Events Calendar
Events for October 1, 2023 - November 4, 2023
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October 2023
Annual Quilt Show opens
Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual Quilt Show during the month of October, featuring heirloom and modern quilts from across the state. Cimarron Valley Quilt Guild and Pawnee Bill Quilt Guild members are instrumental in putting together this yearly event. The show opens on Sunday, October 1, and closes on Sunday, October 29. There is no charge to view the Quilt Show, which is available to visitors during regular hours of operation. Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum…
Find out more »“Storekeeper and Trader” living history program
For the month of October, the Fort Gibson Historic Site will be holding a living history program every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1 to 3 p.m. teaching visitors about the life of a storekeeper and trader at Fort Gibson. From October 3 to 31, visitors can view the goods that would have been bought and traded at the military outpost. The program will be held at the Dog Trot cabin near the…
Find out more »Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe (2022) book review by Justin Lenhart
On Tuesday, October 3, at 7 p.m., the Museum of the Western Prairie will welcome Justin Lenhart, curator at the Jim Thorpe Museum and Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, who will review the book Path Lit by Lightning: The Life of Jim Thorpe. The biography, released in 2022, written by author David Maraniss, explores the colossal athletic skills of Oklahoma’s Jim Thorpe (Sac and Fox), who won gold medals in the decathlon and the pentathlon at the…
Find out more »Hidden Oklahoma: “Early Wichita Sites and Fortifications in Oklahoma” presentation by Dr. Richard Drass
On Wednesday, October 4, at 2 p.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will hold a free webinar on “Early Wichita Sites and Fortifications in Oklahoma,” presented by Dr. Richard Drass, emeritus professor at the University of Oklahoma. Common ideas on early Native American life in the prairie plains of Oklahoma frequently conjure images of mobile Native groups such as the Comanche living in tepees and hunting bison on horseback. Although bison were an essential resource for most…
Find out more »Fireside Chat with Oklahoma’s Governors
On Thursday, October 5, at 10 a.m., the Guthrie Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Guthrie will host a fireside chat with Oklahoma’s governors. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Oklahoma Territorial Museum in Guthrie, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023. Invited guests include Governor Kevin Stitt and former governors George Nigh, Frank Keating, Brad Henry, and Mary Fallin. The fireside chat will provide a unique chance for Oklahomans to learn how our state government works while interacting with past and present leaders.…
Find out more »Trust and Betrayal in Osage Country exhibit opens
An exhibit that explores the true-life murders of wealthy Osage people in the 1920s opens on Friday, October 6, inside the Oklahoma History Center Museum. Trust and Betrayal in Osage Country will be displayed in the ONEOK, Inc. Gallery until March 1, 2024.
The crimes are detailed in David Grann’s 2017 book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI. A movie based on the murders will be released on Friday, October 20—two weeks after the exhibit opens. It is estimated that two dozen members of the Osage Nation were murdered in the 1920s in a plot to get Osage wealth. Most of the crimes were not investigated by local authorities.
The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Please call 405-522-0765 or visit www.okhistory.org/historycenter for admission costs and group rates.
Find out more »“How to Research Allotments” Lunch and Learn webinar
The Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office will hold a Lunch and Learn webinar on Friday, October 6, at noon, focusing on researching land allotments in Oklahoma. Nancy Calhoun, a volunteer and former research librarian for the Oklahoma Historical Society, will be the featured presenter. Allotment was the federal policy of dividing communally held Native land into individually owned private property. Registration for the webinar is required. For more information, contact Kristina Wyckoff, SHPO’s Section 106 coordinator, and historical archaeologist, at…
Find out more »Family Farm Day
On Saturday, October 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., celebrate Oklahoma’s proud agricultural heritage at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. Family Farm Day allows families to experience hands-on activities like shelling and grinding corn, churning butter, planting seeds, and milling wheat. In addition, guests can visit a farm animal petting zoo, participate in pumpkin decorating, watch a blacksmith at his trade, and much more! The event will take place at the Humphrey Heritage Village. The museum will also…
Find out more »History and Haunts at the Overholser *Sold Out*
In October, the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will host its annual History and Haunts tours. The evening tours at the historic home will take place on Saturday, October 7, 14, 27, 28, and 29, from 6-8 p.m. each night. Visitors will see the home in its nighttime splendor, learn the history of the house and its former occupants, and discover why some say they are still roaming the halls! Tickets for the general public go on sale Monday, September…
Find out more »Doaksville Candlelight Tour
The annual Doaksville Candlelight Tour will be held on Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14, at the Doaksville Archaeological Site in Fort Towson, OK. The cost for admission is $8, age 6 and under will be admitted for free. Advance tickets may be purchased at the Fort Towson Historic Site or by calling 580-873-2634. Tours begin at 7 p.m. on both nights with the last tour starting at 9:30 p.m. Tours will leave from the Fort Towson cemetery every…
Find out more »Dewey Western Heritage Day
The town of Dewey will celebrate Dewey Western Heritage Day on Saturday, October 14, from noon to 11 p.m. Celebrate the pioneering heritage of the city founded in 1899 by watching a parade of longhorn cattle, stagecoaches, and trick roping. Enjoy vendors, music, bounce houses, a petting zoo, a mechanical bull, a Western market, food trucks, and much more! Be sure to visit the Tom Mix Museum, which will be open for free all day Saturday!
Find out more »Presentation by author Dr. Nyla Khan
Author and professor Dr. Nyla Khan will speak at the Pioneer Woman Museum on Saturday, October 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. She will share stories about her life, work, and human rights activism. The event is free to attend. The Pioneer Woman Museum preserves the legacy of women of all races, creeds, and nationalities who contributed to the development of Oklahoma. For more information, please call 580-765-6108 or visit www.pioneerwomanmuseum.com.
Find out more »“Weapons and Uniforms of the mid-19th century” presentation by Charles R. Lemons
On Saturday, October 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. Charles R. Lemons will make a presentation at the Fort Towson Historic Site. He will be discussing mid-19th-century weapons and uniforms. Lemons is the retired curator of the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor in Fort Knox, Kentucky. This event is free with the price of general admission to the Fort Towson Historic Site museum. Volunteer Militia outfitted with Enfield muskets in front of encampment (AMB/TIN no. 2271 , Ambrotype/Tintype filing…
Find out more »Japanese Stone Craftsman seminar with stone artist Takaaki Saida *fully booked*
On Saturday, October 14, from 3 to 5 p.m., a free seminar on Japanese stone crafts will be held at the Oklahoma History Center. The Japan America Society of Oklahoma, (a non-profit organization promoting Japan-US relations and culture in Oklahoma) organized the event. The seminar will include an overview of the traditions and practices in the art of stone and lantern sculpting, including the history of the Kamaoka stones and the techniques passed on by several generations since 1889. Takaaki…
Find out more »Research Center Book Sale
The Oklahoma Historical Society’s (OHS) John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center will host its book sale Wednesday, October 18, through Saturday, October 21, at the Oklahoma History Center, located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. The sale is open from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. No admission is required to visit the book sale., which includes thousands of rare and out-of-print books, magazines, comics,…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting *canceled*
The OHS Executive Committee meeting previously scheduled for October 18, 2023 has been canceled. 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,…
Find out more »Historic Preservation Review Committee meeting
The regular quarterly meeting of the Historic Preservation Review Committee (HPRC) will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 19, 2023. 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 [email protected] by noon on Wednesday, October 18, 2023). Additionally,…
Find out more »How We Rebuild exhibit closes
Friday, October 20, will be the last day to view the Exhibits USA exhibit How We Rebuild at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center galleries. This penetrating and transformative photography exhibition draws from twelve years of work created by grant winners and finalists from The Aftermath Project, a non-profit organization committed to telling the other half of war stories after the conflicts have ended—what it takes for individuals to rebuild destroyed lives and homes, to restore civil societies, and to…
Find out more »Fall on the Farm
Learn about 19th-century living patterns at Hunter’s Home working farm on Saturday, October 21, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as staff prepare the farm for winter with fall chores. There will be plenty of apples, animals, demonstrations, and a story. Come and enjoy the nice fall weather and observe the changing seasons at Hunter’s Home. No reservations are needed, but regular admission fees apply. For more information, call 918-456-2751. Hunter’s Home is located at 19479 E. Murrell Home Rd.…
Find out more »2023 Oklahoma Folklife Festival
The 2023 Folklife Festival will be held inside the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) on Saturday, October 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. This festival is designed to engage visitors with opportunities to experience other cultures and traditions. Visitors are there to participate in the activities, not just observe. This community-wide event will celebrate and recognize what the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress has called “the everyday and…
Find out more »Heritage Hills Historic Homes Tour
The Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will be one of several homes open to the public as part of the Heritage Hills Historic Home Tour on Saturday, October 21, and Sunday, October 22. The self-guided tours allow attendees to explore Heritage Hills' historic homes. Saturday, October 21st, 4–8 p.m. Home Tour attendees are invited to a special evening view of the spectacular homes on this year’s tour. Each tour ticket will include entry to a cocktail reception, two drinks on…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meeting
The October 25 Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meeting will be held at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center at 507 South 4th Street, Enid. The Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meetings occur on the 4th Wednesday of the first month of each quarter at 1:30 p.m. with the exception of the April meeting, which will take place on Friday, April 21, also at 1:30 p.m. Agendas will be available online 24 hours prior to the meeting at…
Find out more »“Going to Church in Old Greer County” presentation and pump organ performance
On Thursday, October 26, at 7 p.m., come to the Museum of the Western Prairie to hear a presentation and special pump organ performance with the theme “Going to Church in Old Greer County.” Guests will learn more about the traditions formed in the pioneering era of the county. The presentation will include a history of early-day churches in southwest Oklahoma, accompanied by hymns played on a pump organ. The event is free and open to the public. The Museum…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Dracula (1931)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a Movie Night featuring the film Dracula (1931), in its theater on Friday, October 27, at 7 p.m.
“Horsing Around with Will” will take place from 6 to 7 p.m., during which families can enjoy activities and crafts relating to the movie’s theme. Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested. This event is FREE to attend, thanks to sponsorship by the Bank of Commerce. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Will Rogers Movie Night is held on the last Friday of the month.
Find out more »Pawnee Bill’s Rolling Thunder Car Show and Fall Festival *postponed due to weather*
Due to weather concerns and ground conditions, the Rolling Thunder Car Show and Fall Festival, previously scheduled for Saturday, October 28, has been postponed.
Find out more »Cemetery Symbols program
The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will host a program on the meaning of historic gravestone symbols on Saturday, October 28, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. There will be a lunch break, but lunch is not provided. The event will also include a guided tour of the IOOF Cemetery in Ponca City, led by the museum’s historical interpreter. Tickets are $10 per person. For more information or to purchase a ticket, call the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue at 580-765-6108. The…
Find out more »“History Never Dies” Halloween carnival
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie will host its “History Never Dies” Halloween Carnival on Saturday, October 28, from 5 to 7 p.m. This free, family-friendly event will have a haunted house with the gang from Scooby Doo theme. Families can enjoy carnival games, treats, prizes, and a cake walk at the two-hour event. Hotdogs and nachos will be served free to all guests. Enjoy Halloween-themed activities inside the museum—all ages and costumes are welcome! The Oklahoma…
Find out more »Ghost Stories Tours
Visit the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum for Pawnee Bill Ghost Stories Tours on Saturday, October 28, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Guides will lead guests on outdoor tours around the ranch site and its buildings, the big barn, log cabin, blacksmith shop, and the mansion. Guests will hear spine-tingling, ghostly tales about Oklahoma, the surrounding area, and the Pawnee Bill Ranch. Tours will leave the museum every 30 minutes, so bundle up for cold weather. The ghostly tales will be…
Find out more »Annual Quilt Show closes
Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual Quilt Show during the month of October, featuring heirloom and modern quilts from across the state. Cimarron Valley Quilt Guild and Pawnee Bill Quilt Guild members are instrumental in putting together this yearly event. The show opens on Sunday, October 1, and closes on Sunday, October 29. There is no charge to view the Quilt Show, which is available to visitors during regular hours of operation. Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum…
Find out more »Heritage Hills Halloween Festival
The Heritage Hills Halloween Festival will be held at the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion on Sunday, October 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. A number of fun activities are planned, including face painting, bike and scooter decorating, pumpkin painting, and a bounce house.
Find out more »Halloween Night at the Museum (moved indoors)
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host Halloween Night at the Museum on Tuesday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m. This event combines indoor trick-or-treating with an opportunity for children and their families to visit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Due to the cold temperatures, area businesses and individuals will share treats inside the museum. There will be a costume contest with prizes for the best costumes. Halloween Night at the Museum is free and open to all ages.…
Find out more »November 2023
Will Rogers Days and Motion Picture Festival
Since the opening of the Will Rogers Memorial in 1938, Claremore has celebrated the birthday of its most famous resident, Will Rogers. Continuing this grand tradition, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host Will Rogers Days November 1-4. The festivities include the 2023 Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival, whiskey tasting event, wreath laying, parade, and birthday party. The Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival features G- and PG-rated films from artists worldwide. The festival entries will be screened daily in the…
Find out more »The People’s House film screening at Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival
On Wednesday, November 1, at 12:30 p.m., The People’s House will be shown at the Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum Theatre in Claremore. The film has earned a nomination in the Dog-Iron Award category. It was directed by Oklahoma native Bryan Beasley and produced with support from the Inasmuch Foundation and the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS). The People’s House covers the in-depth history of the Capitol, the importance of the building, the years-long restoration…
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 »Battle of Honey Springs Education Day
On Friday, November 3, beginning at 9 a.m., Honey Springs Battlefield will host the Battle of Honey Springs Education Day. On this day, students from schools across the state and the general public will have the opportunity to explore numerous education stations teaching topics related to the Civil War in Indian Territory and The Battle of Honey Springs. Living historians will demonstrate various military drills, cooking techniques, and other everyday activities for soldiers. There also will be numerous sutlers selling…
Find out more »“Preservation and Care of Photographs” workshop
Learn how to preserve your photos in a workshop at the Oklahoma History Center on Friday, November 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. “Preservation and Care of Photographs Workshop” will be put on in partnership with the Oklahoma Historical Society’s John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center, which has an estimated 11 million images in its archives. The workshop will focus on teaching participants how to care for their photographs. The class costs $20 for members of the Oklahoma Historical Society…
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 »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 »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…
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