Events Calendar
Events for April 1, 2024 - May 13, 2024
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April 2024
Hammered Aluminum Ware exhibit opens
A new exhibit at the Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will focus on hammered aluminum ware. From Wednesday, April 3, to Sunday, April 28, visitors can view beautiful examples of hammered aluminum metalware, such as salad dishes, cookie trays, and pitchers with matching tumblers. During the early 1900s up to the 1950s, many homemakers used cheaper and lighter hammered aluminum for card games, birthday celebrations, church events, and monthly coffee socials. With many metals in short supply because…
Find out more »Spring Bake Day
Twice each year, OHS staff act as historical reenactors and bake bread in Fort Gibson’s original wood-fired oven from 1863. Spring Bake Day is an educational event that allows the public to experience one aspect of army life that occurred during and after the Civil War. On Saturday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the smell of fresh-baked bread will once again permeate the Fort Gibson Historic Site. Staff will operate the oven all day on April 6, and the fresh loaves…
Find out more »Will Rogers Afternoon Frolic at Circle Cinema
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Circle Cinema have teamed up to present Will Rogers Afternoon Frolic on Saturday, April 6. The afternoon includes a double feature of Will Rogers films, lunch with Ike’s Chili, and roping demonstrations. Doors open at 11 a.m., and the movies start at 1 p.m. The chosen films are Steamboat Round the Bend (1935), followed by the silent movie The Ropin’ Fool (1922), accompanied by a live organ played by Bill Rowland. Before showtime, visitors…
Find out more »1840s Solar Eclipse Watch Party
The Fort Towson Historic Site will host an eclipse watch party with a period encampment on Monday, April 8, from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. The event costs $10 per person at the gate, with no charge for military personnel, Oklahoma Historical Society members or children under six. The site will only accept cash at the gate. NASA estimates the Fort Towson Historic Site and areas of southeastern Oklahoma will see the partial eclipse between 12:28 p.m. and 3:06 p.m., with…
Find out more »Everyday Oklahoma: “Rocks, Ruts, and Springs: Remnants of Early Trails through Oklahoma” with Susan Dragoo
On Tuesday, April 9, at 2 p.m. Central Time, the State Historic Preservation Office will present a free webinar in its “Everyday Oklahoma: Fascinating Stories about Familiar Places” speaker series. “Rocks, Ruts, and Springs: Remnants of Early Trails through Oklahoma” will last 1 hour and 30 minutes. Susan Dragoo is a photographer and writer specializing in outdoor, travel, action, and historical subjects. Specific outdoor areas of interest include hiking, running, backpacking, motorcycling, and bicycling. Historical interests include Native American and…
Find out more »Pop Night
On Wednesday, April 10, from 5 to 7 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center Museum will host Pop Night in collaboration with OKPOP. This FREE Open House event will highlight pop culture in Oklahoma. Guests can look forward to activities highlighting famous and impactful Oklahomans and an Oklahoma-themed pop trivia game! Pop Night is free and open to the public.
Find out more »Lunch and Learn: “African-Diasporic Peoples of Oklahoma and Indian Territories: Genealogy, Story & Culture” presentation by Shelby R. B. Ward
On Thursday, April 11, from noon to 1:15 p.m., the State Historic Preservation Office will host a free webinar with Shelby R. B. Ward. The State of Oklahoma and Indian Territories are home to various African-Diasporic people groups, from Five Tribes Freedmen Communities to All-Black Towns and beyond. In this “Lunch and Learn” webinar, attorney, genealogist, and community historian Shelby Ward (Choctaw Freedman) will address key themes in the genealogy of African-descendent peoples and share research tips for people exploring…
Find out more »“Liquid History: Beer Garden” event
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will host an exciting event that explores the history of beer-making in Oklahoma on Friday, April 12, from 6 to 10 p.m. Local breweries and historical interpreters will explore everything from prohibition to mixology and more during the “Liquid History: Beer Garden” event. Guests will be offered the chance to taste local brews as they hop through the rich and controversial history of beer-making in Oklahoma, which has been fermented from generation to generation. See the historic buildings…
Find out more »“Carved in Stone: Gravestone Symbols and their Meanings” workshop
On Saturday, October 5, explore the meaning and history of gravestone symbols in the “Carved In Stone: Gravestone Symbols and their Meanings” workshop at The Chisholm. Headstones often feature more than just names and dates. The language of symbols is international and can teach us about social memberships, occupations, hobbies, beliefs, and more. Adults or teens with guardians will explore gravestone iconography and meaning during this class before moving to the Kingfisher Cemetery to identify and explore symbols. The class…
Find out more »Firearms of the Civil War program
On Saturday, April 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Honey Springs Battlefield near Checotah will have live Civil War-era firearms demonstrations. Mr. Seth Goff, Historical Interpreter at Hunter’s Home in Park Hill, will provide background information and live demonstrations with reproduction firearms that would have been used by soldiers who fought at the Battle of Honey Springs. The cost of the program is $10 per person. Please check in at the Honey Springs Battlefield front desk before attending the…
Find out more »Kilgen Theatre Organ performance featuring Rosemary Bailey
On Monday, April 15, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a Kilgen Theatre Organ performance at the Oklahoma History Center will feature organist Rosemary Bailey. Her song selections will follow the theme “Here’s Rosie!” Bailey started playing music at age five when she learned to play classical piano music. She added jazz and traditional popular styles into her repertoire. By age nine, Bailey was already performing around the United States. A year later, Hammond Organ hired her as a concert artist.…
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, April 18, 2024. 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, April 17, 2024.) Additionally,…
Find out more »From the Stacks: Readings from the Carnegie Library
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie will offer the evening educational program, From the Stacks: Readings from the Carnegie Library, examining various book titles. The series will take place at 6 p.m. on the third Thursday of January, February, March, and April inside the Carnegie Library. OTM curator/registrar Michael Williams will lead the discussion, exploring the historical context in which the authors lived and wrote the works. Save the dates below, which list the books and authors chosen for the…
Find out more »Thursday Night Learning Lecture: Will Rogers and His America with author Gary Clayton Anderson
On Thursday, April 18, at 7 p.m., author Gary Clayton Anderson will make a presentation about his book Will Rogers and His America (2023). Anderson is a George Lynn Cross Research professor at the University of Oklahoma. He will discuss the title, its new afterword, and the differences he found between 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…
Find out more »Fort Gibson Education Day *full*
*The Fort Gibson Education Day event is completely full due to high demand.* On Friday, April 19, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site will host its annual Education Day. The site will be closed to the general public/nonschool groups on that day. Living Historians will set up various stations across the grounds depicting multiple aspects of life in the 1800s. The stations one can expect will feature the lives of 1830s and mid-19th-century soldiers, the…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Will Rogers in A Connecticut Yankee (1931)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a FREE Movie Night featuring the film A Connecticut Yankee (1931) in its theater on Friday, April 19. Admission to the movie is free, and guests can also enjoy free popcorn and drinks while watching the film, thanks to the Bank of Commerce’s sponsorship. Because seating is limited, the doors will open at 6 p.m. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Find out more »200th Anniversary Commemoration
The Fort Gibson Historic Site will commemorate the bicentennial of its site on April 20. Fort Gibson was established in 1824 in Indian Territory. It was the first U.S. military post in what would become the state of Oklahoma and was further west than any other post in the United States at that time. The town of Fort Gibson will mark the anniversary with a community parade that starts at 10 a.m. and ends at the historic site. Opening ceremonies…
Find out more »Pinhole Camera Workshop *postponed due to weather*
The pinhole camera workshop previously scheduled for Saturday, April 20, has been postponed due to rainy conditions. The workshop has been scheduled to occur on Saturday, June 15 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Find out more »Free Museum Day at Oklahoma Territorial Museum
The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library will open its doors to visitors on Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with FREE ADMISSION in conjunction with the 2024 ‘89er Parade and Celebration, taking place from April 16–20 in Historic Downtown Guthrie. Every year, the celebration includes a large community parade, and guests are encouraged to visit the town’s historic buildings and museum. The Oklahoma Territorial Museum is located at 406 East Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie. To see…
Find out more »Discover Greatness: An Illustrated History of the Negro Leagues exhibit closes
The exhibit Discover Greatness: An Illustrated History of the Negro Leagues, which tells the complex history of Negro Leagues baseball, will remain on display at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) through Sunday, April 21.
The interactive exhibit explores the history of Black baseball, through chronological chapters. From the beginning, the leagues had their roots in racism, the so-called “gentleman’s agreement” that effectively shut Black ballplayers out of big league competition for the first half of the 20th century.
Find out more »Something to Grow About: Earth Day Native Plant and Seed Swap
Gardeners and eco-enthusiasts will delight in the celebration of Earth Day at the Pawnee Bill Ranch on Saturday, April 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A native plant swap, a seed buffet, and loads of gardening tips, tricks, and activities will be a part of the “Something to Grow About” event. Join in sharing plants and seeds. Participants are encouraged to bring labeled seeds and plants for the swap. Agricultural experts will be available to teach about planting techniques,…
Find out more »“Glass and a Glass!” Pendants, Magnets, and Keychains
This spring, artist Audrey Schmitz and Pioneer Woman Museum are offering two “Glass and a Glass!” sessions—the popular interactive glass fusing class for adults. The classes will take place on Saturday, April 20. Each participant can select either the 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. session and will create two custom items, either pendants, magnets, or keychains—included in the $25 registration fee. During the class, participants will also learn about the art of fused glass and try their hand at “inclusions”…
Find out more »“Poultry of Antiquity: Using Historical Techniques to Raise Poultry Breeds” program
On Saturday, April 27, from 1 to 3 p.m., Hunter’s Home will host a workshop to teach historical techniques about raising chicken breeds, some dating back centuries, that lived in Indian Territory in the 1840s and 1850s. This workshop will cover the background history of several chicken breeds that are readily available, where to find them, and how to raise them using historical techniques. Did you know today you can raise chickens whose ancestors lived during the reign of Julius…
Find out more »“Dirt Tells the Story of Our History” talk with Christina Rich-Splawn *postponed due to weather*
“Dirt Tells the Story of Our History,” a talk with Christina Rich-Splawn, has been postponed due to weather until Saturday, May 25, at 3 p.m. at The Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue. Christina Rich-Splawn will give a talk about her passion for archaeology and history. She will have a show-and-tell with some artifacts and discuss some archaeological digs she has attended. There will also be a discussion about the importance of maintaining, interpreting, and honoring our prehistoric and historic sites.…
Find out more »Hammered Alumninum Ware exhibit closes
A new exhibit at the Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will focus on hammered aluminum ware. From Wednesday, April 3, to Sunday, April 28, visitors can view beautiful examples of hammered aluminum metalware, such as salad dishes, cookie trays, and pitchers with matching tumblers. During the early 1900s up to the 1950s, many homemakers used cheaper and lighter hammered aluminum for card games, birthday celebrations, church events, and monthly coffee socials. With many metals in short supply because…
Find out more »May 2024
Oklahoma National History Day State Contest
Oklahoma National History Day is more than an academic exercise for thousands of Oklahoma junior high and high school students; it is a tradition. On Wednesday, May 1, and Thursday, May 2, the 2024 OkNHD State Contest will be held in person at the Oklahoma History Center. The junior division contest will be on Wednesday, May 1, and the senior division contest will be on Thursday, May 2. Awards will be given each day at 2:30 p.m. Following the awards…
Find out more »Boots, Beer, & BBQ Gala Dinner *postponed due to weather*
Due to weather concerns, The Chisholm has postponed the May 2 Boots, Beer, and BBQ event to September 21.
Find out more »“Hunter Trapper” Living History program begins
Come to the Fort Gibson Historic Site on Fridays and Saturdays in the month of May to learn more about the life of a Hunter/Trapper in the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). Long before Fort Gibson was established, hunters and trappers in Indian Territory hunted and trapped fur-bearing animals for the purpose of trading for goods. Once Fort Gibson was established, hunters and trappers were pivotal to a successful economy, which had a larger part in the development of America. Fort…
Find out more »“Perspectives in History” The Oklahoma History Symposium
Join us on Saturday, May 4, for “Perspectives in History.” Presented by the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS), the Oklahoma History Symposium is held each spring at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. This one-day symposium offers scholars, historians, authors, and museum professionals a forum to share their work with history enthusiasts. The Oklahoma History Symposium is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click here to register and for the full details about the event. The…
Find out more »Spring on the Farm
Learn about 19th-century agriculture at Hunter’s Home on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. as staff prepare for the upcoming growing season. Adults and children can observe the gardens, fields, and animals while learning how farms of the 1800s prepared for the changing seasons. Sheep shearing and other demonstrations will be happening at the event. There will also be a story time and craft for kids. Staff will talk about the importance of bees and gardens. “Spring on the…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Membership Meeting
A meeting of the membership of the Oklahoma Historical Society will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 10 a.m. Agendas will be available online 24 hours prior to the meeting at okhistory.org/BOARD. This meeting will be held in person at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
Find out more »Blacksmithing Demonstration
On Saturdays, May 4, August 3, and November 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Museum will hold a Blacksmithing Demonstration in the blacksmith shop. Guests can enjoy watching the craftsmen work and have safe, hands-on experiences. Families are welcome to attend and watch the demonstrations inside the Blacksmith Shop on the grounds of the Cherokee Strip Museum. For more information about all of the activities planned, please call 580-336-2405. Free admission for all, but donations are…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors Organizational Meeting
An organizational meeting of the Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 10:15 a.m. Agendas will be available online 24 hours prior to the meeting at okhistory.org/BOARD. This meeting will be held in person at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73105.
Find out more »Virtual Field Trip with Dr. Theodore Gonzalves *canceled*
This event has been canceled Dr. Theodore Gonzalves, curator of Asian Pacific American History at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, will discuss artifacts and objects featured in his book Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects (2023). Additional material shared during the virtual field trip will include an overview of the Oklahoma History Center Museum’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) educational trunk, a brief lesson on AAPI history, a discussion with students about being a museum curator,…
Find out more »From Our Hands exhibit opening
A new exhibition, opening May 6, entitled From Our Hands, will be on display at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center through July 6. The exhibit will include various works of art created by Oklahoma Native American artists. The work on display will consist of pieces by Burgess Roye (Ponca) (1944 - 2015), Paladine Roye (Ponca) (1946 - 2001), Penny Coates (Potawatomi), and Amber DuBoise-Shepherd (Prairie Band Potawatomi/Sac and Fox) as part of the annual Spring Art exhibit series. The…
Find out more »Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA)
On Wednesday, May 8, at 10 a.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will present a free webinar to provide training on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires federal agencies to consider projects’ effects on important historical resources before funding, constructing, or permitting them. This training is intended (1) to provide a broad introduction to Section 106 and (2) to provide you with the information and…
Find out more »Oklahoma Restaurant Roundtable *postponed*
On Wednesday, May 8, from 6 to 9 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center, in collaboration with the Bigger Than Food Foundation, will host an Oklahoma Restaurant Roundtable discussion on the history and evolution of the food industry and restaurants. This roundtable will feature historians and current Oklahoma City metro area restaurant owners. The discussion will take place in the Chesapeake Event Center from 6- 8 p.m., followed by a networking hour from 8-9 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. This…
Find out more »Drafting and Executing Section 106 Agreement Documents with the OKSHPO
On Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m. (Central Time), the State Historic Preservation Office will host a free webinar on drafting and executing Section 106 agreement documents with the Oklahoma SHPO office. This workshop, led by Kristina Wyckoff, will expand upon the Section 106 agreement documents provided in the Section 106 workshop. This will include a review of Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) and Programmatic Agreements (PA); the purpose each type of document serves in the Section 106 process; a review…
Find out more »Civil War-Era Music Program
Honey Springs Battlefield will host a Civil War-Era music program on Saturday, May 11, at 1 p.m. The Loco Focos and Shadow Ridge bands will play songs of the Civil War period as closely as possible to their original form while using period instruments. Guests are also encouraged to explore the east and west gallery exhibit halls, which feature a 3D theater, 14 audio players with recordings from first-hand written accounts of soldiers who fought at the Battle of Honey…
Find out more »OU/OAS Archaeological Field School at Spiro Mounds begins
From May 13 to June 12, the University of Oklahoma students and faculty and the Oklahoma Archeological Survey staff will perform a month of excavations at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. Visitors are welcome to observe the research and ask questions while the group works. Under the direction of Dr. Scott Hammerstedt, Dr. Amanda Regnier, and Dr. Patrick Livingood, students will be excavating areas of interest at the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center as the only pre-European contact site in Oklahoma. This…
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