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May 2025
Oklahoma National History Day State Contest
Oklahoma National History Day is more than an academic exercise for thousands of Oklahoma junior high and high school students; it is a tradition. The 2025 OkNHD State Contest will be held in person at the Oklahoma History Center on Wednesday, May 7, and Thursday, May 8. The junior division contest will be on Wednesday, May 7, and the senior division contest will be on Thursday, May 8. Awards will be given each day at 2:30 p.m. Following the awards…
Find out more »Oklahoma National History Day State Contest
Oklahoma National History Day is more than an academic exercise for thousands of Oklahoma junior high and high school students; it is a tradition. The 2025 OkNHD State Contest will be held in person at the Oklahoma History Center on Wednesday, May 7, and Thursday, May 8. The junior division contest will be on Wednesday, May 7, and the senior division contest will be on Thursday, May 8. Awards will be given each day at 2:30 p.m. Following the awards…
Find out more »Lunch and Learn with author Chris Enss
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum will host a Lunch and Learn presentation with author Chris Enss on Thursday, May 8, at noon. The event will also be available to watch on Zoom. The link will be provided closer to the event. During the event, Enss will discuss Bill and Zoe Tilghman. Bill Tilghman became known as one of Oklahoma’s “Three Guardsman”—a name given to three men known for pursuing criminals in Oklahoma. Zoe Tilghman wrote her husband’s biography after he was…
Find out more »Fort Gibson Education Day
The Fort Gibson Historic Site will host its annual Education Day on Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. One day a year, the Fort Gibson Historic Site is closed to all but Oklahoma’s young scholars for a fun-filled day of education! Fort Gibson Historic Site staff, living historians, and volunteers will demonstrate skills, crafts, and trades that enabled people to thrive in 19th-century Indian Territory. Registered schools can expect to see demonstrations of daily life in the…
Find out more »Showmanship and the Wild West – Oklahoma’s Wild West Exhibitions: 1886-1933 exhibit opens
The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will showcase its exhibit Showmanship and the Wild West—Oklahoma’s Wild West Exhibitions: 1886-1933 from Saturday, May 10, to Sunday, August 31. Through a collection of historic posters, photographs, and Wild West show artifacts, the exhibit will feature the rise and fall of “America’s National Entertainment,” reflecting the popularity of Wild West Shows from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Oklahomans played a significant role in this nostalgic era as the American frontier faded,…
Find out more »Quilting Workshop
The Quilting Workshop meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Sod House Museum for $5 per person. Learn to create appliqué designs, traditional block patterns, original designs, crazy quilts, landscape designs, and paper piecing. New members of any skill level are always encouraged to attend! Share in the happy exchange of shared skills, fun, camaraderie, refreshments, discussions, quilt patterns, and old-fashioned bed turnings at the next quilting workshop. Proceeds directly fund Sod…
Find out more »Birthday Bash
Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center will celebrate the 47th anniversary of its opening on Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a Birthday Bash! The site will celebrate with birthday cake and free admission all day, although donations will be gratefully accepted. The mounds site, located seven miles outside of Spiro, Oklahoma, is the only prehistoric American Indian archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public and one of the most important American Indian sites in the nation.…
Find out more »OU Archaeological Field School at Spiro Mounds begins
From Monday, May 12, through Friday, June 13, the University of Oklahoma students and faculty will perform a month of excavations at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. Visitors are welcome to observe the research and ask questions while the group works. Under the direction of Dr. Scott Hammerstedt, Dr. Amanda Regnier, and Dr. Patrick Livingood, students will be excavating areas of interest at the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center as the only pre-European contact site in Oklahoma. This is a great opportunity…
Find out more »Beginning Woodturning workshop
Learn the historic art of woodturning in a hands-on workshop at the Fort Towson Historic Site from Wednesday, May 14, through Friday, May 16. The workshop will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. each day. The classes will be led by members of the Southeast Oklahoma Woodturners. Classes will begin with an orientation to the parts of the lathe and using the tool safely. Lessons will quickly progress to mounting wood on the lathe for spindle work and introduction…
Find out more »Best Submittal Practices: Section 106 and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
The State Historic Preservation Office will hold a free webinar on "Best Submittal Practices: Section 106 and National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)” on Thursday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. This webinar is offered virtually. Click the link below to register. Register for the webinar.
Find out more »Beginning Woodturning workshop
Learn the historic art of woodturning in a hands-on workshop at the Fort Towson Historic Site from Wednesday, May 14, through Friday, May 16. The workshop will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. each day. The classes will be led by members of the Southeast Oklahoma Woodturners. Classes will begin with an orientation to the parts of the lathe and using the tool safely. Lessons will quickly progress to mounting wood on the lathe for spindle work and introduction…
Find out more »Beginning Woodturning workshop
Learn the historic art of woodturning in a hands-on workshop at the Fort Towson Historic Site from Wednesday, May 14, through Friday, May 16. The workshop will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. each day. The classes will be led by members of the Southeast Oklahoma Woodturners. Classes will begin with an orientation to the parts of the lathe and using the tool safely. Lessons will quickly progress to mounting wood on the lathe for spindle work and introduction…
Find out more »Blacksmithing Demonstrations
On Saturdays, May 17, October 11, October 25, and November 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School will hold a Blacksmithing Demonstration in the blacksmith shop. Guests can enjoy watching the craftsmen work and have safe, hands-on experiences. Families are welcome to attend and watch the demonstrations inside the Blacksmith Shop on the grounds of the Cherokee Strip Museum. For more information about all of the activities planned, please call 580-336-2405. Free…
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, a living history program at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. It takes place throughout the year on the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The five historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village, which are from the territorial days, come to life with living history interpreters dressed in period clothing from the…
Find out more »Victorian Tea and Etiquette program
Do you follow #MannersMonday on Hunter’s Home’s Facebook page? Have you ever wondered what constituted “proper” behavior in Victorian times? On Saturday, May 17, at Hunter’s Home, you are welcome to come and sip some tea (pinky up, of course), eat some period sweets, and learn what was expected of a well-bred Victorian. Everything will be prepared for you, so just bring your own self! If you want to come dressed in a period dress for the occasion, feel free…
Find out more »Luck is a Fortune: Adventure, Duty, and Buffalo on the 1841 Frontier book signing and discussion with author Dr. Robert Pickering
On Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site will host a book signing for the title Luck is a Fortune: Adventure, Duty, and Buffalo on the 1841 Frontier (2024) with author Dr. Robert Pickering.
Luck is a Fortune recounts the adventures and excursions of two soldiers living at an outpost in eastern Oklahoma in the 1840s. The title is derived from a note one of them scribbled in his diary – “luck is a fortune” – a fitting thought as life on the Plains meant death could come from any direction; one learned survival skills or faced death.
“This book is the result of an extraordinary coincidence,” Pickering said. “The University of Tulsa holds two diaries written by soldiers stationed at Fort Gibson in 1841. One was written by a young lieutenant who was a West Point graduate and the son of wealthy Southern planter family, while the other diary was written by a maker of hats in New York and probably an Irish immigrant – two very different people living on America’s westernmost outpost in 1841.”
The book signing will take place in the Fort Gibson Hospital Visitor Center located at 803 North Garrison Avenue, Fort Gibson.
Find out more »Wayne McCombs Classic, 1880s-era Baseball Game
To celebrate Will Rogers’s love of baseball, join in the fun at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum on Saturday, May 17, from 1 to 3 p.m., when players and umpires in period clothing will hold an 1880s-era baseball game. The baseball diamond for the old-fashioned baseball game will be set up on the grounds. Bring your favorite lawn chair and experience the game as it was played before Oklahoma statehood! Warm-ups start at noon. Hot dogs, peanuts, CRACKER JACK®s, and…
Find out more »Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission meeting
The meeting of the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission will be held on Tuesday, May 20, at 1 p.m. Agendas will be posted at okhistory.org/commission twenty-four hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, meetings will be held in the Dr. LeRoy H. Fischer Boardroom at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, 73105.
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee Meeting
Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meetings are scheduled on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. However, Executive Committee meetings are not usually held on the months in which the full board meets. Agendas will be available online 24 hours prior to the meeting at okhistory.org/BOARD. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105.
Find out more »History Day Camp
Fort Towson Historic Site will have a FREE History Camp for young people ages 9 to 13, from Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the three-day camp, young people can explore the site with physical and experiential learning activities that will encourage them to learn what life was like in the 1840s. Historical interpreters will lead campers in hands-on activities such as archaeology, military drills, old-fashioned games, hands-on crafts, and outdoor exploration.…
Find out more »History Day Camp
Fort Towson Historic Site will have a FREE History Camp for young people ages 9 to 13, from Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the three-day camp, young people can explore the site with physical and experiential learning activities that will encourage them to learn what life was like in the 1840s. Historical interpreters will lead campers in hands-on activities such as archaeology, military drills, old-fashioned games, hands-on crafts, and outdoor exploration.…
Find out more »History Day Camp
Fort Towson Historic Site will have a FREE History Camp for young people ages 9 to 13, from Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During the three-day camp, young people can explore the site with physical and experiential learning activities that will encourage them to learn what life was like in the 1840s. Historical interpreters will lead campers in hands-on activities such as archaeology, military drills, old-fashioned games, hands-on crafts, and outdoor exploration.…
Find out more »Inaugural Impressions exhibit closes
The Inaugural Impressions exhibit will close on May 30. The exhibit, located in the Sam Noble Gallery of the Oklahoma History Center explores the lives and contributions of Oklahoma’s first ladies and gentleman while their spouses served as governors. The exhibit will feature a variety of gowns from the Oklahoma Historical Society’s collections. Oklahoma’s first ladies and gentleman have always played a leading role in our history. Their professionalism and poise have increased the public’s awareness of worthy causes. From…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring The Sandlot (1993)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will show the movie The Sandlot (1993) at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore on Friday, May 30. Movie Night is a popular community event, offering a place for family and friends to connect on the last Friday of the month. The doors to the theatre open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating is limited, so…
Find out more »June 2025
Vintage Snack Sets exhibit opens
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will feature an exhibit of Vintage Snack Sets from Wednesday, June 4, to Saturday, June 28. When women in the mid-20th century hosted teas, coffees, or church socials, they would wear their “Sunday best” and bring out pretty snack sets that included a plate with a round indention to hold the matching cup. This exhibit includes pieces by manufacturers such as Anchor Hocking, Hazel-Atlas, the Indiana Glass Company, Royal Windsor, Queen Anne,…
Find out more »Heritage Breed Poultry and Sheep Workshop
On Saturday, June 7, Hunter’s Home will hold a workshop that will teach guests how to care for heritage-breed turkeys and sheep. The workshop will also discuss the importance of heritage-breed animals to the continuation and health of their respective species. We will also discuss the history of bronze turkeys and Saxon Merino sheep. The guest will get to try a recipe from the nineteenth century using turkey meat from our turkeys! This will allow the guest to see the…
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, a living history program at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. It takes place throughout the year on the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The five historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village, which are from the territorial days, come to life with living history interpreters dressed in period clothing from the…
Find out more »Night Tour of Fort Towson
Come to Fort Towson Historic Site on June 7, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., when the staff will give a night-time guided summer tour of the grounds. Fort Towson was established in 1824 to quell conflicts between lawless elements, American Indian peoples, and settlers claiming the area as part of Arkansas Territory. The fort also served as an outpost on the border between the United States and Texas, which was part of Mexico at that time. Connected to the East…
Find out more »OU Archaeological Field School at Spiro Mounds concludes
From Monday, May 12, through Friday, June 13, the University of Oklahoma students and faculty will perform a month of excavations at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. Visitors are welcome to observe the research and ask questions while the group works. Under the direction of Dr. Scott Hammerstedt, Dr. Amanda Regnier, and Dr. Patrick Livingood, students will be excavating areas of interest at the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center as the only pre-European contact site in Oklahoma. This is a great opportunity…
Find out more »Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show
The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum celebrates Major Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie, his wife May Lillie, and their famous Wild West Shows each June. Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show is held at the original historic ranch site. Stagecoaches roll amid thundering horse hooves while the lightning of gunfire explodes around Pawnee Bill, May, and their cohorts as the talented performers thrill and amaze audiences. This celebration features exhibitions of acts from the original Pawnee Bill’s Historic Wild West…
Find out more »Quilting Workshop
The Quilting Workshop meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Sod House Museum for $5 per person. Learn to create appliqué designs, traditional block patterns, original designs, crazy quilts, landscape designs, and paper piecing. New members of any skill level are always encouraged to attend! Share in the happy exchange of shared skills, fun, camaraderie, refreshments, discussions, quilt patterns, and old-fashioned bed turnings at the next quilting workshop. Proceeds directly fund Sod…
Find out more »A Body of Work: More Than Skin Deep exhibit closes
A new exhibit titled A Body of Work: More Than Skin Deep will be on display at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in the Mabee Foundation Gallery from April 15 to June 15. This exhibit will showcase various forms of artwork created by local tattoo artists who are passionate about expressing their creativity through a diverse range of tattooing styles and mediums. A Body of Work includes paintings, drawings, beadwork, and other artistic forms that highlight the art of…
Find out more »Will’s Wild West Kids Camp
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will hold its Will’s Wild West Kids Camp for children ages 7 to 12 from Monday, June 16, through Wednesday, June 18. On those days, the camp will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kids are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Children will learn about Will Rogers, cowboys, and what life was like in pre-statehood Oklahoma! Activities include games, 19th-century activities, crafts, nature programs, Cherokee storytelling, and a cowboy magician. A…
Find out more »Will’s Wild West Kids Camp
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will hold its Will’s Wild West Kids Camp for children ages 7 to 12 from Monday, June 16, through Wednesday, June 18. On those days, the camp will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kids are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Children will learn about Will Rogers, cowboys, and what life was like in pre-statehood Oklahoma! Activities include games, 19th-century activities, crafts, nature programs, Cherokee storytelling, and a cowboy magician. A…
Find out more »Will’s Wild West Kids Camp
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will hold its Will’s Wild West Kids Camp for children ages 7 to 12 from Monday, June 16, through Wednesday, June 18. On those days, the camp will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Kids are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Children will learn about Will Rogers, cowboys, and what life was like in pre-statehood Oklahoma! Activities include games, 19th-century activities, crafts, nature programs, Cherokee storytelling, and a cowboy magician. A…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee Meeting
Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meetings are scheduled on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. However, Executive Committee meetings are not usually held on the months in which the full board meets. Agendas will be available online 24 hours prior to the meeting at okhistory.org/BOARD. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are held at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105.
Find out more »Summer Sounds Concert featuring Oklahoma Swing
Join The Chisholm on the third Thursday of June for a free Summer Sounds Concert with Oklahoma Swing. On Thursday, June 19, plan to come early and enjoy dinner or dessert from a featured food truck beginning at 6 p.m., spread out your favorite blanket, set up a comfy lawn chair, and enjoy live music from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Horizon Hill, the home of territorial governor A. J. Seay. The family-friendly event is free. For more information, contact…
Find out more »Basic Barn Quilt Workshop
The Chisholm in Kingfisher will hold a Basic Barn Quilt Workshop on Saturday, June 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Barn quilts are square-shaped boards painted to resemble quilt blocks and then put on buildings. They have evolved into a rural development initiative to boost tourism in communities. Oklahoma State University Extension educator Lindy Hoel will lead the workshop. Each participant will complete a barn quilt to proudly display at home. Registration is required. Classes are limited to 24…
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, a living history program at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. It takes place throughout the year on the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The five historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village, which are from the territorial days, come to life with living history interpreters dressed in period clothing from the…
Find out more »Summer Solstice Walks
Start your summer with a trip to Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center for a special guided tour on Saturday, June 21, one day after the summer solstice. Three walks will occur at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., and 7 p.m. Each walk will include one mile of easy walking and last about two hours. Learn the reasons for the mounds and how some are aligned to track the sun’s movement throughout the year. The 7 p.m. walk will allow the observation of…
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