Press Release
May 28, 2026
Contact: Jessica Brogdon
Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-967-9487
[email protected]
okhistory.org/grants
Cherokee Strip Historical Society Awarded $17,416 Through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Historical Society is pleased to announce that the Cherokee Strip Historical Society in Perry has been awarded $17,416 through the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program. This grant will fund a public kiosk featuring an interactive digital map that allows users to explore settlements, land allotments, and geographic changes in real-time during the 1893 land run in and around Noble County.
“Our organization, the Cherokee Strip Historical Society, is deeply grateful to the Oklahoma Heritage Preservation Grant Program for supporting this project,” said curator Janel Vaughan. “The interactive map kiosk will allow visitors to engage with the story of the 1893 Land Run in a dynamic, immersive way, bringing local history to life for all ages. This investment helps us connect our community more meaningfully with its past while preserving it for future generations.”
“I’m glad the Cherokee Strip Historical Society was selected for this grant,” said Rep. John Pfeiffer of Orlando. “The history of the 1893 land run is of significance to the people who live in our area. This planned public kiosk should help spark important conversations on our continued stewardship of the land.”
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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