Press Release
May 28, 2026
Contact: Jessica Brogdon
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-967-9487
[email protected]
okhistory.org/grants
The Museum Broken Arrow Awarded $4,000 Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Historical Society is pleased to announce that The Museum Broken Arrow has been awarded $4,000 through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. This grant will fund an exhibit commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks by sharing Broken Arrow Police Chaplain Scott Keele’s firsthand experiences at Ground Zero—using personal stories, photographs, and programs to connect a national tragedy to a meaningful local perspective.
“The Museum Broken Arrow is a hub for preserving and celebrating the city’s heritage, offering visitors an engaging journey through its past, present, and future,” said Mickel Yantz, executive director of The Museum Broken Arrow. “Located in the Rose District on the historic site of the Kentucky Colonel Hotel near the original Katy Train Depot, the museum anchors itself in the story of Broken Arrow’s growth. Permanent exhibits such as the Muscogee Tribal Exhibit, Main Street BA, Rooster Days, and the Katy Railroad Depot highlight the city’s cultural roots, while rotating exhibitions in the Barbara Brown Kimbrough Exhibit Hall bring fresh artistic and historical perspectives.”
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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