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May 2018
Challengers of the Dust book review and presentation by author William Bernhardt, Museum of the Western Prairie
The Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus will host a review talk on the book Challengers of the Dust (This Land Press, 2016) with author William Bernhardt on Tuesday, May 1, at 7 pm. This event is free and open to the public. In the Depression-era tale Challengers of the Dust, nationally recognized author William Bernhardt creates cliffhanger episodes as the protagonist travels from Guymon to Cleveland and back, encountering a whole gallery of heroes and villains, with appearances…
Find out more »“Compromise Efforts to Stop the Coming of the Civil War” presentation by Dr. James Finck, Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center
Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center is proud to announce a special presentation, “Compromise Efforts to Stop the Coming of the Civil War,” to be held at the battlefield’s new Visitor Center on Saturday, May 19, at 1 pm. The presenter, Dr. James Finck, is associate professor of history at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) located in Chickasha. “Compromise efforts were essential to the creation of this nation, even if that meant compromising on moral issues…
Find out more »June 2018
World War II program by Joe Todd, Oklahoma History Center
On Wednesday, June 6, the OHS Research Center will hold a one-day program exploring the history of World War II from 10:30 am to 4 pm. Historian Joe Todd will speak about D-Day, women in World War II, the USS Oklahoma, and share the story of "The Man Who Never Was." The cost for the program is $45 per person and lunch is included. Pre-registration is required; call 405-522-5225 to register. This program will be held in the Musser Learning…
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 »“Cowgirl Cocktails and Other Rebellious Spirits During Prohibition” Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program by Dr. Tracey Hanshew, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, June 20, at noon. Dr. Tracey Hanshew will present “Cowgirl Cocktails and Other Rebellious Spirits During Prohibition.” Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! For more information please call 580-237-1907.
Find out more »Summer Solstice Walks, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center
Start your summer with a trip to Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center for a special guided tour on the summer solstice. There will be three walks led by archaeologist Dennis Peterson starting at 11 am, 2 pm, and 7 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2018. Each walk will include one mile of easy walking and last about two hours. There is a $5 per adult and $3 per child fee for this event. This is in addition to the normal admission…
Find out more »July 2018
Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, July 11, at noon. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! For more information please call 580-237-1907.
Find out more »Memorial Service, Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center
Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center is honored to announce a memorial service honoring the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah, Oklahoma, on Saturday, July 14, at 10:30 am. The memorial service is open to all visitors. J. Blake Wade, director and chief executive officer of the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority and former executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, will speak following a presentation of colors and invocation outside. Following the talk, the…
Find out more »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
Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, August 8, at noon. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! For more information please call 580-237-1907.
Find out more »Second Saturday Demo, Fort Towson Historic Site
Visit Fort Towson Historic Site for Second Saturday Demo on Saturday, August 11, from 1 to 3 pm. Adam Lynn, director of the Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center, will speak about the Battle of Honey Springs. This program will include an overview of the site, battle, preservation, and historical accounts of the largest hostile encounter of the Civil War in Indian Territory.
Find out more »Oklahoma City Sit-Ins 60th Anniversary program, Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma Historical Society will host one of the many events planned to honor Clara Luper and the sit-ins of the civil rights movement in Oklahoma City. This free event on Thursday, August 16, at 7 pm will celebrate the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Council and the many that later joined Luper to protest segregation in public accommodations beginning on August 19, 1958, with a sit-in at Katz Drug Store in downtown Oklahoma City.…
Find out more »“Choctaw and Chickasaw Involvement in the Civil War and the Battle of Honey Springs” presentation by Kenny Sivard, Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center
Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center is honored to announce a special presentation, “Choctaw and Chickasaw Involvement in the Civil War and the Battle of Honey Springs,” to be held at the battlefield’s Visitor Center on Saturday, August 18, at 1 pm. Kenny Sivard will discuss what led the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations into the Civil War, how their governments became allied with the Confederacy, and their role in the Confederate war effort. Sivard also will discuss the importance of…
Find out more »Interview and book signing with Boom Town author Sam Anderson, Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma History Center is proud to present Sam Anderson, author of Boom Town: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, its Chaotic Founding, its Apocalyptic Weather, its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-class Metropolis. Anderson will participate in a question and answer session with moderator Steve Lackmeyer. Lackmeyer, an award-winning author, columnist, and reporter in his own right, will ask Anderson about what inspired him to write the book, the steps he took to research the…
Find out more »September 2018
Saving Your Seeds presentation, Fort Towson Historic Site
Fort Towson Historic Site will host a presentation entitled “Saving Your Seeds” on Saturday, September 8, from 1 to 3 pm. This presentation is part of the fort’s Second Saturday Demo series. “Saving your Seeds” will teach participants how to harvest seeds in the fall to be used for spring planting. Attendees also will learn about different preservation methods, how seeds were stored in the 1840s, and how to plant a fall garden. Most of the demonstration will take place…
Find out more »Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program by Dr. Sterling Evans, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, September 12, at noon. This month’s presenter will be Dr. Sterling Evans. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! For more information please call 580-237-1907.
Find out more »Warren Little program, Sod House Museum
On Saturday, September 22, at 10 am artist Warren Little give an overview of his drawings and techniques at the Sod House Museum. A special exhibit of art and photography by Warren Little is on display at the Sod House Museum during the month of September. The exhibit includes 25 pieces of art and photography. Little discovered he had a knack for drawing people when he was a young boy growing up in Winchester, Oklahoma. Little was one of four…
Find out more »October 2018
Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program by Aaron Preston, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, October 10, at noon. Aaron Preston, CSRHC archivist, will speak about Family History Month and share information about the genealogical resources available at the CSRHC. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! For more information please call 580-237-1907.
Find out more »Archaeology Day, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center
October is Archaeology Month, and to celebrate the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center will hold a special day with a lecture and a guided walk on Saturday, October 20, 2018. Archaeology Month is sponsored and promoted by the Oklahoma Anthropological Society and the Oklahoma Public Archaeology Network and includes many more events throughout October. Lectures about the prehistory and history of this region will start at 11 am. There also will be a guided tour of the site at 2 pm…
Find out more »November 2018
Reenacting 101 Second Saturday Demo, Fort Towson Historic Site
Visit Fort Towson Historic Site on Saturday, November 10, from 1 to 3 pm for “Reenacting 101,” a workshop that will teach participants what it takes to be a living history reenactor. Instructor Nick Wallace will discuss how to dress, where to acquire supplies, and what is involved in becoming part of a reenactment or living history event. This workshop is a part of the Second Saturday Demo series at Fort Towson. For more information about the event, please call…
Find out more »“My Family’s Civil War History” Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program by Craig McKinley, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, November 14, at noon. Craig McKinley will speak about his family’s Civil War history. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! For more information please call 580-237-1907.
Find out more »Battle of the Washita 150th Anniversary program, Oklahoma History Center
The Oklahoma Historical Society and the National Park Service will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of the Washita on Tuesday, November 20, 2018, at the Oklahoma History Center. This event is from 11 am to 2 pm and will include a plated lunch at noon. The program will include a blessing by Cheyenne Peace Chief Harvey Pratt and three presentations. Dr. Paul Hutton, a recurring scholar on the History Channel, will speak about the attack as a turning…
Find out more »January 2019
Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, January 9, at noon. This month’s presenter will be announced soon. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! For more information please call 580-237-1907.
Find out more »“Finding My Family Roots” Second Saturday Demo
Visit Fort Towson Historic Site on Saturday, January 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. for “Finding My Family Roots.” Chad Williams, director of the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Division, will be onsite for a question and answer session about genealogy. He will provide information about websites and tools to help you trace your family tree. Attendees also will learn the steps that need to be taken to begin your search. Don’t miss out on this informational discussion! This program is…
Find out more »“The Diary of a Union Soldier from Kansas” presentation
Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center near Checotah is honored to announce a special presentation, “The Diary of a Union Soldier from Kansas,” to be held at the battlefield’s Visitor Center on Saturday, January 26, at 1 p.m. Tom Wing, assistant professor of history at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith and editor of the book entitled “A Rough Introduction to This Sunny Land”: The Civil War Diary of Private Henry A. Strong, Co. K, Twelfth Kansas Infantry, will speak about…
Find out more »February 2019
“Ask the Archaeologist” Second Saturday Demo
Visit Fort Towson Historic Site on Saturday, February 9, from 1 to 3 p.m. for “Ask the Archaeologist.” Do you have a family heirloom or a personal discovery you have a question about? No matter if it is an arrowhead, spear point, stone tool, or some other item that you think may have historic significance, bring it out and let Dr. Amanda Regnier tell you about it! Dr. Regnier is the director of the Oklahoma Archeological Survey. This program is free…
Find out more »Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, February 13, at noon. This month’s presenters will be Jena Kodesh of Tonkawa and Jill Webber of Stillwater, two artists currently featured in the Layered Lives exhibit. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! Layered Lives will be on display from January 15 through February 16 in the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Foundation Gallery.…
Find out more »“History of Fort Supply” presentation by Bob Rea
Historian Bob Rea will give a presentation about the history of Fort Supply and its role in the development of northwest Oklahoma at the Sod House Museum on Saturday, February 16, at 10 a.m. Rea will cover the time period from 1868 to 1894, when Fort Supply was involved in two major Indian Wars campaigns, kept the peace in the Cherokee Outlet, and policed the opening of the area to white settlement. Bob Rea obtained a bachelor’s degree in history…
Find out more »“Where the Legends Went” presentation
Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center near Checotah is excited to announce a special multimedia program to be held on Saturday, February 16, at 1 p.m. Legacy Keepers R Us founder, ShIronbutterfly Ray, and Oscar Ray Sr. will present “Where the Legends Went.” The presentation will highlight the organization’s ongoing efforts to keep history alive, honor legends, and recruit potential members. The program is free to the public, but donations are appreciated. The program will honor legendary figures in Oklahoma’s…
Find out more »March 2019
“The Women of Hunter’s Home” presentation by Jennifer Frazee
On Saturday, March 2, at 1 p.m. Jennifer Frazee, living history interpreter at Hunter’s Home, will give a special presentation about the women of Hunter’s Home. Learn about the woman for whom the mansion was built, some of the enslaved women who lived in the Athens of Indian Territory, and more! This event will take place at the Honey Springs Visitor Center near Checotah. For more information please call 918-473-5572.
Find out more »Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program by Weird and Wonderful exhibit curator Amy Johnson
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, March 13, at noon. Curator Amy Johnson will discuss the museum’s new Weird and Wonderful exhibit. Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! For more information please call 580-237-1907.
Find out more »April 2019
Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program by Lesa Rauh
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, April 10, at noon. This month’s presenter will be Lesa Rauh from the Garfield County Cooperative Extension Office. Rauh’s presentation is titled “Lessons I Learned from Laura Ingalls Wilder.” Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! The Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program series is sponsored by Park Avenue Thrift of Enid. For more information please…
Find out more »Presentation on Major General James G. Blunt by Bart Taylor
Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center is excited to announce a special presentation to be held at the battlefield’s Visitor Center on Saturday, April 20, at 1 p.m. Bart Taylor, park interpreter for the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Arkansas, will present on the historical significance of Union Major General James G. Blunt to the Civil War in the Trans-Mississippi West theater “from Prairie Grove to Honey Springs and everything in between.” Taylor will be dressed in period Civil…
Find out more »Oklahoma History and Preservation Conference
April 24–26, 2019 | Chickasha, Oklahoma Presented by the Oklahoma Historical Society and the State Historic Preservation Office This year, the Oklahoma History Conference and the Statewide Preservation Conference have joined to become the Oklahoma History and Preservation Conference. This combined conference will feature twenty sessions pertaining to Oklahoma’s heritage and historic preservation. The 2019 Oklahoma History and Preservation Conference will be held April 24–26, 2019, at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) in Chickasha, Oklahoma. This…
Find out more »3-D Virtual Reality Storytelling experience
On Saturday, April 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. visitors to Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center can experience three-dimensional (3-D) immersive virtual reality storytelling of the Spiro Mounds story. The University of Arkansas’s Arkansas Stories series, funded by the Chancellor’s Innovation and Collaboration Grant, utilizes objects and places along with unique 3-D virtual reality to tell a part of the history of this unique, prehistoric American Indian site. This was a collaborative effort of the Arkansas Archeological Survey, the J. William…
Find out more »November Road and The Long and Faraway Gone presentation by author Lou Berney
The Museum of the Western Prairie will host a presentation by Oklahoma author Lou Berny on Tuesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. Berney is a two-time Edgar Award-nominated author who teaches in the Red Earth Master of Fine Arts program at Oklahoma City University. Berney’s book November Road is a poignant and evocative crime novel that centers on a desperate cat-and-mouse chase across 1960s America set against the backdrop of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It is a story…
Find out more »May 2019
“Vintage Aprons: Tie One On” presentation by Margaret Goss
A new exhibit of aprons will open in May at the Sod House Museum near Aline, featuring a century’s-worth of vintage aprons. Margaret Goss of Carmen will present a lecture entitled “Vintage Aprons: Tie One On” at the Sod House Museum on Saturday, May 4, at 10 a.m. Aprons have been around since ancient times and used for practical, decorative and ritualistic purposes. Apron comes from the French word “naperon,” meaning a small tablecloth. Women wore them to protect their…
Find out more »“126 Years and Counting: A History of the Oklahoma Historical Society” Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program by Kathy Dickson
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will host a free Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program on Wednesday, May 8, at noon. This month’s presenter will be Kathy Dickson, OHS director of museums and historic sites. Dickson’s presentation is titled “126 Years and Counting: A History of the Oklahoma Historical Society.” Attendees are welcome to bring their lunches and learn something new! The Brown Bag Lunch and Learn program series is sponsored by Park Avenue Thrift of Enid. For more…
Find out more »“The First Indian Home Guard” presentation by author Dr. Jane Johansson
Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center is honored to announce a special presentation, “The First Indian Home Guard,” to be held at the battlefield’s Visitor Center on Saturday, May 18, at 1 p.m. Dr. Jane Johansson, professor in the Department of History and Political Science at Rogers State University and editor of the book Albert C. Ellithorpe, the First Indian Home Guards, and the Civil War on the Trans-Mississippi Frontier will speak about the regiment’s unique history in relation to…
Find out more »“Her Story: The Forgotten Women of History, Part II” program
The Pioneer Woman Museum in Ponca City will host a program titled “Her Story: The Forgotten Women of History, Part II” on Saturday, May 18, at 2 p.m. The program will be presented by Keith Fagan, historical interpreter at the Pioneer Woman Museum. Tickets are $5 and include admission to the museum. For more information please call 580-765-6108.
Find out more »