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April 2023
Poetry Reading with Oklahoma’s 2023–2024 poet laureate Jay Snider
On Tuesday, April 4, at 7 p.m., Oklahoma's Poet Laureate Jay Snider will recite his poetry at the Museum of the Western Prairie. Born and raised in a ranching and rodeo family in southwestern Oklahoma, his poetry celebrates his love for western heritage and the cowboy way of life. Snider is an award-winning cowboy poet and recording artist. This event is being hosted by the Western Trail Historical Society. Snider has appeared at the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Nevada,…
Find out more »“The Civil War in Indian Territory: Indigenous Memory and Perspective” presentation by Midge Dellinger and Gano Perez Jr.
Honey Springs Battlefield will host a presentation by the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Historic and Cultural Preservation Department concerning the history and public memory of the Civil War and the Battle of Honey Springs in Indian Territory on Saturday, April 15, at 1 p.m. Midge Dellinger, oral historian for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Historic and Cultural Preservation Department, will discuss her ongoing study of the Civil War in Indian Territory and the use of oral history as a means of remembrance.…
Find out more »“Perspectives in History”: The 2023 Oklahoma History Symposium
Join the Oklahoma Historical Society on Saturday, April 22, as we present “Perspectives in History,” the 2023 Oklahoma History Symposium at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. This one-day event offers scholars, historians, authors, and museum professionals from across the state and country a forum to share their work with history enthusiasts. The symposium is free and open to the public, but we ask that attendees register online. Lunch will be available only for those who pre-purchase a lunch…
Find out more »May 2023
“Chicken in the Mail: Union Army Camp Life” program
Visit Honey Springs Battlefield on Saturday, May 13, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. for the come-and-go, Civil War-era program “Chicken in the Mail: Union Army Camp Life.” The program will be led by David Reed, Fort Towson Historic Site's historical interpreter. Learn what camp life was like for Union soldiers during the four years of the American Civil War based on items that were exchanged through the mail. Reed will use reproduction items like writing paper, newspapers, and playing cards on…
Find out more »Built from the Fire Panel Discussion and Book Signing with Victor Luckerson
The Oklahoma Historical Society is proud to present a panel discussion and book signing with Victor Luckerson, author of Built from the Fire: The Epic Story of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, America’s Black Wall Street (2023). Luckerson will lead a discussion about the book and the importance of archiving in the telling and shaping of Black history. Joining him will be David Goodwin, principal/operations for the Oklahoma Eagle and descendant of the Goodwin family featured in the book, and Sydnee Monday,…
Find out more »June 2023
“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 »“First Kansas Colored Infantry and Native Home Guard regiments at the Battle of Honey Springs” presentation by Art T. Burton
Honey Springs Battlefield will host a special presentation about the African American soldiers who fought for the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry and the Native Home Guard Regiments at the Battle of Honey Springs. The presentation will occur on Sunday, June 25, at 3 p.m. inside the Honey Springs Visitor Center. Retired professor and award-winning author Art T. Burton will discuss the relationship of African Americans and Native Americans in the Indian Territory during the Civil War for combatants and…
Find out more »July 2023
“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 »August 2023
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 »“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 »“The Beginnings of Fort Smith and its Connections to Fort Gibson” presentation by Cody Faber
On Saturday, August 19, at 11 a.m., Cody Faber will teach visitors about the beginnings of Fort Smith and its connections to Fort Gibson. Faber is a park ranger, volunteer, living history interpreter, and historic weapons coordinator from the Fort Smith National Historic Site in Arkansas. The presentation will take place in the commissary building at 907 N. Garrison Ave. in Fort Gibson. The event is free with paid admission. For more information, please call 918-478-4088. NPS and Fort Smith…
Find out more »“The 1st and 2nd Cherokee Mounted Rifles in the Civil War” presentation by Kerry Jones
On Saturday, August 19, at 1 p.m., Honey Springs Battlefield will host a special presentation by Mr. Kerry Jones, the current National Park Service Guide at the Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas. He will discuss the history of the 1st and 2nd Cherokee Mounted Rifles that fought at the Battle of Honey Springs, the Battle of Pea Ridge in Arkansas, and the overall Civil War in Indian Territory. Mr. Jones earned his undergraduate degrees in history and political…
Find out more »Question-and-Answer event with Rebecka Peterson, 2023 National Teacher of the Year *event is full*
Rebecka Peterson, the 2023 National Teacher of the Year, will participate in a live question and answer event at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) on Friday, August 25, starting at 2 p.m. The program will take place in the Musser Learning Lab inside the John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center on the first floor of the OHC. Space is limited to the first 25 educators, so be sure to register by clicking here. The registration form also includes a spot to submit…
Find out more »September 2023
Prize for the Fire: A Novel (2022) presentation by author Rilla Askew
On Tuesday, September 5, at 7 p.m., Oklahoma author Rilla Askew will present her newest book, Prize for the Fire: A Novel (2022), at the Museum of the Western Prairie. The book follows the story of Anne Askew and her struggle against the Tudor patriarchy of 16th-century England. Askew was born in Poteau and raised in the Bartlesville area. Askew graduated from the University of Tulsa. She has taught at several universities, including the University of Central Oklahoma and the…
Find out more »“Presente in Oklahoma!” Lunch and Learn panel discussion
September 15 to October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. To celebrate the significant contributions of Hispanics in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Historical Society Multicultural Office will host the panel discussion Presente in Oklahoma! The event will take place at the Oklahoma History Center on Tuesday, September 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The panel discussion will focus on contributions to the development of the Hispanic community in the state by consulate offices. Representatives from Latin America in Oklahoma will share the importance of…
Find out more »October 2023
Fireside Chat with Oklahoma’s Governors
On Thursday, October 5, at 10 a.m., the Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Guthrie will host a fireside chat with Oklahoma’s governors. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. Invited guests include Governor Kevin Stitt and former governors George Nigh, Frank Keating, Brad Henry, and Mary Fallin. The fireside chat will provide a unique chance for Oklahomans to learn how our state government works while interacting with past and present leaders.…
Find out more »History and Haunts at the Overholser *Sold Out*
In October, the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will host its annual History and Haunts tours. The evening tours at the historic home will take place on Saturday, October 7, 14, 27, 28, and 29, from 6-8 p.m. each night. Visitors will see the home in its nighttime splendor, learn the history of the house and its former occupants, and discover why some say they are still roaming the halls! Tickets for the general public go on sale Monday, September…
Find out more »Presentation by author Dr. Nyla Khan
Author and professor Dr. Nyla Khan will speak at the Pioneer Woman Museum on Saturday, October 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. She will share stories about her life, work, and human rights activism. The event is free to attend. The Pioneer Woman Museum preserves the legacy of women of all races, creeds, and nationalities who contributed to the development of Oklahoma. For more information, please call 580-765-6108 or visit www.pioneerwomanmuseum.com.
Find out more »“Weapons and Uniforms of the mid-19th century” presentation by Charles R. Lemons
On Saturday, October 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. Charles R. Lemons will make a presentation at the Fort Towson Historic Site. He will be discussing mid-19th-century weapons and uniforms. Lemons is the retired curator of the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Fort Knox, Kentucky. This event is free with the price of general admission to the Fort Towson Historic Site museum. Volunteer Militia outfitted with Enfield muskets in front of encampment (AMB/TIN no. 2271 , Ambrotype/Tintype filing…
Find out more »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 and Haunts at the Overholser *Sold Out*
In October, the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will host its annual History and Haunts tours. The evening tours at the historic home will take place on Saturday, October 7, 14, 27, 28, and 29, from 6-8 p.m. each night. Visitors will see the home in its nighttime splendor, learn the history of the house and its former occupants, and discover why some say they are still roaming the halls! Tickets for the general public go on sale Monday, September…
Find out more »“Going to Church in Old Greer County” presentation and pump organ performance
On Thursday, October 26, at 7 p.m., come to the Museum of the Western Prairie to hear a presentation and special pump organ performance with the theme “Going to Church in Old Greer County.” Guests will learn more about the traditions formed in the pioneering era of the county. The presentation will include a history of early-day churches in southwest Oklahoma, accompanied by hymns played on a pump organ. The event is free and open to the public. The Museum…
Find out more »History and Haunts at the Overholser *Sold Out*
In October, the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will host its annual History and Haunts tours. The evening tours at the historic home will take place on Saturday, October 7, 14, 27, 28, and 29, from 6-8 p.m. each night. Visitors will see the home in its nighttime splendor, learn the history of the house and its former occupants, and discover why some say they are still roaming the halls! Tickets for the general public go on sale Monday, September…
Find out more »Cemetery Symbols program
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host a program on the meaning of historic gravestone symbols on Saturday, October 28, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. There will be a lunch break, but lunch is not provided. The event will also include a guided tour of the IOOF Cemetery in Ponca City, led by the museum’s historical interpreter. Tickets are $10 per person. For more information or to purchase a ticket, call the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue at 580-765-6108. The…
Find out more »History and Haunts at the Overholser *Sold Out*
In October, the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will host its annual History and Haunts tours. The evening tours at the historic home will take place on Saturday, October 7, 14, 27, 28, and 29, from 6-8 p.m. each night. Visitors will see the home in its nighttime splendor, learn the history of the house and its former occupants, and discover why some say they are still roaming the halls! Tickets for the general public go on sale Monday, September…
Find out more »History and Haunts at the Overholser *Sold Out*
In October, the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will host its annual History and Haunts tours. The evening tours at the historic home will take place on Saturday, October 7, 14, 27, 28, and 29, from 6-8 p.m. each night. Visitors will see the home in its nighttime splendor, learn the history of the house and its former occupants, and discover why some say they are still roaming the halls! Tickets for the general public go on sale Monday, September…
Find out more »November 2023
“Hunting and Recreational Shooting in the 19th Century” program
On Saturday, November 18, from 10 a.m. to noon, the Hunter’s Home staff will present a program introducing the traditional use of firearms at a 19th-century farm. Audiences will learn how to use black powder muzzleloaders and how to clean them safely. The audience will also have the opportunity to participate in a turkey shoot to experience a historic shooting sport and will have the chance to win prizes. This program is free with regular admission to Hunter’s Home. c.…
Find out more »February 2024
February Living History: 19th-Century Commerce
In February, every Thursday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site will hold a living history program about early 19th-century commerce. This come-and-go program will provide an interpretation of commerce among the American Indian nations and other settlers in the area. Examples of goods of the era will be on display. When Fort Gibson was established in 1824, it was the westernmost military outpost of its day. With 300–500 hundred…
Find out more »“The History of John Brown” presentation by Dr. Jennifer Murray
On Saturday, February 3, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center, author and teaching associate professor at Oklahoma State University Dr. Jennifer Murray will present “The History of John Brown.” After the presentation, visitors are encouraged to tour the Encountering John Brown exhibit, view the 3D Battle of Honey Springs film, and tour Oklahoma’s largest Civil War battlefield. Dr. Jennifer Murray’s presentation will supplement the history presented in the Encountering John Brown exhibit and add…
Find out more »March 2024
Artillery Demonstrations
On Saturday, March 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Honey Springs Battlefield will host artillery demonstrations highlighting the use of Civil War-era firearms. This outdoor education station will inform visitors about military drills, artillery practices, and ammunition used in the Civil War Battle of Honey Springs. Guests are encouraged to explore the east gallery exhibit hall featuring 14 audio players with recordings from first-hand, written accounts of soldiers who fought at the Battle of Honey Springs. Exhibit installations also…
Find out more »“I Thought This Place Doomed: Emma Caroline Morley and Sterling Price’s Failed Raid of 1864” presentation by Dr. Michelle M. Martin
Dr. Michelle M. Martin, an assistant professor of history and coordinator of the public history certificate in the Department of History at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, will present a program for Women’s History Month at Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center. The presentation is scheduled for Saturday, March 30, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and is titled “I Thought This Place Doomed: Emma Caroline Morley and Sterling Price’s Failed Raid of 1864.” In the fall of 1864, Confederate General…
Find out more »April 2024
Firearms of the Civil War program
On Saturday, April 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Honey Springs Battlefield near Checotah will have live Civil War-era firearms demonstrations. Mr. Seth Goff, Historical Interpreter at Hunter’s Home in Park Hill, will provide background information and live demonstrations with reproduction firearms that would have been used by soldiers who fought at the Battle of Honey Springs. The cost of the program is $10 per person. Please check in at the Honey Springs Battlefield front desk before attending the…
Find out more »May 2024
“Perspectives in History” The Oklahoma History Symposium
Join us on Saturday, May 4, for “Perspectives in History.” Presented by the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS), the Oklahoma History Symposium is held each spring at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. This one-day symposium offers scholars, historians, authors, and museum professionals a forum to share their work with history enthusiasts. The Oklahoma History Symposium is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click here to register and for the full details about the event. The…
Find out more »Virtual Field Trip with Dr. Theodore Gonzalves *canceled*
This event has been canceled Dr. Theodore Gonzalves, curator of Asian Pacific American History at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, will discuss artifacts and objects featured in his book Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects (2023). Additional material shared during the virtual field trip will include an overview of the Oklahoma History Center Museum’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) educational trunk, a brief lesson on AAPI history, a discussion with students about being a museum curator,…
Find out more »Oklahoma Restaurant Roundtable *postponed*
On Wednesday, May 8, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center, in collaboration with the Bigger Than Food Foundation, will host an Oklahoma Restaurant Roundtable discussion on the history and evolution of the food industry and restaurants. This roundtable will feature historians and current Oklahoma City metro area restaurant owners. The discussion will take place in the Chesapeake Event Center from 6- 8 p.m., followed by a networking hour from 8-9 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. This…
Find out more »Civil War-Era Music Program
Honey Springs Battlefield will host a Civil War-Era music program on Saturday, May 11, at 1 p.m. The Loco Focos and Shadow Ridge bands will play songs of the Civil War period as closely as possible to their original form while using period instruments. Guests are also encouraged to explore the east and west gallery exhibit halls, which feature a 3D theater, 14 audio players with recordings from first-hand written accounts of soldiers who fought at the Battle of Honey…
Find out more »“Cats and Cathouses” presentation
On Wednesday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m., the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library will host a free lecture with authors Chris Enss and Preston Lewis. The program is called “Cats and Cathouses” and will dive into wayward women of the West and cats. Enns is a New York Times bestselling author who has written about women of the Old West for over 30 years. Lewis is a Spur Award-winning author of more than 40 Western, juvenile, and historical novels…
Find out more »Thursday Night Lecture Series: The Will Rogers Medallion Award program with Chris Enss and Preston Lewis
On Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m., Will Rogers Medallion Award Executive Director Chris Enss and award-winning author Preston Lewis will discuss the Will Rogers Medallion Award program at the May Thursday Night Lecture Series at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Preston Lewis is the Spur Award-winning author of more than 40 western, juvenile and historical novels on the Old West as well as numerous articles, short stories and book reviews on the American frontier. About the Will Rogers Medallion Award…
Find out more »“Dirt Tells the Story of Our History” talk with Christina Rich-Splawn
“Dirt Tells the Story of Our History,” a talk with Christina Rich-Splawn, will take place on Saturday, May 25, at 3 p.m. at The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue. Christina Rich-Splawn will give a talk about her passion for archaeology and history. She will have a show-and-tell with some artifacts and discuss some archaeological digs she has attended. There will also be a discussion about the importance of maintaining, interpreting, and honoring our prehistoric and historic sites. Follow the Pioneer Woman…
Find out more »June 2024
The Road to Will film screening and discussion with Steve McAllister
Route 66 enthusiast and entertainer Steve McAllister will discuss his experiences traveling the Mother Road, sometimes called the Will Rogers Highway, on Thursday, June 20, at 3 p.m. In this special appearance at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, McAllister will recount his 2022 adventure, during which he rode his motorcycle 10,500 miles through 24 states and Washington, DC (over 84 days) to explore Will Rogers’s legacy. His journey is encapsulated in the documentary he produced, The Road to Will.
Find out more »