Past Events › Free
Events List Navigation
March 2023
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 »April 2023
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 »Lunch and Learn: “US Fish & Wildlife Service Historic Resources at the Treasure Lake Job Corps Center” webinar
On Wednesday, April 12, at noon (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will host a webinar focused on the US Fish & Wildlife Service Historic Resources at the Treasure Lake Job Corps Center. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) plans to revert the Treasure Lake Job Corps Center, located in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, to a more natural state, consistent with the agency's mission. In 2022, after commissioning a historic building survey, USFWS determined the Treasure…
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 »May 2023
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 »June 2023
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 »“American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” Enid Summer Chautauqua
The Enid Chautauqua invites guests to step back in time with stories and anecdotes from historical figures at the FREE PROGRAMS of the 2023 Summer Chautauqua “American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” hosted by the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC). **Due to the weather, the Thursday, June 15 evening performance of Chautauqua will occur at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Enid campus. The musical entertainment will still perform at 6:30 p.m., and Ilene Evans will still portray Rose Cousins…
Find out more »“American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” Enid Summer Chautauqua
The Enid Chautauqua invites guests to step back in time with stories and anecdotes from historical figures at the FREE PROGRAMS of the 2023 Summer Chautauqua “American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” hosted by the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC). **Due to the weather, the Thursday, June 15 evening performance of Chautauqua will occur at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Enid campus. The musical entertainment will still perform at 6:30 p.m., and Ilene Evans will still portray Rose Cousins…
Find out more »“American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” Enid Summer Chautauqua *moving to NWOSU campus due to weather*
**Due to the weather, the Thursday, June 15 evening performance of Chautauqua will occur at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Enid campus located at 2929 Randolph Avenue in Enid. The musical entertainment will still perform at 6:30 p.m., and Ilene Evans will still portray Rose Cousins at 7:30 p.m.** However, there will be NO FOOD TRUCKS on campus. The Enid Chautauqua invites guests to step back in time with stories and anecdotes from historical figures at the FREE PROGRAMS of…
Find out more »“Freedom Songs” Juneteenth Celebration
The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) will celebrate Juneteenth with “Freedom Songs” on Thursday, June 15, from 5-8 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center. Juneteenth is the celebration of emancipation following the American Civil War. On June 19, 1865, US Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger proclaimed the end of slavery at Galveston, Texas. News of emancipation spread north to the enslaved people in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) at different times during the summer of 1865. However, emancipation was not immediate for…
Find out more »“American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” Enid Summer Chautauqua
The Enid Chautauqua invites guests to step back in time with stories and anecdotes from historical figures at the FREE PROGRAMS of the 2023 Summer Chautauqua “American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” hosted by the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC). **Due to the weather, the Thursday, June 15 evening performance of Chautauqua will occur at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Enid campus. The musical entertainment will still perform at 6:30 p.m., and Ilene Evans will still portray Rose Cousins…
Find out more »“American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” Enid Summer Chautauqua
The Enid Chautauqua invites guests to step back in time with stories and anecdotes from historical figures at the FREE PROGRAMS of the 2023 Summer Chautauqua “American Aviation: Barnstorming to Mach 1” hosted by the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC). **Due to the weather, the Thursday, June 15 evening performance of Chautauqua will occur at the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Enid campus. The musical entertainment will still perform at 6:30 p.m., and Ilene Evans will still portray Rose Cousins…
Find out more »July 2023
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 »August 2023
“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 »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 »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, and coffee and water…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Oklahoma! (1955)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host an encore presentation of Movie Night featuring the classic film Oklahoma! (1955) in its theater on Tuesday, August 22, at 7 p.m. Admission to the movie is free, and guests can also enjoy free popcorn and drinks while watching the film, thanks to the Bank of Commerce’s sponsorship. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Find out more »September 2023
Cinnamon Roll Social
The Fort Towson Historic Site will host a Cinnamon Roll Social on Saturday, September 30, from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is free, and everyone is invited. Guests will enjoy cinnamon rolls cooked on-site in cast iron Dutch ovens under the cooling shade of walnut trees. The sutler store will provide a backdrop that brings to mind a time when soldiers worked, drilled, and received their sustenance on the same piece of ground. Guests will be invited to tour…
Find out more »October 2023
2023 Oklahoma Folklife Festival
The 2023 Folklife Festival will be held inside the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) on Saturday, October 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. This festival is designed to engage visitors with opportunities to experience other cultures and traditions. Visitors are there to participate in the activities, not just observe. This community-wide event will celebrate and recognize what the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress has called “the everyday and…
Find out more »“History Never Dies” Halloween carnival
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie will host its “History Never Dies” Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will have a haunted house with the gang from Scooby Doo theme. Families can enjoy carnival games, treats, prizes, and a cake walk at the two-hour event. Hotdogs and nachos will be served free to all guests. Enjoy Halloween-themed activities inside the museum—all ages and costumes are welcome! The Oklahoma…
Find out more »November 2023
“Working with the National Register of Historic Places: An Overview” webinar
On Monday, November 6, from 10 a.m. to noon (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will have a webinar featuring an overview of working with the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Matthew Pearce is the featured presenter. NRHP is the foundation of the SHPO’s programs, and a basic understanding of the register is essential for those involved in historic preservation at all levels of government and in the private sector. This workshop provides detailed information about what listing…
Find out more »“Do’s and Don’ts: Best Practices for National Register Nominations” webinar
On Tuesday, November 7, from 10 to 11 a.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will have a free webinar about the do's and don’ts of preparing a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination, which can be challenging. Matthew Pearce is the featured presenter. In addition to discussing common mistakes that NRHP nomination reviewers encounter, this workshop will introduce best practices for defining integrity and significance. It will also outline photograph and mapping guidelines. This workshop is directed…
Find out more »Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
On Monday, November 13, from 10 to 11 a.m., the State Historic Preservation Office will present a free webinar to provide training on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This training is designed to provide an introduction or a refresher to Section 106 of the NHPA. The featured presenter is Kristina Wyckoff, Section 106 coordinator, and historic archaeologist. She will explain the importance of the Section 106 process and assist anyone involved in that process in Oklahoma.…
Find out more »Archaeological Investigations and Site Evaluations
On Tuesday, November 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will have a free webinar about how to go about archaeological investigations and site evaluations. Kristina Wyckoff, Section 106 coordinator and historic archaeologist for SHPO, will be the featured presenter. Register for the webinar.
Find out more »The Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program: An Overview
On Thursday, November 14, from 10 to 11 a.m., the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will have a free webinar featuring an overview of the Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program. Sara Werneke will be the featured presenter. Participants will learn about the federal and state investment tax credits for certified rehabilitation of a certified historic structure. A detailed discussion of the Historic Preservation Certification Application, Parts 1, 2, and 3, will guide owners and developers in successfully preparing the information…
Find out more »The Historic Preservation Tax Credit: A Case Study
On Friday, November 17, from 10 to 11 a.m., the State Historic Preservation Office will offer a free webinar entitled “The Historic Preservation Tax Credit: A Case Study.” Sara Werneke will be the featured presenter. Knowing what should be in a Historic Preservation Tax Credit project submission can be daunting. Even knowing where to start can be overwhelming. In this workshop, Werneke will use a case study of an actual tax credit project that successfully went through the process and…
Find out more »January 2024
Movie Night featuring Will Rogers in Steamboat Round the Bend (1935)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a FREE Movie Night featuring the classic film Steamboat Round the Bend (1935) in its theater on Friday, January 26. Admission to the movie is free, and guests can also enjoy free popcorn and drinks while watching the film, thanks to the Bank of Commerce’s sponsorship. Because seating is limited, the doors will open at 6 p.m. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Find out more »February 2024
Everyday Oklahoma: Fascinating Stories about Familiar Places, “All-Black Towns in Oklahoma”
This first installment of SHPO’s 2024 Speaker Series, “Everyday Oklahoma: Fascinating Stories about Familiar Places,” will explore the topic of All-Black Towns in Oklahoma. The featured speakers are Gina Sofola, AICP, president and owner of Sofola & Associates, and Kory Van Hemert, architectural historian for Stantec. The free webinar will occur online on Thursday, February 8, at 2 p.m., Central Time, lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes. Register for this webinar. Oklahoma had more than 50 identifiable All-Black towns between…
Find out more »Art Night
The Oklahoma History Center will host a free, open house Art Night on Friday, February 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. Attendees will learn about the traditional and modern art forms practiced in Oklahoma. Visitors can participate in historical art forms, buy locally made art at an artists’ market, and participate in an open mic for artists of all mediums. The event is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. Are you interested in becoming a vendor?…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a FREE Movie Night featuring the classic film Ernest Goes to Jail (1990) in its theater on Friday, February 23. Admission to the movie is free, and guests can also enjoy free popcorn and drinks while watching the film, thanks to the Bank of Commerce’s sponsorship. Because seating is limited, the doors will open at 6 p.m. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Find out more »March 2024
Spring Break Activities
Spend afternoons during spring break at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Events are planned every day from March 18 to 22 between 1 and 3 p.m. to keep kids learning and entertained during their school break. Each activity is based on some aspect of Will Rogers’ extraordinary life, ranging from his time as a cowboy to his love of aviation. All children under 17 are admitted free during spring break thanks to a donation by Win and Kay Ingersoll. The…
Find out more »Spring Break Activities
Spend afternoons during spring break at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Events are planned every day from March 18 to 22 between 1 and 3 p.m. to keep kids learning and entertained during their school break. Each activity is based on some aspect of Will Rogers’ extraordinary life, ranging from his time as a cowboy to his love of aviation. All children under 17 are admitted free during spring break thanks to a donation by Win and Kay Ingersoll. The…
Find out more »Spring Break Activities
Spend afternoons during spring break at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Events are planned every day from March 18 to 22 between 1 and 3 p.m. to keep kids learning and entertained during their school break. Each activity is based on some aspect of Will Rogers’ extraordinary life, ranging from his time as a cowboy to his love of aviation. All children under 17 are admitted free during spring break thanks to a donation by Win and Kay Ingersoll. The…
Find out more »Spring Break Activities
Spend afternoons during spring break at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Events are planned every day from March 18 to 22 between 1 and 3 p.m. to keep kids learning and entertained during their school break. Each activity is based on some aspect of Will Rogers’ extraordinary life, ranging from his time as a cowboy to his love of aviation. All children under 17 are admitted free during spring break thanks to a donation by Win and Kay Ingersoll. The…
Find out more »Spring Break Activities
Spend afternoons during spring break at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Events are planned every day from March 18 to 22 between 1 and 3 p.m. to keep kids learning and entertained during their school break. Each activity is based on some aspect of Will Rogers’ extraordinary life, ranging from his time as a cowboy to his love of aviation. All children under 17 are admitted free during spring break thanks to a donation by Win and Kay Ingersoll. The…
Find out more »Chuck Wagon Gathering
Visit the Chisholm Trail Museum on Saturday, March 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a day filled with cowboy fun! Drop in and see a variety of working chuck wagons from across the region as they prepare some of their favorite dishes. Activities include live music by Kyle Dillingham and Horseshoe Road, cooking demonstrations with sample food, gunfights, Wild West Show performers, Medicine Man shows, and more. Make sure to visit thechisholm.org for parking information, schedules, and more!…
Find out more »Tree Dedication for Arbor Day
On Tuesday, March 26, Ponca City Parks & Recreation and the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will hold a tree dedication ceremony celebrating Arbor Day. The dedication will take place at 11 a.m. on the North lawn of the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue grounds. Light refreshments will be served in the museum following the dedication. Please call 580-765-6108 for more information.
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Stan and Ollie (2018)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a FREE Movie Night featuring the 2018 film Stan and Ollie in its theater on Friday, March 29. Admission to the movie is free, and guests can also enjoy free popcorn and drinks while watching the film, thanks to the Bank of Commerce’s sponsorship. Because seating is limited, the doors will open at 6 p.m. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Find out more »