Press Release
May 28, 2026
Contact: Jessica Brogdon
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-967-9487
[email protected]
okhistory.org/grants
Oklahoma Chapter of Butterfield National Historic Trail Association Awarded $1,000 Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Oklahoma Chapter of the Butterfield National Historic Trail Association has been awarded $1,000 through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. This grant will fund the design, printing, and distribution of a brochure and map promoting the Butterfield Overland National Historic Trail in southeastern Oklahoma, raising public awareness and guiding visitors to key sites while enhancing access, education, and enjoyment of the trail.
“Encouraging travelers to explore the historic traces of the Indian Territory segment of the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach road is one of the primary goals of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Butterfield National Historic Trail Association,” said Susan Dragoo, president of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Butterfield National Historic Trail Association. “We are grateful to the Oklahoma Historical Society for these grant funds, allowing us to print brochures to place in travel stops along the route in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations to guide motorists along the trail and educate them about the significance of the Overland Mail to the history of Oklahoma and the United States.”
The Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program is the Oklahoma Historical Society’s primary tool for supporting grassroots history and preservation efforts across the state. Through this year’s competitive grant cycle, the Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors approved $509,439 in awards to 30 eligible organizations, helping communities throughout Oklahoma preserve their unique histories and make them more accessible to the public.“The organizations receiving these grants are doing essential work to preserve Oklahoma’s history at the local level,” said Trait Thompson, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society. “Whether caring for collections, improving exhibits, or expanding educational programs, these projects help keep our shared history visible, accessible, and relevant across the state.”
The grant program supports tribal and municipal governments and not-for-profit historical organizations throughout the state. Awards range from $1,000 to $25,000 for projects that improve collections stewardship, develop exhibits, expand public programs, and strengthen organizational capacity. Applications for the next grant cycle will open January 1, 2027. For more information, visit okhistory.org/grants.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
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