Past Events › Living history
Events List Navigation
May 2017
Family Day at the Ranch, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch
Experience life on a 19th-century ranch near Oologah! Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch will host Family Day at the Ranch on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. Hands-on activities and demonstrations will give visitors a glimpse of everyday life on the ranch during Will Rogers's childhood. This month will feature 19th-century carpentry and agricultural activities, and a nature program presented by Robert Gibbs, Rogers County Conservation District's education coordinator. Visitors also can enjoy a scenic stroll through the expansive property,…
Find out more »May Day Celebration, George M. Murrell Home
The George M. Murrell Home Historic Site will host its annual May Day Celebration on Saturday, May 6, 2017, from 10 am to 4 pm. A celebration of the beginning of the growing season on the nineteenth-century plantation, the event will feature entertainment and living history demonstrations. Music, lawn games, and hands-on programs about nineteenth-century life will fill the historic site. Guests will be able to watch a mule plow and participate in a maypole at 3 pm to conclude…
Find out more »June 2017
Pawnee Bill Wild West Show, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum
Tickets still available! Stagecoaches will roll amid thundering horse hooves while the lightning of gunfire explodes around Pawnee Bill and his cohorts as the talented performers thrill and amaze audiences at the 2017 Wild West Show. The show will feature reenactments of acts from the original Pawnee Bill's Wild West Shows. Producers and directors have combined stage and script with historical preservation to ensure that the Wild West Show is the most historically accurate production to date. Kevin Webb will…
Find out more »“The Great West Cowboys and Cattle Trails” Chautauqua in the Park, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) will host the 23rd annual Chautauqua in the Park on Tuesday, June 13, through Saturday, June 17. This event will take place in the CSRHC's Humphrey Heritage Village, and this year's theme will be "The Great West Cowboys and Cattle Trails"— as the celebration continues for the Chisholm Trail's 150th anniversary. Workshops will be held each day at 10:30 am and noon in the Village Church. Evening entertainment will begin at 6:30 pm…
Find out more »August 2017
Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch
On Saturday, August 12, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch near Oologah will host the annual Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In. Gates open at 7:30 am with free admission, though donations are appreciated. The event will take place from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on the 2,000-foot grass strip adjacent to Oologah Lake. Pilots will fly the Oklahoma skies and land on the grass strip, a few yards from the home in which Will Rogers was born on November 4, 1879.…
Find out more »September 2017
Septemberfest, Oklahoma History Center
Don't miss the twenty-first annual Septemberfest on Saturday, September 9, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Oklahoma History Center. This free festival is hosted by the First Family, Friends of the Mansion, and the Oklahoma History Center. Septemberfest will be held at the Oklahoma History Center, and the Governor's Mansion will be open for tours. Visitors will enjoy arts and crafts, chuck wagon cooking, living history, face painting, laser tag, museum exhibits, pony rides, storytime with Governor Mary…
Find out more »October 2017
Antique Agriculture Festival, George M. Murrell Home
The Murrell Home's annual Antique Agricultural Festival is right around the corner. Have you ever wanted to step back into a simpler time before automated living, or see how nineteenth-century folk carried out their day-to-day activities? If so, this is the festival for you! Come spend a day, or the weekend, with us and watch living historians from across the state prepare the farm for the winter, nineteenth-century style. We will have draft horses, plowing, apple preservation, campfire cooking, woodworking,…
Find out more »Home School Day, Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma History Center will host Homeschool Day on Monday, October 9, from 10 am to 2 pm. Homeschool Day is designed to offer family learners the chance to participate in a program specifically designed for mixed age groups. Activities run throughout the day allowing participants to stop by any time. Visitors can explore the museum with the help of gallery guides, follow along with our scavenger hunt, take part in hands-on demonstrations, and enjoy a variety of historical interpreters.…
Find out more »“Lincoln and Literacy” program, Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma History Center is proud to host "Lincoln and Literacy," a program focused on childhood literacy, on Monday, October 9, at 6:30 pm. The event will feature former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating and historical interpreter Fritz Klein portraying Abraham Lincoln. The program will begin in a conversational setting with President Lincoln and Governor Keating discussing the importance of literacy. Governor Keating also will present his children's book, Abraham, which follows the life of Abraham Lincoln from boyhood to his…
Find out more »November 2017
Honey Springs Education Day, Honey Springs Battlefield Historic Site
On Friday, November 3, 2017, the Honey Springs Battlefield Historic Site will offer an Education Day for students and school groups from 9 am to 3 pm. Education Day is free but preregistration is required. Reenactments on Saturday, November 4, and Sunday, November 5, will be open to the public. Contact honeysprings@okhistory.org more more information. Education Day Registration
Find out more »Honey Springs Battle Reenactment, Honey Springs Battlefield Historic Site
The Reenactment of the Battle of Honey Springs will be November 4–5, 2017. There will be activities throughout the day and the reenactment begins at 1 pm on both days. Admission is $5 for adults; children twelve and under are free. For details about activities, parking, and more visit the visit the Battle Reenactment page. Friday, November 3, 2017, will be an Education Day for students and school groups from 9 am to 3 pm. Education Day is free but…
Find out more »Third Saturday Living History program, George M. Murrell Home
Visit the George M. Murrell Home in Park Hill on Saturday from 1 to 4 pm to participate in a nineteenth-century living history activity. This month's theme will be World War I, and attendees can make poppies to commemorate those who died. The Third Saturday Living History program is free and open to visitors of all ages. It is held on the third Saturday of each month, with a new topic for each program. For more information please call 918-456-2751,…
Find out more »December 2017
Third Saturday Living History program, George M. Murrell Home
Visit the George M. Murrell Home in Park Hill on Saturday from 1 to 4 pm to participate in a nineteenth-century living history activity. The Third Saturday Living History program is free and open to visitors of all ages. It is held on the third Saturday of each month, with a new topic for each program. On Saturday, December 16, participants are invited to celebrate the season and make gilded walnut Christmas ornaments. During the nineteenth century, people would hollow…
Find out more »January 2018
Third Saturday Living History program, Hunter’s Home
Visit Hunter's Home (formerly known as the George M. Murrell Home) in Park Hill on Saturday from 1 to 4 pm to participate in a nineteenth-century living history activity. The 1845 Cherokee plantation home's staff members are pleased to share living history experiences with guests during the monthly Third Saturday Living History program. Historical interpreters dressed in period clothing will perform everyday plantation tasks, and guests can enjoy a variety of demonstrations, talk to historians, and even participate in some…
Find out more »February 2018
Alexander Hamilton living history performance, Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma History Center is proud to present Eben Kuhns as Alexander Hamilton in a single performance on Thursday, February 8, at 7 pm. Tickets go on sale to the public on Thursday, January 25, and may be purchased by calling 405-522-0765 or be purchased at the door. Prices are $10 for members of the Oklahoma Historical Society and $20 for the general public. Since there will only be one performance, it is advisable to purchase tickets early. Also, since…
Find out more »March 2018
Living History Education Day, Fort Towson Historic Site
On Thursday, March 8, Fort Towson Historic Site will host Living History Education Day. Educational stations will include reenactors portraying time periods from the fort's beginning in 1824 through the 1860s. Participants can expect to see soldiers in full gear and civilians who dealt with the soldiers at the fort. The reenactors will teach students about the uniforms, weapons, and lifestyles of soldiers, trappers, storekeepers, and other people around the region who were connected to the fort. Visitors will move…
Find out more »Cowboy Round-Up, Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma History Center will hold the eighth annual Cowboy Round-Up on Saturday, March 24 from 9 am to 1 pm. The Cowboy Round-Up will include activities inside the Oklahoma History Center and outside on the grounds. There is no charge to the public, and all ages are encouraged to attend. Attendees are encouraged to dress the part in boots, cowboy hats, and gingham dresses. No registration is required. For more information on the Cowboy Round-Up please contact education@okhistory.org or call…
Find out more »April 2018
Living History Days, Chisholm Trail Museum
The Chisholm Trail Museum in Kingfisher will host Living History Days on Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21. This lively annual event features some of the best Western reenactors the country has to offer. Chuck wagons will provide cowboy dinner favorites such as chili and biscuits. While waiting for a fresh-cooked meal, visitors can take in the sights and sounds of a pioneer village by watching the flint knapper, magician, gunfighters, and farm animals. The Chisholm Trail Museum is…
Find out more »May 2018
Living History Education Day, Hunter’s Home
Hunter's Home (formerly known as the George M. Murrell Home) in Park Hill will host its eighth annual Living History Education Day on Friday, May 4, with two sessions: 9:30–11:30 am and 11:30 am–1:30 pm. Registration is now open. Teachers are invited to bring their students and experience life in nineteenth-century Indian Territory through exciting hands-on presentations by OHS staff and costumed living historians. School groups will enjoy lawn games, live music, animals of the plantation, gardening, food preparation, fiber…
Find out more »Third Saturday Living History program, Hunter’s Home
Visit Hunter's Home (formerly known as the George M. Murrell Home) in Park Hill on Saturday from 1 to 4 pm to participate in a nineteenth-century living history activity. The 1845 Cherokee plantation home's staff members are pleased to share living history experiences with guests during the monthly Third Saturday Living History program. Historical interpreters dressed in period clothing will perform everyday plantation tasks, and guests can enjoy a variety of demonstrations, talk to historians, and even participate in some…
Find out more »June 2018
Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum
The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the re-creation of Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show on June 8 and 9, 2018. Preshow entertainment begins at 7 pm and the Wild West Shows start at 7:30 pm. Stagecoaches will roll amid thundering horse hooves while the lightning of gunfire explodes around Pawnee Bill and his cohorts as the talented performers thrill and amaze audiences at the 2018 Wild West Show. The show will feature reenactments…
Find out more »“The Modern Age: Moving Forward from World War I” Chautauqua in the Park, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
Enid Chautauqua invites guests to step back in time with stories and anecdotes from historical figures at its annual Chautauqua in the Park June 12–16, 2018, at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Daily workshops will be held in the Humphrey Heritage Village Church at 10:30 am and noon, with nightly performances beginning at 7:30 pm. Local entertainers will perform for free beginning at 6:30 pm under the big tent on the green in the Humphrey Heritage Village, where dinner…
Find out more »July 2018
Civil War living history and program, Oklahoma History Center
On Wednesday, July 18, the Research Center will offer a program about the Civil War from 1 to 3 pm. The program will feature a living history presentation by Preston Ware. Patricia Jones and Mallory Covington will share information about Civil War–related materials in the OHS Research Division. Registration is $10 per person, and we ask that you preregister by calling 405-522-5225. This program will be held in the Clark and Kay Musser Learning Lab, located inside the Research Center…
Find out more »August 2018
Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch
On Saturday, August 11, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch near Oologah will host the annual Will Rogers and Wiley Post Fly-In. Gates open at 7:30 am with free admission, though donations are appreciated. The event will take place from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm on the 2,000-foot grass strip adjacent to Oologah Lake. Pilots will fly the Oklahoma skies and land on the grass strip, a few yards from the home in which Will Rogers was born on November 4, 1879.…
Find out more »Cherokee National Holiday activities, Hunter’s Home
Visit Tahlequah and Park Hill for the Cherokee National Holiday celebration to be held Labor Day weekend—Friday, August 31, through Sunday, September 2. This is one of the most enduring traditions of Cherokee Nation and all are invited to join the celebration of Cherokee heritage, cultural awareness, and reuniting families. Thousands of Cherokees and visitors from across the United States and abroad make the pilgrimage to the historic Cherokee Nation capital in Tahlequah to renew friendships and celebrate the Cherokee…
Find out more »September 2018
Septemberfest, Oklahoma History Center
Don't miss the 22nd annual Septemberfest on Saturday, September 8, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Oklahoma History Center. This free festival is hosted by the First Family, Friends of the Mansion, and the Oklahoma History Center. This year’s Septemberfest theme is “Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!” This celebrates both the 75th anniversary of the Broadway debut of the famous musical and the exhibit now on display at the Oklahoma History Center. This free fall festival is open to…
Find out more »October 2018
Thomas Jefferson living history performance, Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma History Center is honored to present Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson—the first secretary of state, third president of the United States, and coauthor of the Declaration of Independence. There will be four performances at the Oklahoma History Center on Wednesday, October 3. Two student performances are scheduled for October 3 at 10:30 am and 11:45 am. Students can attend those performances for free. Public performances will be at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets for the public performances…
Find out more »February 2019
History Alive! Young Martha Washington
The Oklahoma History Center is honored to present Colonial Williamsburg’s Katharine Pittman in a portrayal of America’s “Lady Washington,” Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. The performance will be Thursday, February 7, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and will take place in the Chesapeake Event Center. Admission costs are $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for nonmembers. There is no reserved seating, so early arrival is recommended. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased by calling 405-522-0765.…
Find out more »March 2019
History Alive! Clara Barton
Mary Ann Jung will portray Clara Barton in this living history program. Tickets are $10 for OHS members and $20 for the general public. There is no reserved seating, so early arrival is recommended. Seating will open at 6:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 7 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 405-522-0765. Proper ladies of her time were supposed to be quiet, get married, have children, and stay home. Miss Barton would have none…
Find out more »Living History Education Day
Fort Towson will host “Timeline,” living history event on Thursday, March 7, 2019. Educational stations will include reenactors portraying time periods from the fort's beginning in 1824 through the 1870s. Participants can expect to see soldiers in full gear and civilians who dealt with the soldiers at the fort. The reenactors will teach students about the uniforms, weapons, and lifestyles of soldiers, trappers, storekeepers, and other people around the region who were connected to the fort. Visitors will move from station…
Find out more »History Alive! Clara Barton
Mary Ann Jung will portray Clara Barton in this living history program. Tickets are $10 for OHS members and $20 for the general public. There is no reserved seating, so early arrival is recommended. Seating will open at 1:30 p.m. and the program will begin at 2 p.m. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 405-522-0765. Proper ladies of her time were supposed to be quiet, get married, have children, and stay home. Miss Barton would have none…
Find out more »April 2019
“A Narrative Chronicling the Life of Cynthia Ann Parker: A Living History Program” presented by Jennie Buchanan
On Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m., the Museum of the Western Prairie will present "A Narrative Chronicling the Life of Cynthia Ann Parker: A Living History Program." In 1836 during an Indian raid on Parker’s Fort (near present-day Waco, Texas), nine-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker was kidnapped, and five members of her family were killed. Adopted into the Comanche tribe, she lived with them for twenty-five years until Texas Rangers recaptured her and returned her to the Parker family. This…
Find out more »A Night with Our Leaders
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) in Enid is pleased to present “A Night with Our Leaders,” a biannual event featuring living history interpretations of notable northwest Oklahoma historical figures. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 12, at 6:30 p.m. “Community volunteers have been preparing for weeks researching their historical person,” said Education Director Cathy Thomas. Each volunteer has been chosen based on their close resemblance to the historical person and their ability to present the facts of…
Find out more »“Trappers, Traders, and Hunters of the Plains” living history event
On Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Chisholm Trail Museum in Kingfisher will host a variety of living history interpreters for “Trappers, Traders, and Hunters of the Plains,” a day filled with adventure. Trappers, traders, and hunters lived a rugged life providing pelts, furs and more for businesses in the East. Visitors can explore the lives of early trappers and traders, buffalo hunters and more. Living history demonstrations will be ongoing throughout the day, and activities…
Find out more »May 2019
Living History Education Day
Hunter’s Home in Park Hill will host its ninth annual Living History Education Day on Friday, May 3, with two sessions: 9:30–11:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Teachers are invited to bring their students and experience life in 19th-century Indian Territory through exciting hands-on presentations by OHS staff and costumed living historians. School groups will enjoy lawn games, live music, animals of the plantation, gardening, food preparation, fiber arts, blacksmithing demonstrations, and other farm work. Tours of the 1845 mansion…
Find out more »June 2019
Chautauqua in the Park
Enid Chautauqua invites guests to step back in time with stories and anecdotes from historical figures at its annual Chautauqua in the Park on June 11–15 at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Daily workshops will be held in the Humphrey Heritage Village Church at 10:30 a.m. and noon, with nightly performances and local entertainment too! Gates open at 6 p.m. Join us under the big tent on the green in Humphrey Heritage Village, where dinner and concessions will be…
Find out more »July 2019
Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Celebrating Women of the Wild West Shows
Due to 21” of rain with more projected, the Wild West Show has been postponed until July 26 and 27. Thank you for your understanding. The safety of the performers and spectators is our priority. Tickets now on sale! The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will celebrate the Women of the Wild West Shows with the re-creation of Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show on July 26 and 27, 2019. Preshow entertainment begins at 7 p.m. and the Wild West…
Find out more »National Day of the Cowboy celebration
Celebrate the National Day of the Cowboy at Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum on Saturday, July 27. This year, you can attend the rescheduled Wild West Show—it’s the perfect way to join the nationwide celebration! Tickets are now on sale! Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will celebrate the theme “Women of the Wild West Shows” during this year’s re-creation of Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show on Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27. Preshow entertainment begins at 7 p.m.…
Find out more »“The Revolutionary War Your Mother Didn’t Tell You About” living history program
The Oklahoma Genealogical Society and the Oklahoma Historical Society will present a Revolutionary War living history program on Saturday, July 27, from 1 to 3 p.m. Historian Mike Sheriff will give this presentation in two parts. It will begin with a first-person narrative of a 1783 Virginia regimental soldier talking about the American War of Independence. This will include events leading up to the war, some battles, the life of a soldier, the division between people living in the colonies,…
Find out more »August 2019
Historical Timeline Candlelight Tour *Canceled*
The Historical Timeline Candlelight Tour has been canceled and may be rescheduled for another time. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Find out more »