Past Events
Events List Navigation
November 2023
Pawnee Bill’s Rolling Thunder Car Show and Fall Festival
On Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host Pawnee Bill’s Rolling Thunder Car Show and Fall Festival, presented by the Old Time Saturday Night Car Club.
The fall community event will include a car show where the public will see a variety of classic cruisers, custom cars and trucks, antique vehicles, hot rods, farm trucks, tractors, and motorcycles parked on the grounds of the historic home of Pawnee Bill and May Lillie. There is a $15 vehicle charge to enter the car show. Tractor pulls, and mini bike drag racing will take place throughout the day, along with the car show.
A host of family-friendly activities are planned for the festival, including a hay maze, hayrides, a bounce house, cornhole, and horseshoe games. Guests can watch a blacksmith at work, cowboy whip tricks, and the art of rope making. Live music will be performed throughout the day by Kenny Bond. Concessions and food trucks will be available throughout the event.
Admission to the event is $10 per car. All activities are included with paid admission except pumpkin painting. For more information, please call 918-762-2513.
This event is sponsored by the Pawnee Bill Ranch Association, the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce and the Old Time Saturday Night Car Club. All proceeds will help purchase a new team of draft horses and help maintain animal programs at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum.
Find out more »“Territory of Lincoln” workshop
The Oklahoma History Center will host a free workshop on Saturday, November 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to discuss the Territory of Lincoln. After Abraham Lincoln was killed, several proposals were made to take existing Territories and make a state named “Lincoln.” Yet, during the Civil War, maps were created that labeled Indian Territory, now present-day Oklahoma, as “Lincoln.” The workshop will explore the brief history window when the area known today as Oklahoma was considered for a…
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 »Cast-Iron Cooking class *class is full*
The Chisholm Trail Museum in Kingfisher will host a Cast-Iron Cooking class on Saturday, November 4, from noon to 5 p.m. Students will learn to care for and cook in cast-iron cookware in this casual, fun class. Participants will 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 ages 10 and older with an adult. The cost for the…
Find out more »The Battle of Honey Springs (2021) OHS film televised
The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) and the Friends of Honey Springs Battlefield film The Battle of Honey Springs (2021) is scheduled to air on OETA, Oklahoma’s statewide PBS station, on Thursday, November 2, at 7:30 p.m. It will air again on Saturday, November 4, at 8:30 p.m. on the OETA WORLD Channel. The film documents the largest Civil War battle that took place on July 17, 1863, in present-day Oklahoma, then Indian Territory. Near the community of Honey Springs in…
Find out more »The Battle of Honey Springs Civil War Demonstrations
Honey Springs Battlefield near Checotah will host biennial demonstrations of the Civil War Battle of Honey Springs on Saturday, November 4, and Sunday, November 5. On both days, special living history stations will open at 10 a.m., and the Battle of Honey Springs Civil War demonstrations will take place at 1 p.m. Visitors will see military drills, demonstrations, and living history programs while also getting the chance to tour Confederate, Union, and civilian camps, and explore “Sutlers’ Row,” featuring vendors selling…
Find out more »“Working with the National Register of Historic Places: An Overview” webinar
On Monday, November 6, from 10 a.m. to noon (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will have a webinar featuring an overview of working with the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Matthew Pearce is the featured presenter. NRHP is the foundation of the SHPO’s programs, and a basic understanding of the register is essential for those involved in historic preservation at all levels of government and in the private sector. This workshop provides detailed information about what listing…
Find out more »“Do’s and Don’ts: Best Practices for National Register Nominations” webinar
On Tuesday, November 7, from 10 to 11 a.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will have a free webinar about the do's and don’ts of preparing a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination, which can be challenging. Matthew Pearce is the featured presenter. In addition to discussing common mistakes that NRHP nomination reviewers encounter, this workshop will introduce best practices for defining integrity and significance. It will also outline photograph and mapping guidelines. This workshop is directed…
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, door prizes, refreshments, discussions, quilt patterns, and old-fashioned bed turnings at the next quilting workshop. Proceeds directly…
Find out more »Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
On Monday, November 13, from 10 to 11 a.m., the State Historic Preservation Office will present a free webinar to provide training on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This training is designed to provide an introduction or a refresher to Section 106 of the NHPA. The featured presenter is Kristina Wyckoff, Section 106 coordinator, and historic archaeologist. She will explain the importance of the Section 106 process and assist anyone involved in that process in Oklahoma.…
Find out more »Archaeological Investigations and Site Evaluations
On Tuesday, November 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will have a free webinar about how to go about archaeological investigations and site evaluations. Kristina Wyckoff, Section 106 coordinator and historic archaeologist for SHPO, will be the featured presenter. Register for the webinar.
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 »The Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program: An Overview
On Thursday, November 14, from 10 to 11 a.m., the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will have a free webinar featuring an overview of the Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program. Sara Werneke will be the featured presenter. Participants will learn about the federal and state investment tax credits for certified rehabilitation of a certified historic structure. A detailed discussion of the Historic Preservation Certification Application, Parts 1, 2, and 3, will guide owners and developers in successfully preparing the information…
Find out more »Chunky Knit Blanket workshop
On Thursday, November 16, from 5:30-8:30 p.m., the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host a chunky knit blanket workshop. Participants will be guided through the hand-knitting process to create a cozy, one-of-a-kind blanket they can take home. Making the blanket does not require needles or any knitting experience. The workshop will be led by staff from AR Workshop in Stillwater. The class costs $89, which includes all the materials needed to make a 40” x 50” blanket. Attendees will…
Find out more »Oklahoma Territorial Museum 50th Anniversary Celebration *canceled*
The fundraising dinner and program to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Oklahoma Territorial Museum planned for Thursday, November 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Guthrie Depot, has been canceled. The Oklahoma Territorial Museum opened to the public on November 16, 1973. It tells the story of the determined people who laid the foundation for the state of Oklahoma.
Find out more »The Historic Preservation Tax Credit: A Case Study
On Friday, November 17, from 10 to 11 a.m., the State Historic Preservation Office will offer a free webinar entitled “The Historic Preservation Tax Credit: A Case Study.” Sara Werneke will be the featured presenter. Knowing what should be in a Historic Preservation Tax Credit project submission can be daunting. Even knowing where to start can be overwhelming. In this workshop, Werneke will use a case study of an actual tax credit project that successfully went through the process and…
Find out more »Learning Lecture with author Gary Clayton Anderson *postponed*
The lecture previously scheduled for Friday, November 17, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum with author Gary Clayton Anderson has been postponed. Anderson is a George Lynn Cross Research professor at the University of Oklahoma. He will be discussing the title and its new afterword and the differences he found in the cowboy-trick-roping Will Rogers and the widely-read journalist. He points out Will’s influence during the social, political, and economic transformations of the Roaring Twenties and Great Depression. The first publication…
Find out more »“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 »Story Time at Hunter’s Home
Hunter’s Home will host families for story time on Saturday, November 18, at 10:30 a.m. The featured book is Winter on the Farm by Laura Ingalls Wilder. It tells the story of a boy’s busy day on the family farm during winter, doing his chores and tending to the family's livestock. Storytime will include an activity and snack. The event is free with paid admission. No registration is required. For more information, call 918-456-2751. Hunter’s Home is located at 19479 E. Murrell…
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 »“Glass and a Glass” glass fusion class
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host three sessions of an interactive glass fusing class called “Glass and a Glass” with artist Audrey Schmitz on Saturday, November 18. Three sessions will be held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and again at 3 p.m. Participants will make an original holiday tree ornament to take home. Attendees will learn about making fused glass while enjoying a complimentary drink. Along with a wide array of colorful art glass, other materials such as frit,…
Find out more »“Glass and a Glass” glass fusion class
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host three sessions of an interactive glass fusing class called “Glass and a Glass” with artist Audrey Schmitz on Saturday, November 18. Three sessions will be held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and again at 3 p.m. Participants will make an original holiday tree ornament to take home. Attendees will learn about making fused glass while enjoying a complimentary drink. Along with a wide array of colorful art glass, other materials such as frit,…
Find out more »“Glass and a Glass” glass fusion class
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host three sessions of an interactive glass fusing class called “Glass and a Glass” with artist Audrey Schmitz on Saturday, November 18. Three sessions will be held at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and again at 3 p.m. Participants will make an original holiday tree ornament to take home. Attendees will learn about making fused glass while enjoying a complimentary drink. Along with a wide array of colorful art glass, other materials such as frit,…
Find out more »Silver Selections from the USS Oklahoma exhibit opens
The Oklahoma History Center Museum will have pieces of silver service from the USS Oklahoma on display starting Monday, November 27, to commemorate the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The complete set consists of 55 pieces. Only select pieces will be available for public view.
On December 7, 1941, the USS Oklahoma was one of eight battleships docked at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, when it came under attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. The USS Oklahoma suffered 429 casualties, and the battleship capsized due to multiple torpedo strikes.
The tradition of creating presentation silver sets for American warships of the “first rank” began with the USS Maine in the late 1890s. Continuing this tradition, the Oklahoma Legislature appropriated $7,500 in 1913 to create a silver service to express the state’s pride in having a new battleship named for the state.
Find out more »Kilgen Theatre Organ performance featuring Donnie Rankin and the silent film Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
The November performance of the Kilgen Theatre Organ at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will feature Donnie Rankin IV accompanying the Buster Keaton classic film Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928). Rankin is internationally known, having played for theatre organ audiences worldwide, including appearances in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The performance will take place on Monday, November 27, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Devon Great Hall of the OHC. Tickets are $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for the general public and are available by calling 405-522-0765.
Find out more »Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission meeting
The meeting of the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission will be held on Tuesday, November 28 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 »December 2023
Museum Store Annual Holiday Sale
The Oklahoma History Center’s annual holiday sale in the Museum Store will occur on Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oklahoma Historical Society members will get a total discount of 25%. Staff and volunteers will get a total discount of 30%. The general public will receive a 10% discount on regularly priced merchandise. Several items will be on sale. There is no charge to visit the Museum Store. The Museum Store contains unique…
Find out more »Museum After Dark: Christmas in the Village
Come experience a Victorian Christmas in Humphrey Heritage Village at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center on Friday, December 1, from 6 to 9 p.m. Visitors will feel the warmth of holiday cheer throughout the beautifully decorated Humphrey Heritage Village. For just the regular cost of admission, visitors will hear Christmas music echoing through the village. Activities for the family, including ornament decorating, crafts, hot drinks, and a visit from Santa Claus are planned for the festive occasion. For more…
Find out more »Museum Store Annual Holiday Sale
The Oklahoma History Center’s annual holiday sale in the Museum Store will occur on Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oklahoma Historical Society members will get a total discount of 25%. Staff and volunteers will get a total discount of 30%. The general public will receive a 10% discount on regularly priced merchandise. Several items will be on sale. There is no charge to visit the Museum Store. The Museum Store contains unique…
Find out more »Guthrie Distinctive Homes Tour and Wassail at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library will be part of a tour showcasing some of Guthrie’s most distinctive homes and historic buildings on Saturday, December 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors will hear tales of the early days of Oklahoma’s first capital. Wassail will be served at the Carnegie Library to warm the hearts and hands of tour participants. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online from the Guthrie Territorial Christmas Foundation. To learn more about…
Find out more »Photos with Santa at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum
The Heritage Gallery at Will Rogers Memorial Museum will be the perfect backdrop for taking photos with Santa on Saturday, December 2, and Saturday, December 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your family and your camera to take beautiful family pictures with Santa. Admission is free to take photos. For more information, please visit willrogers.com or call 918-341-0719.
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 »Osage Ribbonwork class with Ruth Shaw **class is full**
A series of four programs taught by Osage artist Ruth Shaw will introduce the techniques of making Osage ribbonwork. The classes will occur at the White Hair Memorial in December 2023 and January 2024. Each student will create an Osage ribbonwork piece to take home with them. The classes will be held on four Sundays: December 3 December 10 January 21 January 28 Each class will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at no charge. All supplies needed will…
Find out more »Holiday Market at the Museum
The Museum of the Western Prairie in Altus will host its Holiday Market at the Museum on Tuesday, December 5, at 6 p.m.
The event will showcase the talents of 12 area artists who will be selling their unique work, including paintings, jewelry, pottery, fused glass, and more. The market is free and open to the public. Visitors can also tour the museum while browsing the artists’ displays. Refreshments will be served.
This event will be hosted by the Western Trail Historical Society. The Museum of the Western Prairie is located at 1100 Memorial Dr. in Altus, for more information, call 580-482-1044.
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, door prizes, refreshments, discussions, quilt patterns, and old-fashioned bed turnings at the next quilting workshop. Proceeds directly…
Find out more »Holiday Open House
On Saturday, December 9, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host a Holiday Open House. Celebrate the season in style with the Pioneer Woman Museum. Guests will have free admission to all museum galleries, enjoy special holiday deals in the museum’s gift shop, and be able to savor the flavors of a hot chocolate bar with all the fixings.
Find out more »Photos with Santa at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum
The Heritage Gallery at Will Rogers Memorial Museum will be the perfect backdrop for taking photos with Santa on Saturday, December 2, and Saturday, December 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring your family and your camera to take beautiful family pictures with Santa. Admission is free to take photos. For more information, please visit willrogers.com or call 918-341-0719.
Find out more »Christmas Open House
Celebrate Christmas with an open house at the historic Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy on Saturday, December 9, from 1–4 p.m. Every room of the 117-year-old house will be decorated for the Christmas season. Musicians Jim Garling, Suzanne Wooley, and friends will perform live music in the parlor. Joe Bush, the great-great-grandson of Fred and Addie Drummond, is expected to visit during the festivities to tell stories about the Drummond family. Author Rosanne McKee and Osage storyteller Diane Fallis will…
Find out more »Holiday Open House
On Saturday, December 9, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual Holiday Open House from 1 to 3 p.m. Visitors can view seasonal decorations throughout the home of the world-renowned Wild West Show entertainer Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie. Holiday decorations will adorn some of the outbuildings at the 500-acre working ranch. Family-friendly, festive activities will include outdoor surrey rides (weather permitting), children’s crafts, and an opportunity to take a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Hot cocoa…
Find out more »Christmas Open House
Celebrate Christmas the pioneer way at the Sod House Museum on Saturday, December 9, from 1 to 3 p.m. Share in the festivities, including holiday music, traditional decorations, and treats prepared by the Friends Group. Silver Strings and Friends of Carmon will share their love of music with guests at the Christmas Open House. This group plays folk, traditional Christmas music, gospel and country, and unusual instruments throughout the day. Margaret Goss will perform on the hammered dulcimer, autoharp, ancient…
Find out more »