Events Calendar

The Artfully Local exhibit showcases the works of artists Dr. Bob Palmer and Holly McHughes. Dr. Bob Palmer is a renowned mural artist who has created over 3,800 regional murals. He describes his work as an “incarnation of contemplation and wonder.” Holly McHughes is a local artist who specializes in various media. Her pieces for this exhibition are acrylic on canvas and are inspired by the Historic Carnegie Library. Join us at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Historic Carnegie Library…

The circus is coming! Visit the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie to see its latest exhibit about the history of the circus. The When the Circus Comes to Town exhibit will be on display beginning on Friday, October 10. Oklahoma has a long, rich history with the circus, its variety of performers, and curious side shows. Circuses often traveled through Indian Territory. Did you know that within months of the opening of the Unassigned Lands, a circus…

From Saturday, November 15, through Saturday, November 29, the Fort Gibson Historic Site, with a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities, will continue to display the Dawes Commission in Indian Territory: Cherokee Freedmen exhibit. In 1893, portions of Fort Gibson Military Post saw life again as hundreds of Black Americans formerly enslaved to some of the citizens of the Indian Territory Nations gathered to enroll for the Dawes Commission. Knowing they might be in the area for a while, many brought…

On Saturday, November 1, the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will open the exhibit “Everything I Say Here is Straight and True: The Autobiographical Drawings of Chief White Bull: Art as a Historical Source.” The exhibit highlights a collaboration between Chief White Bull (Miniconjou Lakota Sioux) (1849–1954) and University of Oklahoma professor Walter S. Campbell, better known by his pen name, Stanley Vestal. White Bull was the nephew of Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota leader who was a symbol of…

The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) is proud to present The Rhapsody Project in the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Gallery, running from Tuesday, November 4, to Saturday, January 10. This unique in-house exhibit explores the rich musical history of Northwest Oklahoma. In collaboration with Tammy Wilson from the Enid Event Company in Enid, OK, CSRHC will highlight the contributions of individuals and groups from the Cherokee Outlet who have made significant impacts on the music industry. Visitors…

Collect. Preserve. Share. 20 Years at the Oklahoma History Center is a retrospective exhibit that will be opening in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma History Center. It will show how the opening of the Oklahoma History Center in 2005 transformed the Oklahoma Historical Society’s ability to collect, preserve, and share the state’s history. Featuring current and former staff favorites, the exhibit will showcase meaningful acquisitions from the past twenty years and the expanded capacity, mission, and impact…

From Saturday, November 15, through Saturday, November 29, the Fort Gibson Historic Site, with a grant from the Oklahoma Humanities, will continue to display the Dawes Commission in Indian Territory: Cherokee Freedmen exhibit. In 1893, portions of Fort Gibson Military Post saw life again as hundreds of Black Americans formerly enslaved to some of the citizens of the Indian Territory Nations gathered to enroll for the Dawes Commission. Knowing they might be in the area for a while, many brought…

From January 1 through December 20, The Chisholm will host a year-long exhibit entitled Abandoned Oklahoma: Red Carpet Country Through the Lens. The exhibit features a series of black-and-white photographs of Kingfisher County in northwest Oklahoma. The images delve into the region’s rich history and chronicle the hopes and dreams of the lives of some early Oklahomans. Photographs of weathered walls and rooflines of structures built over 100 years ago. Homes and farms captured through the lens of Michael Louthan embody…

The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will showcase the exhibit “Everything I Say Here is Straight and True: The Autobiographical Drawings of Chief White Bull: Art as a Historical Source,” through December 31. The exhibit highlights a collaboration between Chief White Bull (Miniconjou Lakota Sioux) (1849–1954) and University of Oklahoma professor Walter S. Campbell, better known by his pen name, Stanley Vestal. White Bull was the nephew of Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Lakota leader who was a symbol of Native…

The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) exhibit The Rhapsody Project, featured in the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Gallery, will run through Saturday, January 10. This unique in-house exhibit explores the rich musical history of Northwest Oklahoma. In collaboration with Tammy Wilson from the Enid Event Company in Enid, OK, CSRHC will highlight the contributions of individuals and groups from the Cherokee Outlet who have significantly influenced the music industry. Visitors will learn about the early days of…

On Wednesday, January 28, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will open Art of the Wish in the J. E. & L. E. Mabee Foundation Gallery. The exhibit will remain open through Saturday, May 23. About the exhibit: “If you had a wish for the world, what would it be? In 2017, two artists spent six months traveling the country, talking to dozens of 80- to 100-plus-year-olds, asking that very question. Marn Jensen and Andy Newcom contacted senior living communities,…

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will host an exhibit of antique dolls throughout the month of February. This annual exhibit showcases a selection of rare and unique dolls dating back to the early 1900s—long before Barbie’s popularity—when bisque, porcelain, and leather were used to form dolls. German-made dolls by Armand Marseille, Kestner, and Koppelsdorf will be featured. Beginning on Wednesday, February 4, and running through Saturday, February 28, this exhibit is sure to delight doll collectors and…

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will host an exhibit of antique dolls throughout the month of February. This annual exhibit showcases a selection of rare and unique dolls dating back to the early 1900s—long before Barbie’s popularity—when bisque, porcelain, and leather were used to form dolls. German-made dolls by Armand Marseille, Kestner, and Koppelsdorf will be featured. Beginning on Wednesday, February 4, and running through Saturday, February 28, this exhibit is sure to delight doll collectors and…

On Tuesday, March 3, the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School will open a Smithsonian poster exhibition, World War I: Lessons and Legacies, in the Jirous Gallery Room.

World War I: Lessons and Legacies explores “the war to end all wars” and its lasting impact and far-reaching influence on American life. Sparked by the assassination of one man, the war eventually included the forces of the world’s major industrial powers (over 18 countries) and ended with millions dead. Beyond the countries involved and people affected, World War I gave rise to significant and enduring changes in America.  Wartime technologies and medical advances resulted in new industries and novel ways to fight disease and treat disability. The roles that women and minorities played in the war led to the right to vote for women and to a heightened awareness of civil rights issues throughout society.

From the Great Migration to the 1918 flu pandemic and from the unionization movement to women’s suffrage, World War I led to pivotal changes in America’s culture, technology, economy, and role in the world. It redefined how we saw ourselves as Americans, and its legacy continues to this day.

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will open an exhibit showcasing hammered aluminum ware from Wednesday, April 1, to Thursday, April 30. Visitors can view beautiful examples of hammered aluminum metalware, including salad dishes, cookie trays, and pitchers, along with matching tumblers. From the early 1900s 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 of World War…

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will open an exhibit showcasing hammered aluminum ware from Wednesday, April 1, to Thursday, April 30. Visitors can view beautiful examples of hammered aluminum metalware, including salad dishes, cookie trays, and pitchers, along with matching tumblers. From the early 1900s 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 of World War…

On Friday, May 1, the Museum of the Western Prairie will host the Tour de Quartz exhibit in its gallery. The Tour de Quartz is a selection of works created by the drawing, painting, and photography students at the 2025 Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain. The exhibit will run through Tuesday, June 30. Individual student artists will be represented by one piece of artwork in the Tour de Quartz, which exhibits at museums, libraries, and art galleries across the…

Art of the Wish will remain on exhibit in the J. E. & L. E. Mabee Foundation Gallery of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center through May 23. About the exhibit: “If you had a wish for the world, what would it be? In 2017, two artists spent six months traveling the country, talking to dozens of 80- to 100-plus-year-olds, asking that very question. Marn Jensen and Andy Newcom contacted senior living communities, visited hospices, and connected with caregivers to…

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will feature an exhibit of Vintage Snack Sets from Wednesday, June 3, to Tuesday, June 30. When women in the mid-20th century hosted teas, coffees, or church socials, they would wear their “Sunday best” and bring out pretty snack sets that included a plate with a round indentation to hold the matching cup. This exhibit includes pieces by manufacturers such as Anchor Hocking, Hazel-Atlas, the Indiana Glass Company, Royal Windsor, Queen Anne,…

See the exhibit 100 Years of Kumback Lunch at the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School, serving up treasures from the Kumback Lunch, Perry’s beloved hometown diner. Thanks to owner Marilee Macias, these keepsakes will invite visitors to explore the eatery’s rich history.

When the Kumback Lunch first opened its doors in 1926, it welcomed guests with only six barstools, a counter, and a humble “EAT” sign. Today, it proudly claims to be one of Oklahoma’s oldest continuously operated restaurants, a downtown Perry landmark famous for its timeless comfort food and irresistible desserts.

Through the decades, the Kumback Lunch has welcomed everyone from celebrities and dignitaries to the infamous outlaw Pretty Boy Floyd. Remarkably, it has had just three owners over the years, preserving its unique spirit.

The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will open the Brushes in the Heartland exhibit beginning on Tuesday, June 9. The exhibit will feature the works of two art teachers, Charla Enns and Jena Kodesh, both raised in Oklahoma and married to farmers, who developed a deep appreciation for the land and all it provides.

Brushes in the Heartland celebrates rural life through expressive brushstrokes and vivid imagery, paying tribute to Oklahoma’s captivating landscapes. Enns and Kodesh bring the state’s fields, wildflowers, trees, and shifting skies to life, capturing the spirit of each season.

On Friday, June 26, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum invites you to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with the debut of the Rogers and the Republic pop-up exhibit. Will Rogers, known for his wit and candid political commentary, entertained audiences across party lines. His legacy of service, integrity, hard work, education, and empathy continues to reflect the spirit of America. Experience this special exhibit, a highlight of America’s 250th anniversary, exploring Will Rogers’ perspective on politics and American ideals. View photos, memorable…

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will feature an exhibit of Vintage Snack Sets from Wednesday, June 3, to Tuesday, June 30. When women in the mid-20th century hosted teas, coffees, or church socials, they would wear their “Sunday best” and bring out pretty snack sets that included a plate with a round indentation to hold the matching cup. This exhibit includes pieces by manufacturers such as Anchor Hocking, Hazel-Atlas, the Indiana Glass Company, Royal Windsor, Queen Anne,…

The Museum of the Western Prairie will host the Tour de Quartz exhibit in its gallery through Tuesday, June 30. The Tour de Quartz is a selection of works created by the drawing, painting, and photography students at the 2025 Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain. Individual student artists will be represented by one piece of artwork in the Tour de Quartz, which exhibits at museums, libraries, and art galleries across the state.

The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will open the Brushes in the Heartland exhibit through Saturday, August 8. The exhibit will feature the works of two art teachers, Charla Enns and Jena Kodesh, both raised in Oklahoma and married to farmers, who developed a deep appreciation for the land and all it provides.

Brushes in the Heartland celebrates rural life through expressive brushstrokes and vivid imagery, paying tribute to Oklahoma’s captivating landscapes. Enns and Kodesh bring the state’s fields, wildflowers, trees, and shifting skies to life, capturing the spirit of each season.

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home will display a collection of antique handkerchiefs from Saturday, August 1, through Sunday, August 30. The special collection of dainty squares of fabric will feature a variety of cheerful designs. In the late 1800s, women often carried handkerchiefs to dab their noses and dry a tear. Men and women commonly used handkerchiefs before the mass production of disposable facial tissues after the Spanish Flu of 1918. Women of the 19th century, like Adeline Drummond,…

The exhibit Collect. Preserve. Share. 20 Years at the Oklahoma History Center closes on Saturday, August 15.

Opened in November 2025 to mark the History Center’s 20th anniversary, the exhibit traces how the building’s 2005 opening changed the Oklahoma Historical Society’s ability to collect, preserve, and share the state’s history. On display are artifacts from Civil Rights leader Clara Luper and former Governor Dewey Bartlett alongside family heirlooms, including a wedding gown handmade by a bride’s grandmother during World War II, and collections from Oklahoma businesses such as Sonic and Kerr-McGee, all reflecting the range of stories the History Center’s opening helped bring into public view.

Since opening in November 2005, the Oklahoma History Center has welcomed more than 3 million visitors to its 215,000-square-foot facility and has added more than 25,000 artifacts and 39 million archival items to its collections. It is the only facility in the world affiliated with both the Smithsonian Institution and the National Archives and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.

Experience the past at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum, where a new artificial intelligence-powered exhibit enables guests of all ages to engage directly with history. In A Word With Will, visitors enter a 1920s-style phone booth, lift the earpiece, and participate in an interactive conversation with Will Rogers. Nestled near the Will Rogers Theatre, this charming addition to the museum’s permanent collection beckons you to wind up the wooden telephone, ring the bell, and chat with the famous humorist!

On Friday, August 28, the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School will open the exhibit Honoring our Ancestors: The Art of Beth Loftin. The exhibit will be celebrated with an opening night reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Cherokee Strip Museum. A silent auction of one of Loftin’s paintings will be held, and hors d’oeuvres and cocktails will be served. The art of Beth Ann Loftin combines mixed-media paintings and sculpture. She combines traditional Western portraiture with…

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home will display a collection of antique handkerchiefs from Saturday, August 1, through Sunday, August 30. The special collection of dainty squares of fabric will feature a variety of cheerful designs. In the late 1800s, women often carried handkerchiefs to dab their noses and dry a tear. Men and women commonly used handkerchiefs before the mass production of disposable facial tissues after the Spanish Flu of 1918. Women of the 19th century, like Adeline Drummond,…

From Wednesday, September 2, to Wednesday, September 30, family heirlooms belonging to the Fred and Addie Drummond family will be on display at the Victorian-style home they built in 1905. Once a year, the historic home showcases artifacts belonging to the successful Osage County ranching family for public viewing. During the month of September, articles of clothing, school memorabilia, sheet music, quilts, toys, and numerous attic treasures belonging to the Frederick and Adeline Drummond family will be displayed. The three-story…

The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will open the traveling exhibition Sorting out Race: Examining Racial Identity and Stereotypes in Thrift Store Donations on Thursday, September 3. This exhibition explores controversial themes and displays racially offensive images to stimulate a healthy community conversation about our ongoing struggles with race. Every day, thrift stores receive items with racial imagery—antique advertising cards, collectible salt-and-pepper shakers, vintage children’s books, and mugs with sports team mascots. This exhibit asks questions: “Are these harmless reminders…

The Oklahoma History Center Museum, in partnership with the Vietnamese American Heritage Community of Oklahoma, is proud to announce Our Journeys, presented by Vietnamese Boat People, a multimedia traveling exhibition on display September 12, through January 4, 2027. Created by New Jersey-based nonprofit Vietnamese Boat People, the exhibition centers the voices of Vietnamese Americans through oral histories, photographs, and interactive elements that explore migration, memory, and resilience across generations. The exhibit debuted in 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the fall of…

From Wednesday, September 2, to Wednesday, September 30, family heirlooms belonging to the Fred and Addie Drummond family will be on display at the Victorian-style home they built in 1905. Once a year, the historic home showcases artifacts belonging to the successful Osage County ranching family for public viewing. During the month of September, articles of clothing, school memorabilia, sheet music, quilts, toys, and numerous attic treasures belonging to the Frederick and Adeline Drummond family will be displayed. The three-story…