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March 2025
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 »Oklahoma Historical Society Awards Banquet
On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Oklahoma Historical Society will honor award recipients and Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame inductees at its annual Awards Banquet held at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Learn more about the awards and honors to be presented. Tickets and tables are now available to purchase online. Individual tickets are available for $100 and include one ticket to the reception and banquet. Tables include eight reception tickets, a banquet table for eight, and the sponsor’s…
Find out more »Spring Break Activities
Spend afternoons during spring break at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Events are planned every day from March 17 to 21 between 1 and 3 p.m. to keep kids learning and entertained during their school break. Each activity is based on some aspect of Will Rogers’ extraordinary life, ranging from his time as a cowboy to his love of aviation. Thanks to a donation by Win and Kay Ingersoll, all children under 17 are admitted free during spring break. The…
Find out more »Spring Break Activities
Spend afternoons during spring break at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Events are planned every day from March 17 to 21 between 1 and 3 p.m. to keep kids learning and entertained during their school break. Each activity is based on some aspect of Will Rogers’ extraordinary life, ranging from his time as a cowboy to his love of aviation. Thanks to a donation by Win and Kay Ingersoll, all children under 17 are admitted free during spring break. The…
Find out more »Mid-Afternoon Frolic Talent Show
On Friday, March 21, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will be having a Mid-Afternoon Frolic Talent Show. Children ages 5–12 and 13–18 can showcase special talents! Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of each age group. Preregistration is required! Register for the Talent Show
Find out more »Museum After Dark: “Vintage Kids”
“Vintage Kids” is a new Museum After Dark program/series developed by the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center for families with children 12 and under. Children have found ways to play and have fun since the beginning of time. The concept of playtime has been around for ages, although it has looked different in different time periods. “Vintage Kids” is all about exploring playtime from the past! Our first “Vintage Kids” night on Friday, March 21, from 6 to 8 p.m.…
Find out more »Dutch Oven Gathering
The Fort Towson Historic Site will hold a Dutch Oven Gathering on Saturday, March 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. The event is FREE for participants and guests, and all are welcome to attend. The talents of local cast iron chefs will be displayed at the Fort Towson Historic Site, with each person setting up their outdoor kitchen and preparing delicious treats. The event will be a time for Dutch oven enthusiasts to gather together to fellowship, demonstrate Dutch oven…
Find out more »2025 Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival
The Oklahoma History Center will hold the 2025 Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival on Saturday, March 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will encourage the exploration of historic and modern agriculture. There will be hands-on activities and demonstrations for visitors of all ages. The festival will offer many educational opportunities and experiences, including chuckwagon cooking and nutrition demonstrations, livestock, a petting zoo, various crafts, and story time. In addition, several Made-in-Oklahoma vendors will attend to illustrate how…
Find out more »“Third Indian Home Guard” living history program
The Fort Gibson Historic Site’s Saturday living history programs on February and March will be centered on the Union Third Indian Home Guard and how they performed daily maintenance on their firearms, uniforms, and other equipment. The Third Indian Home Guard were mostly recruited from pro-Union Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole tribal members who joined the Union army from refugee camps in Kansas. When the Civil War began, Indian Territory quickly fell under Confederate control, forcing pro-Union Indians to flee…
Find out more »Lunch and Learn: “Federal Helium System (Texas to Kansas)” webinar
On Tuesday, March 25, at noon (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will host a webinar with the General Service Administration and Stantec to discuss the history of the federal helium project as it moved from Texas through Oklahoma to Kansas. Register for the webinar.
Find out more »Movie Night featuring The Prince of Egypt (2018)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will show the movie The Prince of Egypt (2018) at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore on Friday, March 28. 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…
Find out more »Annual Chuck Wagon Gathering
On Saturday, March 29, come to the Chisholm for a day filled with cowboy fun. Drop in to see a variety of working chuck wagons from across the region as they prepare some of their favorite dishes for visitors to try. Live music will feature Kyle Dillingham, Peter Markes, Jim Garling, Suzanne Wooley, and Wayne Cantwell. Other activities include cooking demonstrations with sample food, gunfights, Wild West Show performers, Medicine Man shows, and more! Activities run from 10:00 – 2:00.…
Find out more »“Third Indian Home Guard” living history program
The Fort Gibson Historic Site’s Saturday living history programs on February and March will be centered on the Union Third Indian Home Guard and how they performed daily maintenance on their firearms, uniforms, and other equipment. The Third Indian Home Guard were mostly recruited from pro-Union Cherokee, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole tribal members who joined the Union army from refugee camps in Kansas. When the Civil War began, Indian Territory quickly fell under Confederate control, forcing pro-Union Indians to flee…
Find out more »Vietnam War Veterans Commemoration Ceremony
The Oklahoma History Center Museum (OHCM), is proud to host a pinning ceremony honoring all the servicemen and servicewomen, active or reservists, who served anywhere in the world during the Vietnam War era. The event will be held in the Devon Great Hall of the OHCM on Saturday, March 29, from 10 a.m. to noon, with the doors opening at 9 a.m. This event is free and open to the public. March 29 was designated as Vietnam Veterans Day by…
Find out more »April 2025
Hammered Aluminum Ware exhibit opens
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will open an exhibit showcasing hammered aluminum ware from Wednesday, April 2, to Wednesday, April 30. Visitors can view beautiful examples of hammered aluminum metalware, such as salad dishes, cookie trays, and pitchers with matching tumblers. From the early 1900s to the 1950s, many homemakers used cheaper and lighter hammered aluminum for card games, birthday celebrations, church events, and monthly coffee socials. With many metals in short supply because of World War…
Find out more »Centennial Commemoration Ceremony of Oklahoma’s State Flag
On April 2, beginning at 3 p.m., a ceremony in the Devon Great Hall of the Oklahoma History Center will commemorate Oklahoma’s current state flag, first adopted on April 2, 1925. Speakers will make presentations on the history and significance of Oklahoma’s State flags at the event.
One hundred years ago, on April 2, 1925, the state adopted a new flag design featuring an Osage shield on a blue background. A bison hide war shield belonging to Chief Black Dog II in the Oklahoma Historical Society’s collections from the 1890s was the inspiration for our current state flag. The artifact has six crosses representing stars painted on one side of the shield, depicting the night sky. The other side of the shield represents the sun. Hanging eagle feathers are attached to its outer rim. The artifact inspired artist Louise Funk Fluke when she was creating her entry for a statewide contest held by the Oklahoma Daughters of the American Revolution for a new design of Oklahoma’s State Flag. She studied Oklahoma history, examined various artifacts, and consulted with Dr. Joseph B. Thoburn of the OHS. She ultimately decided to make the Osage shield central to her design. Fluke won the contest, and the state officially adopted the design for its flag in 1925. In 1941, the word “Oklahoma” was added beneath the shield, and a 1988 resolution defined the colors for the background, shield, feathers, crosses, and calumet.
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 »Iman: Two Journeys of Faith, Rooted in Oklahoma’s Heartland film screening and discussion panel
On Thursday, April 10, the Multicultural Office will host a film screening and discussion panel for Iman: Two Journeys of Faith, Rooted in Oklahoma’s Heartland. Check in begins at 5 p.m. for the screening and panel discussion that will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. The panel will consist of the film producers and other individuals involved in the project and moderated by Dick Pryor, general manager at KGOU Public Radio.
About the film:
Iman: Two Journeys of Faith, Rooted in Oklahoma’s Heartland is CAIR’s first documentary that features the untold story of courage, faith, and resilience in the face of rising hate. Told from the perspective of two American Muslim women, this film explores their separate journeys into faith and how they became leaders in their community in America’s heartland. It shines a light on the history of Islam in Oklahoma and the challenges posed by Islamophobia in a post-9/11 world. More than just a film, it’s a movement—a tool for educating, healing, and bringing communities together. This film is partially funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities’ United We Stand initiative, and Oklahoma Humanities made funding possible. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Oklahoma Humanities.
I Ain’t Afraid: The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl book signing with author Diane Helentjaris
On Thursday, April 10, from 6 to 8 p.m., author Diane Helentjaris will give a presentation entitled “Lulu Bell Parr’s Ride into Oklahoma History,” based on the subject of her book I Ain’t Afraid: The World of Lulu Bell Parr, Wild West Cowgirl (2024). The book focuses on the life and adventures of Lulu Bell Parr, the once-famous and later-forgotten “Queen of the Cowgirls.” In 1903, Lulu Bell Parr ran away from the doldrums of life as a divorced, uneducated,…
Find out more »Museum After Dark: Liquid History: Flash & Fizz
On Friday, April 11, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will host another Museum After Dark Liquid History event beginning at 6 p.m. Historical interpreters will take ticket holders through the history of sodas. While touring the Humphrey Heritage Village, guests will learn about the history of some of the most beloved carbonated drinks, from how they started to the popular soda fountains of the 1950s! Each stop will feature a sample of a fizzy beverage or a mixed concoction…
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 »Calligraphy class
The Oklahoma History Center Museum will hold a calligraphy class with the Japan American Society on Saturday, April 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. Pricing is $24 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $34 for non-members. All supplies will be provided, and registration closes on Saturday, April 7. Register today!
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 »Historic Preservation Review Committee Meeting
The Historic Preservation Review Committee (HPRC) regular quarterly meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17. 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, April 16). Additionally, the meetings will also…
Find out more »Will Rogers for President exhibit closes
The exhibit Will Rogers for President exhibit highlighting the history behind his mock presidential campaign 96 years ago will close on April 18. In May 1928, LIFE magazine ran an entertaining story promoting the idea that Will Rogers was running for president. The article appealed to “dissatisfied voters of both parties,” touting that Rogers was a perfect fit for the candidacy. Taking the suggestion of his nomination by the “Anti-Bunk Party” as a joke, he penned a witty retort the…
Find out more »Annual Easter Egg Hunt
On Saturday, April 19, the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by the local Pawnee Lions Club and the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce. The hunt will begin promptly at 10 a.m. at the ranch’s picnic pavilions. The Egg Hunt is spread out over many acres of the historic site. Thousands of eggs will be hidden, including gold and silver prize eggs containing money and vouchers for treats. Pawnee Bill started an egg hunt…
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 »Easter Egg Hunt
Visit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum for the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 19. The egg hunt begins promptly at 11:30 a.m. on the museum grounds, so be sure to arrive early. The Easter Bunny will hide thousands of candy-filled eggs for the children to find, and some eggs will contain special prizes. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
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 »Sunrise Service
On Easter Sunday—April 20, the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual nondenominational Sunrise Service. The service will begin at approximately 7 a.m. on Blue Hawk Peak, the highest point on the ranch grounds. The Pawnee Ministerial Alliance leads the service and is a community-wide tradition. Participants are asked to bring their own seating and dress appropriately for the outdoors.
Find out more »Lunch and Learn: “Albatross or Asset: Adaptive Reuse of Sacred Places” webinar
On Tuesday, April 22, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., Rev. Dr. Rochelle A. (Shelly) Stackhouse, with the Partners for Sacred Places, will discuss the adaptive reuse of sacred buildings. This webinar is free to the public, but registration is required. Register for "Albatross or Asset." See a full list of webinars available through the State Historic Preservation Office.
Find out more »Aces and Actors: Will Rogers’s Famous Friends exhibit opens
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will open a new exhibit entitled Aces and Actors: Will Rogers’s Famous Friends on Friday, April 25. The exhibit will explore the actor’s vast connections to Hollywood and the then-fledgling industry of aviation through a series of photographs that follow his film career and associations with pilots. In addition to being a newspaperman, a radio pundit, a humanitarian, and a philosopher, Will Rogers is possibly best known for his film career. Rogers began with silent…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will show the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939) at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore on Friday, April 25. 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…
Find out more »Cast-Iron Cooking Class
The Chisholm in Kingfisher will host a Cast-Iron Cooking class on Saturday, April 26, from noon to 5 p.m. In this casual, fun class, participants will learn to care for and cook in cast-iron cookware, create a Dutch oven delight, and participate in a group meal. The class will explore historical and modern recipes while learning backyard cooking skills. This class is restricted to children 12 and older with an adult. It costs $40 per person or $60 per pair.…
Find out more »Spring on the Farm
It’s spring, and Hunter’s Home’s sheep need to be shorn. Come out on April 26 to see this annual tradition from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For working farms, Spring isn’t just about shearing sheep, though. Things around the farm are waking up again after a long winter rest. There will be demonstrations of butter and cheese making, wool processing, garden talks, children’s activities and crafts, shopping, and more. Regular admission fees apply. For more information, call 918-456-2751. Hunter’s Home…
Find out more »Wanted: Dead or Alive exhibit closes
The Wanted: Dead or Alive exhibit will remain open at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum until Sunday, April 27. This photography exhibit features images of some of Oklahoma’s most infamous criminals. The exhibit includes images from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the University of Oklahoma Western History Collections, the National Archives, the vast photographic archives of the Oklahoma Historical Society, and private lenders. The 38 black-and-white images on display include mugshots, crime scene locations, and group shots of criminals…
Find out more »“Ice Cream Social” Kilgen Theatre Organ Performance featuring Seamus Gethicker
On Monday, April 28, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a Kilgen Theatre Organ performance will be held in the Devon Great Hall at the Oklahoma History Center. Organist Seamus Gethicker will perform several classic springtime musical numbers to enhance the theme, “Ice Cream Social.” Ice cream will be served before the performance, so early arrival is recommended. The performing artist, Seamus Gethicker, is a young theatre organist from Bath, Maine. He is the 2016 winner of the American Theatre Organ…
Find out more »Hammered Aluminum Ware exhibit closes
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will open an exhibit showcasing hammered aluminum ware from Wednesday, April 2, to Wednesday, April 30. Visitors can view beautiful examples of hammered aluminum metalware, such as salad dishes, cookie trays, and pitchers with matching tumblers. From the early 1900s to the 1950s, many homemakers used cheaper and lighter hammered aluminum for card games, birthday celebrations, church events, and monthly coffee socials. With many metals in short supply because of World War…
Find out more »May 2025
Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting
The Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meetings occur on the fourth Wednesday of the first month of each quarter at 1:30 p.m., with the exception of the May meeting. 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 »Oklahoma in Context: The Oklahoma History Symposium
The 2025 Oklahoma History Symposium will be held on May 3, 2025, at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the symposium is a one-day event encompassing a range of historical topics pertaining to Oklahoma. It provides a venue for scholars, students, educators, public history professionals, and the interested public from across the state and region to share their work and interests with others. The 2025 symposium will center on the theme “Oklahoma in Context.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines context as “the…
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