, especially during the American Civil War?
On June 24, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the Fort Towson Historic Site will be hosting a come-and-go program to teach visitors about the camp life experiences of Union soldiers. Visitors will get to view various reproduction items that will provide them with an understanding that military life in that era was comprised of much more than fighting, marching, and drilling.
This program is free with the price of general admission to the site.
Find out more »July 2023
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 »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 »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 »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 »August 2023
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 »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 »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip *canceled*
The History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip previously scheduled for August 19 has been canceled.
Find out more »September 2023
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 »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 »Hands-On Historic Skills
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 »October 2023
Japanese Stone Craftsman seminar with stone artist Takaaki Saida *fully booked*
On Saturday, October 14, from 3 to 5 p.m., a free seminar on Japanese stone crafts will be held at the Oklahoma History Center. The Japan America Society of Oklahoma, (a non-profit organization promoting Japan-US relations and culture in Oklahoma) organized the event. The seminar will include an overview of the traditions and practices in the art of stone and lantern sculpting, including the history of the Kamaoka stones and the techniques passed on by several generations since 1889. Takaaki…
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 »November 2023
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 »The Battle of Honey Springs Civil War Demonstrations
Honey Springs Battlefield near Checotah will host biennial demonstrations of the Civil War Battle of Honey Springs on Saturday, November 4, and Sunday, November 5. On both days, special living history stations will open at 10 a.m., and the Battle of Honey Springs Civil War demonstrations will take place at 1 p.m. Visitors will see military drills, demonstrations, and living history programs while also getting the chance to tour Confederate, Union, and civilian camps, and explore “Sutlers’ Row,” featuring vendors selling…
Find out more »