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June 2024
Will’s Wild West Kids Camp *camp is full*
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum has teamed up with the Boy Scouts of America to bring the Pinewood Derby to Wild West Kid’s Camp. The camp, a family favorite at the museum, runs Monday, June 17 through Wednesday, June 19. Over 150 children ages 5-12 will spend their morning at the museum and experience stagecoach rides, nature talks, stickball, Cherokee storytelling, and, this year, the Pinewood Derby. Will’s Wild West Kid’s Camp has been so popular that slots were full…
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 »Lunch and Learn: “Robert M. Jones: A Choctaw Millionaire in the American South, 1808–1873”
The State Historic Preservation Office will hold a Lunch and Learn webinar about “Robert M. Jones: A Choctaw Millionaire in the American South, 1808–1873” on June 20 at noon. Presenter Dr. Jeff Fortney will delve into the complex figure of Robert M. Jones, a Choctaw man who became one of the South’s wealthiest individuals through his involvement in slavery, commerce, and land acquisition during the 19th century. Jones’s life and career during Indian Removal, rebuilding in Indian Territory, the Civil…
Find out more »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 »Summer Sounds Concert with musical duo Jim Garling and Susanne Woolley
Join The Chisholm on the third Thursday of May, June, July, and August for a free Summer Sounds Concert series. Plan to come early and enjoy dinner 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 the museum at 405-375-5176.…
Find out more »Useable Block Printing class
A class focusing on the art of block printing will take place at the Oklahoma History Center on Saturday, June 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. Participants will learn how to create and carve a block print design, practicing printing designs on fabric using small bags. Small bags are included in the ticket price; participants are allowed to bring other white canvas items for block printing if desired. Tickets are available online. They are $20 for Oklahoma Historical Society members…
Find out more »“Masonic Lodges of Oklahoma” presented by Kenneth Sivard
On Thursday, June 27, at 2 p.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will host a free webinar with Oklahoma Historical Society board member Kenneth Sivard. The presentation will be about the Masonic Lodges of Oklahoma, exploring their history and architectural style. Register for the webinar. About Kenneth Sivard A sixth-generation McCurtain County native, Kenny Sivard is a long-time McCurtain County Historical Society (MCHS) member and was elected president of the organization in 2009. Working with the MCHS,…
Find out more »The People’s House: The Story of the Oklahoma State Capitol film screening on OETA
On June 27, at 7:30 p.m., The People’s House: The Story of the Oklahoma State Capitol documentary on the Oklahoma State Capitol will be aired on OETA. June 30, 2024, is the 107-year anniversary of the Oklahoma State Capitol’s completion in 1917. The documentary features a spectacular four-minute drone tour of the Capitol with glimpses of the House floor, Senate floor, and Oklahoma Supreme Court, providing rare views of the building’s interior and exterior. It walks through the history of…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Babe (1995)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a FREE Movie Night featuring the film Babe (1995) in its theater on Friday, June 28. 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 »Scavenger Hunt
On Saturday, June 29, Hunter’s Home in Park Hill will host a scavenger hunt encouraging children to learn about items from the 19th century. The scavenger hunt will include items found inside the historic home and on the grounds of the rural property. Bring the family and a keen eye to spot things like a coffee grinder, knitting needles, and especially the location of little Farmer Dave! The activities are perfect for children ages 6 to 12, and there will…
Find out more »Guided Tours
Students from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) will serve as tour guides on the six trails that cross the 1,100-acre Honey Springs Battlefield on three Saturdays in June: June 8 ,15, and 29, as well as Saturday, July 6. The students will point out the exact locations of military actions, highlight key aspects of the engagement, and discuss its historical importance. Normally, the park and its six trails are self-guided, with a total of 55 trail…
Find out more »Vintage Snack Sets exhibit closes
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will feature an exhibit of Vintage Snack Sets from Saturday, June 1 to Sunday, June 30. 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 »July 2024
From Our Hands exhibit closing
A new exhibition, opening May 6, entitled From Our Hands, will be on display at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center through July 6. The exhibit will include various works of art created by Oklahoma Native American artists. The work on display will include Burgess Roye (Ponca) (1944 - 2015), Paladine Roye (Ponca) (1946 - 2001), Penny Coates (Potawatomi), and Amber DuBoise-Shepherd (Prairie Band Potawatomi/Sac and Fox) as part of the annual Spring Art exhibit series. The exhibition will be…
Find out more »Guided Tours
Students from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) will serve as tour guides on the six trails that cross the 1,100-acre Honey Springs Battlefield on three Saturdays in June: June 8 ,15, and 29, as well as Saturday, July 6. The students will point out the exact locations of military actions, highlight key aspects of the engagement, and discuss its historical importance. Normally, the park and its six trails are self-guided, with a total of 55 trail…
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 at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
Find out more »“The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) Program at the NPS” webinar, presented by Catherine Lavoie
On Thursday, July 11, at noon, the State Historic Preservation Office will host a free webinar with Catherine Lavoie, chief of the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) with the National Park Service (NPS). She will discuss the program, how and why it was started, its mission, and its value, with a focus on HABS’s work in Oklahoma. HABS was established in 1933 as a unique public-private partnership between NPS, the Library of Congress (LOC), and the American Institute of Architects…
Find out more »Back In Time: “The Three Guardsmen” premiere screening and panel
On Thursday, July 11, from 1 to 2:30 p.m., the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library partner with OETA to hold a premiere screening of Back in Time: “The Three Guardsmen” at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie.” This episode of Back in Time tells the riveting tale of the lawless expanse of the “Twin Territories” and the three men who rose to the call of duty amidst the chaos. Hear the stories of lawmen Bill Tilghman (1854–1924), Henry “Heck”…
Find out more »Advanced Barn Quilt Workshop
The Chisholm Trail Museum will hold a two-day Advanced Barn Quilt Workshop to be held from Friday, July 12, through Saturday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. This advanced workshop is for participants to take on more ambitious and elaborate barn quilt patterns, creating their own barn quilt block. Barn quilts are square-shaped boards painted to resemble a quilt block and placed on any structure. The art form has evolved into a rural development initiative to…
Find out more »Quilting Workshop and quilt drawing
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 »Civil Rights Act of 1964: 60th Anniversary Panel
On July 13, from 10:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center Museum will host a panel discussion to celebrate the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The morning session will focus on civil rights–centered archives, including the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center Archives and Dr. Autumn Brown of the Edmon Low Library’s Oklahoma Oral History Research Program. It will run from 10:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The afternoon session will discuss the legacy, historical context, and influence…
Find out more »Battle of Honey Springs Memorial Service
Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service honoring the 161st anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah on Saturday, July 13, at 10:30 a.m. The memorial service will be held outside on the visitor center’s lawn. This year’s guest speaker will be Dr. Kristen Oertel, the Chair of History at the University of Tulsa. The service commemorates the largest of approximately 107 documented Civil War military engagements throughout Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. The engagement took…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting *canceled*
The Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting previously scheduled for July 17, 2024, has been canceled. 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 »Historic Preservation Review Committee meeting
The regular quarterly meeting of the Historic Preservation Review Committee (HPRC) will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2024. The HPRC will meet in the Leroy H. Fischer Boardroom, Oklahoma History Center (third floor), located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK. The public is invited to attend. (NOTE: If you are a person with a disability and require accommodation, please contact Lynda Ozan at 405-522-4484 or lynda.ozan@history.ok.gov by noon on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.) Additionally,…
Find out more »Summer Sounds Concert with Mackynsie McKedy and the McKedy Band
Join The Chisholm on the third Thursday of May, June, July, and August for a free Summer Sounds Concert series. Plan to come early and enjoy dinner 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 the museum at 405-375-5176.…
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 at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
Find out more »“A New Day” mural dedication ceremony
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library will hold a dedication ceremony on Wednesday, July 24, at 10:30 a.m. for a mural recently painted on the side of the museum building. Dr. Bob Palmer and artists from Palmer Studios painted the new public art entitled "A New Day," on the southeast side of the museum’s exterior. Palmer and his team have painted thousands of murals in the United States and other countries. For more information about the mural, call site…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meeting
The Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meetings occur on the 4th Wednesday of the first month of each quarter at 1:30 p.m. with the exception of the May meeting which will take place on Friday, May 3, also at 1:30 p.m. 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 »75 Years of Television in Oklahoma exhibit opens
A new exhibit, 75 Years of Television in Oklahoma, opens on July 25 at the Oklahoma History Center Museum. The public is invited to a free reception to celebrate the exhibit’s opening on Thursday, July 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. No RSVP is needed. Light refreshments will be served. Gene Allen, author of The Vision and the Dream: WKY-TV Comes to Oklahoma, will attend to sign copies of his book, which will also be available for purchase from the Oklahoma…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Rock-a-Doodle (1991)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a FREE Movie Night featuring the film Rock-a-Doodle (1991) in its theater on Friday, July 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 »Discovering 66 exhibit opens
On Saturday, July 27, after the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum will open a new exhibit titled Discovering 66. The exhibit will feature a collection of photographs by Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. Although Martin grew up in the Tulsa area, he had only given historic Route 66 a thought once he took a life-changing trip around the world. After returning to Oklahoma, he looked closer at his home…
Find out more »Museum Staff Picks exhibit opens
Museum Staff Picks, an exhibit highlighting a collection of photographs personally picked by staff members, is now on display at the Chesapeake Event Center and Gallery in the Oklahoma History Center Museum. All featured photos have been chosen or taken by museum staff members. This unique installation offers a view of individual aspects of Oklahoma’s history and culture, seen through the eyes of museum staff who have picked their favorites from the collections they work with every day and some…
Find out more »“All the World’s Sorrows: Hannah Worcester Hicks and the Civil War in Indian Territory” presentation
On Saturday, July 27, at 10:30 a.m., Dr. Michelle Martin will present “All the World’s Sorrows: Hannah Worcester Hicks and the Civil War in Indian Territory.” During the American Civil War, women and children in the Cherokee Nation suffered tremendously. Hannah Worcester Hicks, the daughter of famed missionary Samuel Austin Worcester and her husband Abijah Hicks (Cherokee), lived near Fort Gibson as the war raged in the western Ozarks. Hannah Hick’s diary provides community members, her descendants, and scholars with…
Find out more »Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
On Saturday, July 27, at 2 p.m., the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum will host the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Beginning at 2 p.m., the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will induct two special Oklahomans into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. The inductees will be announced at the ceremony. Inductions are held every two years for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion or preservation of…
Find out more »August 2024
Antique Handkerchiefs exhibit opens
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home will display a collection of antique handkerchiefs from August 1 through 31. The special collection of dainty squares of fabric will feature a variety of cheerful designs. In the late 1800s, women often carried handkerchiefs to dab their nose and dry a tear. Handkerchiefs were commonly used by men and women before the mass production of disposable facial tissues after the Spanish Flu of 1918. Women of the 19th century, like Adeline Drummond, elevated…
Find out more »Blacksmithing Demonstration
On Saturdays, May 4, August 3, and November 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Museum 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 admission for all, but donations are…
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 at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the five historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
Find out more »USCIS Naturalization Ceremony *canceled*
The USCIS Naturalization Ceremony, previously scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, at the Oklahoma History Center, has been canceled.
Find out more »Teacher Resource Social at the First Americans Museum
The 2024 Teacher Resource Social will be held at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, August 6, from 2 to 6:30 p.m. The Teacher Resource Social, formerly known as the Back to School Bash, is an annual resource fair that brings museums and other organizations together to offer resources for teachers to plan for the upcoming school year. The event is a great opportunity for educators to network, share resources, and connect with organizations and colleagues from around…
Find out more »Lunch and Learn: “Collections in the Edmon Low Library Maps and Spatial Data Division” webinar with Kevin Dyke
On Thursday, August 8, at noon, the State Historic Preservation Office will hold a free webinar in its “Lunch and Learn” series about the collections in the Edmon Low Library Maps and Spatial Data Division with the library’s maps and spatial curator, Kevin Dyke. He will discuss the collections and provide guidance about accessing these materials. Register for the webinar. Kevin Dyke is an associate professor and the maps and spatial data curator at Edmon Low Library. The Edmon Low…
Find out more »Wreath-laying Ceremony and Flyover
To commemorate the death of Will Rogers, commonly referred to as Oklahoma’s Favorite Son, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host a wreath-laying at the tomb on Friday, August 9, at noon. Will Rogers and pilot Wiley Post were killed in a plane crash on August 15, 1935, in Point Barrow, Alaska. Upon hearing the news, then-president Franklin Roosevelt said, “I was shocked to hear of the tragedy which has taken Will Rogers and Wiley Post from us. Will was…
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