Events for February 1, 2022 - March 19, 2022
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February 2022
Oklahoma’s Atticus (2019) presentation by Mike Tucker
On Tuesday, February 1, at 7 p.m. the Museum of the Western Prairie and the Western Trail Historical Society will host a special presentation about the book title Oklahoma's Atticus: An Innocent Man and the Lawyer Who Fought for Him (2019, University of Nebraska Press), by Hunter Howe Cates. The presentation will be made by Mike Tucker. "Oklahoma's Atticus is a tale of two cities—oil-rich downtown Tulsa and the impoverished areas of North Tulsa; of two newspapers—each taking different sides…
Find out more »Antique Doll exhibit opens
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will host an exhibit of antique dolls throughout the month of February. The exhibit will feature a wide array of German-made dolls, including dolls by Armand Marseille, Kestner, and Koppelsdorf. There also will be a large group of china and porcelain dolls. If you are a doll collector, an avid doll lover, or a mother or grandmother with a special little girl or girls who love dolls, this exhibit is sure to…
Find out more »Museum OKademy volunteer training class *canceled due to weather*
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will hold a six-session course in 2022 to train volunteers. The classes will be held on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., beginning on Saturday, January 15, and concluding on Saturday, April 2.
The course is designed to train volunteers, living history interpreters, and museum docents for the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center! Each of the six sessions will cover the history of northwestern Oklahoma and provide the attendees with a basic understanding of museums, heritage, and public history. Registration is required. Register today!
Find out more »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip *canceled due to weather*
Step back in time and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come alive with reenactors who are tending their shops, working their trades, or socializing at the Village Church. Visitors can learn about different skills and trades of the time, or…
Find out more »Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4 film screening and panel discussion
To celebrate Black History Month, the Oklahoma History Center and the Smithsonian Channel are excited to present a screening of Seizing Justice: The Greensboro 4, followed by a panel discussion about the Oklahoma sit-in movement. This screening will be held on Saturday, February 5, from 1 to 3 p.m., and is included with paid admission to the Oklahoma History Center.
Witness the story of four young men who stood up to racism and social injustice by taking a seat through photographs, archival footage, and interviews. These include interviews with Joseph McNeil, David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Jibreel Khazan, three of the four men who began the sit-in at Woolworth's in 1960 to protest segregation practices, as well as interviews with historians from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, and late civil rights leader and US Congressman John Lewis.
Find out more »Dust to Eat (2021) OHS documentary premiere
A new documentary produced by the Oklahoma Historical Society entitled Dust to Eat (2021) will air on OETA on Saturday, February 5, 2022, at 2 p.m.
The hour-long film takes the viewer through the drought and ensuing dust storms of the thirties from the perspective of Caroline Henderson, who, with her husband, stayed behind to save the family farm. Through poignant narration and imagery, the film explores the lasting impact of one of the worst natural disasters in our nation’s history 85 years after it occurred. The film was directed by OHS Video Production Specialist Ryan Green and produced by historian Dr. Alvin Turner and OHS Board President Dr. Deena Fisher.
Find out more »“From Tulsa to Beyond: African American Genealogy in the Indian Territory and Oklahoma” virtual presentation by Nicka Smith
To celebrate Black History Month, the Oklahoma Historical Society will host a free presentation on Thursday, February 10, at noon (CST). Tune in on Zoom to hear from guest speaker Nicka Smith (citizen of the Cherokee Nation). Smith will present “From Tulsa to Beyond: African American Genealogy in the Indian Territory and Oklahoma.”
Attendees will learn how to research the lives of their ancestors using tribal records (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee, and Seminole), federal records, newspapers, college/university collections, historical society records, and more! Smith’s understanding of these records will help those researching family trees to discover deep roots in the Sooner State.
Register to attend the Zoom presentation.
Nicka Smith is a professional photographer, speaker, host, consultant, and documentarian. With more than 20 years of experience as a genealogist, Smith has extensive knowledge of African ancestral genealogy, reverse genealogy, is an expert in genealogical research in the northeastern Louisiana area, and in researching enslaved communities.
Smith has diverse and varied experience in media with a background in audio, video, and written communications. She has appeared on the Today show, CNN, MSNBC, on the series Who Do You Think You Are?, and has been interviewed by the Oakland Tribune, the Undefeated, National Geographic, and TIME magazine. She is the host of BlackProGen LIVE, an innovative web show with more than 125 episodes focused on people of color genealogy and family history.
Find out more »A Very OK Podcast LIVE: All-Black Towns
Join the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) on Thursday, February 10, at 6 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City for a live podcast event. OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson of the OHS’s A Very OK Podcast will interview Henrietta Hicks of Boley, Shirley Nero of Clearview, and Oklahoma Senator Kevin Matthews of Tulsa about Oklahoma’s historic All-Black towns. This free event will be recorded in front of a live audience. Beginning at 6 p.m. guests can enjoy complimentary…
Find out more »Museum After Dark: Date Night at the Museum
Impress your valentine with a one-of-a-kind date night at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center just in time for Valentine's Day. On Friday, February 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., couples attending the event can stroll through the museum to revisit shared experiences and make new memories with a behind-the-scenes tour of the new exhibit All Aboard: Examining the Orphan Trains. This is a romantic opportunity to take a closer look at the permanent exhibits and the historic buildings of the…
Find out more »Casserole Carrier Basket Making workshop
Fort Towson Historic Site will host a Casserole Carrier Basket Making workshop taught by Linda Lou Alexander on Saturday, February 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a potluck lunch during the workshop. The cost is $45 per person, which will cover all supplies to make your own casserole carrier basket. Preregistration is required. For more information about the event or to preregister, please call Linda Lou Alexander at 580-982-8632, or contact John Davis at jdavis@okhistory.org. Fort Towson Historic…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting
Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Agendas will be available online 24 hours prior to the meeting at www.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 »Thursday Night Lecture Series featuring Ted Reeds *canceled due to weather*
Will Rogers Memorial Museum will have a Thursday Night Lecture Series in the museum theater on Thursday, February 17. The program will begin at 7 p.m. Architect Ted Reeds will give a presentation on the development and design of Art Deco architecture in the city of Tulsa and John Duncan Forsyth (1887–1963) who was the architect of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Forsyth was a Scottish-American architect who came to prominence working in the Tulsa area. For more information, please…
Find out more »24th at the Fort
On Saturday, February 19, the 24th Missouri Infantry Volunteers will be holding training drills at Fort Gibson Historic Site. The premier reenacting group is made up of living historians who are committed to authentic portrayals of Union soldiers in the Western Theater of the Civil War. The gentlemen of the 24th pay strict attention to detail, especially to the period correctness of their uniforms and equipment. The group travels to one military post each year in order to spend time…
Find out more »Make & Take Workshop: Cornbread
Shell it. Grind it. Sift it. Mix it. Whisk it. Pour it. Bake, and serve it! Join the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center for History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip on Saturday, February 19 for a special Make & Take Workshop! A ticket reserves a spot in the class includes all of the ingredients, AND comes with a 6" cast iron skillet participants will be taking home! The workshop will be teaching how to make cornbread from a heritage recipe.…
Find out more »Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission meeting *canceled*
The meeting of the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission previously scheduled for Tuesday, February 22 has been canceled. Agendas will be posted at www.okhistory.org/commission twenty-four hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated, meetings will be held in the Dr. LeRoy H. Fischer Boardroom at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, 73105.
Find out more »“Shut the Door! Barns in Oklahoma: Log Barns in Oklahoma” webinar
The State Historic Preservation Office is holding a webinar series entitled "Shut the Door! Barns in Oklahoma" featuring presenters who specialize in barn history, construction, and restoration. On Tuesday, February 22, the topic will be "Log Barns in Oklahoma." These presentations will be held on the last Tuesday of every other month, beginning at 6 p.m. The webinars will be limited to the first 100 registrants. April 26 - "Three-Bay and Crib Barns in Oklahoma" June 28 - "Use of…
Find out more »2022 Oklahoma Historical Society Awards Banquet *postponed until March 24*
Postponed Until March 24, 2022
Due to predictions of winter storms across the state, the OHS has decided to postpone the Awards Banquet scheduled for February 24. Our first priority is the safety of our honorees, guests, and staff. The Awards Banquet has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 24, and our staff will be contacting those who purchased tickets for the event.
Movie Night featuring the Wizard of Oz (1939) *postponed*
Due to the winter weather, Movie Night featuring the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz has been postponed to Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. Will Rogers Movie Night is regularly held the last Friday from January to October.
Find out more »“The First Indian Home Guard” presentation with Dr. Jane Johansson *postponed*
Honey Springs Battlefield’s special presentation, “The First Indian Home Guard,” which was originally scheduled to take place at the battlefield’s Visitor Center on Saturday, February 26, at 1 p.m. has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 12, at 1 p.m. to take place at the same location.
Find out more »Antique Doll exhibit closes
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will host an exhibit of antique dolls throughout the month of February. The exhibit will feature a wide array of German-made dolls, including dolls by Armand Marseille, Kestner, and Koppelsdorf. There also will be a large group of china and porcelain dolls. If you are a doll collector, an avid doll lover, or a mother or grandmother with a special little girl or girls who love dolls, this exhibit is sure to…
Find out more »Mid-Afternoon Frolic Talent Show
On Sunday, February 27, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum will be having a Mid-Afternoon Frolic Talent Show. Children ages 5–12 and 13–18 can showcase special talents! Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of each age group. Awards for the Talent Show are provided by BancFirst. Preregistration is required by February 23. Register for the Talent Show
Find out more »March 2022
Living History Education Day
Fort Towson Living History Education Day on Thursday, March 3. Educational stations will include reenactors portraying time periods from the fort's beginning in 1824 through the 1870s. Participants can expect to see soldiers in full gear and civilians who dealt with the soldiers at the fort. The reenactors will teach students about the uniforms, weapons, and lifestyles of soldiers, trappers, storekeepers, and other people around the region who were connected to the fort. Visitors will move from station to station…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a Movie Night featuring the 1939 classic film The Wizard of Oz in its theater on Friday, March 4, at 7 p.m. Prior to the movie, "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…
Find out more »Museum After Dark: Lantern Tours
Take a tour of the historic Humphrey Heritage Village after dark on Friday, March 4th from 7 to 9 p.m. Living history interpreters will entertain and educate while sharing their unique, historic perspective of life in northwestern Oklahoma before statehood. Short vignettes from living history interpreters will occur at each stop on the tour! There are no advanced tickets to purchase, and Lantern Tours are on a first-come-first-served basis. The Heritage Center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00…
Find out more »Historical Travel Bag workshop
On Sunday, March 5, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the Chisholm Trail Museum will host a Historical Travel Bag workshop. Participants will create a 19th-century travel bag under the guidance of Marna Davis, the "Domestic Lady’s Dressmaker." The bag will be made from a pattern fashioned after measurements from a period original found repeatedly in period fashion magazines and Butterick catalogs from the 1870s through the 1890s. The cost for the class is $75, with materials and lunch…
Find out more »Blacksmithing Demonstrations with the Saltfork Craftsmen
Visit the Cherokee Strip Museum in Perry to watch the Saltfork Craftsmen give a Blacksmithing Demonstration in the blacksmith shop. The demonstration will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can enjoy watching the craftsmen work and will have an opportunity for safe hands-on experiences. This event is for those who enjoy watching craftsmen at work, and for young and old alike to try their hand at the craft. The forge will be lighted at 10:00 am. This…
Find out more »Spring Bake Day
On Saturday, March 5, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the smell of fresh-baked bread will once again permeate Fort Gibson Historic Site. Bake Day, an educational fundraiser, is a unique and delicious experience for the public to enjoy. Staff will operate the oven all day Saturday, and the fresh loaves will be available around noon and 3:30 p.m. from the tent in front of the bakehouse. Fort Gibson coffee mugs will also be for sale at the tent,…
Find out more »Making Tracks on Mars (2021) film screening
In conjunction with the Launch to Landing: Oklahomans and Space exhibit, the Oklahoma History Center and the Smithsonian Channel will present a screening of the new film Making Tracks on Mars. This screening will be held on Saturday, March 5, from 1 to 3 p.m., and is included with paid admission to the Oklahoma History Center.
The Smithsonian Channel film Making Tracks on Mars takes viewers millions of miles away to discover the challenges of building, testing, launching, and landing a rover on the planet Mars. The film focuses on the Perseverance rover, but also looks at the story of Mars as humans discovered it—mission by mission, question by question. Mariner 4’s flyby, Mariner 9’s orbits, the seminal Viking landings—each exponentially advanced the knowledge of Mars. Viewers will marvel at the radical pace of innovation that progressed from a microwave-sized Sojourner to an SUV-sized Perseverance.
Find out more »From Institution to Inclusion: The History of disAbilities in Oklahoma exhibit opens
To celebrate People with Disabilities Awareness Day on March 8, the Oklahoma Historical Society’s (OHS) John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center opened the interactive exhibit From Institution to Inclusion: The History of disAbilities in Oklahoma on the first floor of the Oklahoma History Center. Through digital photographs, From Institution to Inclusion will highlight Oklahoma’s disability pioneers. Guests will view images of the institutions, legislators, and citizens who fought to break down barriers; the organizations making a difference today; and self-advocates…
Find out more »2022 People with Disabilities Awareness Day and Awards Ceremony
On March 8, the Oklahoma History Center will host the 2022 People with Disabilities Awareness Day and Awards Ceremony. The event will take place at the OHC from noon to 4 p.m., and will include more than 70 disability-centric exhibitors and the presentation of Awareness Day awards. In conjunction with the event, the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center will open the interactive exhibit From Institution to Inclusion: The History of disAbilities in Oklahoma on the…
Find out more »#ExploreOHS Travel Contest begins
The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is excited to launch a new travel contest—just in time for Spring Break 2022! The #ExploreOHS Travel Contest will be held Thursday, March 10, through Sunday, April 10. During these dates, participants will travel to OHS museums and historic sites across the state—competing to see who can visit the most sites! This contest is open to the public, and all entries must be submitted on social media using the #ExploreOHS hashtag. See below for eligibility…
Find out more »“Second Saturday Silents” featuring Tom Mix in Trailin’ (1921)
On Saturday morning, March 12, at 11 a.m. at Circle Cinema in Tulsa, the Second Saturday Silents film series will feature Tom Mix in Trailin' (1921). The silent film will be accompanied by Bill Rowland on Circle Cinema's 1928 theatre pipe organ. "Walk-in music" will be performed by Phil Judkins. A Felix the Cat silent cartoon will also be shown. All tickets to the special showing are FREE courtesy of the Hughes Lumber Company of Tulsa and Dewey! The Tom…
Find out more »“The First Indian Home Guard” presentation by Dr. M. Jane Johansson
Honey Springs Battlefield’s special presentation, “The First Indian Home Guard,” which was originally scheduled to take place at the battlefield’s Visitor Center on Saturday, February 26, at 1 p.m. has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 12, at 1 p.m. to take place at the same location. Dr. Jane Johansson, professor in the Department of History and Political Science at Rogers State University and editor of the book Albert C. Ellithorpe, the First Indian Home Guards, and the Civil War on the Trans-Mississippi Frontier, will speak about the regiment’s unique history in relation to the Civil War in Indian Territory and the Battle of Honey Springs.
“Recruited in Kansas refugee camps in the spring of 1862, the First Indian Home Guard was a unique Civil War regiment,” said Johansson. “Comprised of whites, refugee Muscogee Creeks and Seminoles, and African Creeks, the regiment served in a variety of military operations from 1862–1865. Notable actions that the unit engaged in included Locust Grove, Fort Wayne, Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Honey Springs, and many smaller encounters. This presentation will explore the regiment’s background, its composition, notable personalities, military actions, relations with the federal government, and the postwar era,” Johansson continued.
Find out more »Spring Break Activities at Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Birthplace Ranch
Five afternoons of fun, games, and learning about Will Rogers are in store for children ages 17 and younger during Spring Break, March 14–18. Activities are planned from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and at the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch near Oologah on Tuesday and Thursday. On Monday at the museum, kids will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes. Visitors to the ranch on Tuesday will…
Find out more »19th-century broom making
Visit Hunter's Home in Park Hill on special dates in March to see a living history demonstration of 19th-century broom making. Historical Interpreter Maddox Cott will demonstrate the process of weaving and wrapping sturdy pieces of corn stalks together to make a household broom. In the 19th-century, more primitive versions of the broom were improved upon by using winding machines to tightly wrap the bundles of broom corn together using wire or string. Broom corn is a species of tasseled…
Find out more »Family Kite Flite Day
Come celebrate the beginning of spring at the Family Kite Flite Day at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. Family Kite Flite Day will be held Saturday, March 19, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. This will be a free admission day at the site, although donations are appreciated. It will be a great day for families and folks of all ages. Each year since 1987, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center has hosted a day of spring fun and learning for more than…
Find out more »Chuck Wagon Gathering and Fundraising Dinner
Visit the Chisholm Trail Museum on Saturday, March 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day filled with cowboy fun! Drop in and see a variety of working chuck wagons from across the region as the cooks prepare some of their favorite dishes. Activities include live music, cooking demonstrations, gunfights, Wild West Show performers, medicine man shows, Annie Oakley performances, and more. The daytime activities are free, and tickets for the delicious chuck wagon meal at noon are…
Find out more »Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival
The Oklahoma History Center (OHC) announces the 2022 Farm-to-Table Festival to be held on March 19, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This free, community-wide festival highlights historic and modern farm life, with the purpose of demonstrating how food and household items travel from their sources to our homes. Families will experience perspectives from 17th-century America to the modern day, with hands-on activities for visitors of all ages. Admission is free to the public, and the event will be…
Find out more »Stained Glass Preservation and Restoration workshop
On Saturday, March 19, Preservation Oklahoma will have an in-person Stained Glass Preservation and Restoration workshop at the Carriage House of the Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion at 405 NW 15th Street, Oklahoma City. The workshop will take place from 10 am–2 pm, with lunch and drinks provided. This workshop is the perfect place to gain hands-on experience in the restoration and preservation of vintage/antique stained glass. Tim Brown of Artistic Glass Studio in Edmond will lead the workshop, teaching…
Find out more »Make and Take Workshop: Carpentry
Join us for History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip on Saturday, March 19 for a special Make & Take Workshop! We are making wooden toolboxes in the historic Humphrey Heritage Village. Cut out your material, nail it all together, and learn a heritage skill! This special workshop is $25 per person. Register now! Spots in the workshop are limited and will go quickly! Not only does your ticket reserve you a spot in the class, but you also take home…
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