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August 2026
Collect. Preserve. Share. 20 Years at the Oklahoma History Center exhibit closes
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.
Find out more »A Word With Will exhibit opens
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!
Find out more »“Thinking Genealogically” Symposium
Genealogy Symposium, Inc. is partnering with the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) to hold a three-day hands-on symposium dedicated to instructing participants in the effective use of Ancestry®, Family Search*, and the resources of the OHS John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center. Professional genealogists and educators Billie Stone Fogarty and Dave McDonald will serve as the workshop instructors. Each day of the three-day event will have a specific focus. On Thursday, August 13, the group will receive an overview and a…
Find out more »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
Step back in time and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, a living history program at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. It takes place throughout the year on the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The five historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village, dating back to the territorial era, come to life with living history interpreters dressed in period clothing from the…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee Meeting
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, OK, 73105.
Find out more »Summer Sounds Concert Series with Mackynsie McKedy
Get ready—the Summer Sounds Concert Series returns to The Chisholm, bringing vibrant energy and music to your summer nights! On Thursday, August 20, Fiddler and Clarksville Creative Sound Country Music Recording Artist Mackynsie McKedy will entertain the crowd on the steps of the A. J. Seay Mansion. The Summer Sounds concerts series brings a rhythm to summer evenings as live music fills the open air at Horizon Hill, the storied home of territorial governor A. J. Seay. It is the…
Find out more »Honoring our Ancestors: The Art of Beth Loftin exhibit opening and reception
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…
Find out more »Movie Night featuring The NeverEnding Story (1984)
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a movie night featuring The NeverEnding Story (1984) in its theatre on Friday, August 28, at 7 p.m. Movie Night is a popular community event that offers a place for families and friends to connect on the last Friday of every month. The doors to the theatre open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating…
Find out more »Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 documentary airs on OETA
Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 will air on OETA on Saturday, August 29, at 4 p.m.
The Oklahoma Historical Society, in collaboration with Director Bryan Beasley, producers Jon and Jaime Roman, and with support from the Inasmuch Foundation, has produced Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66. This documentary examines the evolution of Route 66 in Oklahoma, from the hardships of the Dust Bowl era to the era of nostalgic road trips. It explores the highway’s history and future through interviews with historians, interactions with small-business owners, and scenes created using virtual production technology.
Oklahoma contains the longest stretch of drivable Route 66 in the United States. As the highway extends from Chicago to Santa Monica, its route through the Oklahoma Plains reveals narratives of community and connection. The documentary documents this history statewide, featuring interviews with business owners, entrepreneurs, historians, and other prominent Oklahomans. Originally envisioned by early planners, the road in the state required 11 years to complete. Roadside attractions, cinematic influences, and increased travel after World War II contributed to its popularity. For many travelers, Route 66 represented freedom and a distinctive way to experience the country.
Find out more »Antique Handkerchief exhibit closes
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,…
Find out more »September 2026
Lonesome Dove Photo Exhibit opening and talk with author George Getschow
The Museum of the Western Prairie will host the Lonesome Dove Photo Exhibit from Tuesday, September 1, through Saturday, October 31. To kick off the Lonesome Dove Photo Exhibit, the museum will host a talk with author George Getshow. This is the perfect event for Lonesome Dove fans, of the book, the miniseries, and the photographs! About the author: George Getschow, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, worked for The Wall Street Journal as a reporter, bureau chief, and Mexico correspondent for…
Find out more »Drummond Heirlooms exhibit opens
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…
Find out more »Rooted Infrastructure: “Caring for Trees that Anchor Our Historic Places”
On Wednesday, September 2, at noon Central Time, the State Historic Preservation Office will host a free webinar in its Rooted Infrastructure series, titled “Caring for Trees that Anchor Our Historic Places.” Join Riley Coy, urban forestry coordinator with the Oklahoma Forestry Services, and Deputy SHPO Lynda Ozan to learn how trees are the only living pieces of our historic sites that actually witnessed the past. However, like any infrastructure, they require maintenance and planning to protect surrounding structures. Join us…
Find out more »We Fought Back: The Black Legal Struggle for Education in Oklahoma Territory author talk and book signing with Dr. Sara Doolittle
Author Dr. Sara Doolittle will present a free author talk and book signing at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library on Wednesday, September 2, at 6 p.m. The discussion will feature her new title, We Fought Back: The Black Legal Struggle for Education in Oklahoma Territory (The University of Oklahoma Press, 2026).
Most people are familiar with the landmark 1954 US Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, which held that state laws mandating racial segregation in public schools were unconstitutional. But what about the court cases that far preceded, and informed, this national ruling? They took place in smaller courts, in unsung parts of the United States, including in Oklahoma Territory. There, decades before Brown v. Board, Black citizens worked to challenge legislation and local school board restrictions that segregated their schools. In We Fought Back, Sara Doolittle analyzes a rich array of previously unexplored court challenges during Oklahoma’s territorial period (1889–1907), revealing how Black residents’ cases reshaped understandings of race, citizenship, and the federal role in American schooling.
Find out more »Sorting out Race: Examining Racial Identity and Stereotypes in Thrift Store Donations exhibit opens
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…
Find out more »“A Day in the Northwest” Interactive Community Adventure *postponed*
“A Day in the Northwest” previously scheduled for Saturday, September 5, has been postponed until the spring of 2027. Blending local history with teamwork, competition, and hands-on fun, “A Day in the Northwest” will send teams on an Amazing Race-inspired journey across the Heritage Center grounds. Participants will travel from stop to stop, completing unique challenges that celebrate the past, present, and future of northwest Oklahoma.
Find out more »“Other Duties as Assigned: The Daily Life of Soldiers at Fort Gibson” program
This fall, step into the world of the 1830s as the Fort Gibson Historic Site brings to life the routines and stories of soldiers once stationed at the fort. Join us on Saturdays, September 5, 19, and 26, with activities running from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Soldiers assigned to Fort Gibson had to maintain clean barracks, take turns cooking food in the mess hall, and attend musket and marching drills. The work didn’t…
Find out more »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
Step back in time and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, a living history program at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid. It takes place throughout the year on the first and third Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The five historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village, dating back to the territorial era, come to life with living history interpreters dressed in period clothing from the…
Find out more »Hungry Oklahoma: Confronting Poverty and Food Insecurity book presentation with author Robert Lee Maril
On Wednesday, September 9, at noon, the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library will host a book presentation by author Robert Lee Maril. He will be discussing his book Hungry Oklahoma: Confronting Poverty and Food Insecurity (University of Oklahoma Press, 2026). In writing the book, Maril drew upon interviews and participant-observation data from his volunteer work at a food pantry and combined them with census and sociological data. Join the discussion on the ethnographic details of the current status of…
Find out more »Up Late with Will Rogers
Friday, September 11, at 6 p.m., marks the start of an extraordinary overnight adventure just for adults at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Choose your own cozy spot to sleep, explore the museum after hours, and let the fun last until sunrise. Your ticket treats you to a mouthwatering barbecue dinner, a light breakfast, and a night packed with excitement: sneak behind the scenes on exclusive tours, hunt for clues in a scavenger hunt, master the two-step on the dance…
Find out more »Our Journeys exhibit opens
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…
Find out more »Ice Cream Social
The Friends of the Fred and Addie Drummond Home are happy to announce that the annual Ice Cream Social will be held on Saturday, September 12, from 1 to 4 p.m. The family-friendly event will be held outdoors. Special guests will include Osage storyteller Diane Fallis, who will also join the festivities. After touring the late-Victorian-style historic home built in 1905, guests can enjoy delicious ice cream by the scoop on the back porch. The Ice Cream Social is included…
Find out more »Screening of Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 at the Tee Pee Drive-in Theater
On Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m., there will be a free screening of the new documentary Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 at the Tee Pee Drive-in Theater in Sapulpa. The Oklahoma Historical Society, in collaboration with Director Bryan Beasley, producers Jon and Jaime Roman, and with support from the Inasmuch Foundation, has produced Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66. This documentary examines the evolution of Route 66 in Oklahoma, from the hardships of the Dust Bowl era to…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee Meeting
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, OK, 73105.
Find out more »“Other Duties as Assigned: The Daily Life of Soldiers at Fort Gibson” program
This fall, step into the world of the 1830s as the Fort Gibson Historic Site brings to life the routines and stories of soldiers once stationed at the fort. Join us on Saturdays, September 5, 19, and 26, with activities running from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Soldiers assigned to Fort Gibson had to maintain clean barracks, take turns cooking food in the mess hall, and attend musket and marching drills. The work didn’t…
Find out more »History Alive! at the Cherokee Strip Celebration!
Step back in time and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, a living history program stationed at the Garfield County Courthouse on September 19 for the Cherokee Strip Parade and Celebration. Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center staff and volunteers will take the History Alive! program onto the courthouse lawn to demonstrate and represent the history of northwest Oklahoma as the City of Enid celebrates the town’s 1893 founding with firetrucks, floats, cars, marching…
Find out more »Route 66: The Main Street of America screening and panel discussion with filmmaker John Paget
Celebrate the centennial of a truly legendary highway with a special screening of Route 66: The Main Street of America. This new feature-length documentary shares powerful stories of the everyday heroes and enduring towns along Route 66—an immersive portrait of this iconic road. From roadside attractions to revitalized main streets, each encounter reveals the spirit of communities finding new life and new purpose—proof that the most meaningful journeys often begin on the road less traveled. Whether you’ve driven Route 66 or…
Find out more »Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 screening
On Sunday, September 20, at 4 p.m., there will be a free screening of the new documentary Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 at the Center Theater on 66 in Vinita. The Oklahoma Historical Society, in collaboration with director Bryan Beasley, producers Jon and Jaime Roman, and with support from the Inasmuch Foundation, has produced Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66. This documentary examines the evolution of Route 66 in Oklahoma, from the hardships of the Dust Bowl era to…
Find out more »Kilgen Theatre Organ performance “Welcome Traveler” with guest organist Ryoki Yamaguchi
On Monday, September 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a Kilgen Theatre Organ performance will be held in the Devon Great Hall at the Oklahoma History Center featuring guest organist Ryoki Yamaguchi. His performance encompasses several American standards, aligning with his theme of “Welcome Traveler.” Tickets are $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for the general public and are available by calling 405-522-0765. Purchase tickets online. Alessandro Michelazzi Photography.
Find out more »Black Moses guest lecture with author Caleb Gayle
The Oklahoma Historical Society will host Caleb Gayle for a guest lecture at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City on Thursday, September 24. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Caleb Gayle is an award-winning journalist and the author of Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State and We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power. A professor at Northeastern University in Boston, he is a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine.
Black Moses charts the rise of Edward McCabe and his efforts to create a Black state in Oklahoma Territory during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Longlisted for the National Book Award for Nonfiction, the book has received numerous accolades. They include the Stubbendieck Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize and the Oklahoma Book Award for Nonfiction. The Oklahoma Historical Society recognized Black Moses with the E. E. Dale Award for Outstanding Book on Oklahoma History.
After the lecture, there will be a question-and-answer session, followed by a book signing and reception. Copies of Black Moses will be available to purchase during the event.
Find out more »Screening of Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66
On Thursday, September 24, at 7 p.m., there will be a free screening of the new documentary Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 in Claremore at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum.
The Oklahoma Historical Society, in collaboration with Director Bryan Beasley, producers Jon and Jaime Roman, and with support from the Inasmuch Foundation, has produced Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66. This documentary examines the evolution of Route 66 in Oklahoma, from the hardships of the Dust Bowl era to the era of nostalgic road trips. It explores the highway’s history and future through interviews with historians, interactions with small-business owners, and scenes created using virtual production technology.
There will be a Q&A with OHS executive director, Trait Thompson, after the film. Refreshments will be provided by the Will Rogers Memorial Foundation.
Find out more »New Wave documentary screening
On Friday, September 25, at 6 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will screen the documentary New Wave. The film explores the young subculture of displaced refugees searching for an identity in Southern California by building a safe community space through 1980s Vietnamese American new wave music.
The subjects of the film experienced teenage rebellion, with mile-high hair, underground clubs, and listening to synthesized sounds, while coping with the bittersweet emotions of being far from home. In making New Wave, filmmaker Elizabeth Ai was on a mission to excavate an untold story of rebellious punks in the chaotic world of 80s Vietnamese New Wave until she uncovers a hidden past.
This film will be shown in conjunction with the Our Journeys traveling exhibit, presented by Vietnamese Boat People. This multimedia traveling exhibition will be on display at the Oklahoma History Center through January 4, 2027.
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Possums (1998)
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a movie night featuring Possums (1998) in its theatre on Friday, September 25, at 7 p.m. Movie Night is a popular community event that offers a place for families and friends to connect on the last Friday of every month. The doors to the theatre open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating is limited,…
Find out more »“Other Duties as Assigned: The Daily Life of Soldiers at Fort Gibson” program
This fall, step into the world of the 1830s as the Fort Gibson Historic Site brings to life the routines and stories of soldiers once stationed at the fort. Join us on Saturdays, September 5, 19, and 26, with activities running from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Soldiers assigned to Fort Gibson had to maintain clean barracks, take turns cooking food in the mess hall, and attend musket and marching drills. The work didn’t…
Find out more »Craterville Park Historical Marker Dedication
The Oklahoma Historical Society will dedicate a historical marker commemorating Craterville Park at the Lazy Buffalo Cabins in Cache on September 29 at 11:30 a.m. Established by Frank S. Rush in 1923, Craterville Park became the premier family entertainment venue in southwest Oklahoma. The expansion of Fort Sill in 1956 forced the park’s relocation to a site near Quartz Mountain State Park. A brief ceremony will feature Frank Rush III, Mayor Scott Brown of Cache, and Dr. Matthew Pearce of…
Find out more »Drummond Heirlooms exhibit closes
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…
Find out more »October 2026
Addie’s Trunk exhibit opens
On Thursday, October 1, the Fred and Addie Drummond Home invites you to step back in time with a new exhibit that brings to life the ways women in the early 1900s carefully packed for long journeys. The exhibit showcases Addie Drummond’s coats, dresses, hats, and accessories, thoughtfully arranged as if awaiting a grand adventure. Women of this era would have traveled with massive trunks, some tipping the scales at over 100 pounds, brimming with quilts, sunbonnets, and cherished Sunday…
Find out more »Kate Barnard Historical Marker dedication
The Oklahoma Historical Society will dedicate a historical marker commemorating the life of Kate Barnard at Guthrie City Hall on Thursday, October 1, at 11 a.m. Barnard was the first woman elected to state office in Oklahoma, and Guthrie is the historic site where she and other state officials were inaugurated on November 16, 1907, when Oklahoma was admitted to the Union as the 46th state. A brief ceremony will feature Trait Thompson, OHS executive director; Connie Cronley, author of…
Find out more »Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 screening
On Thursday, October 1, at 4 p.m., there will be a free screening of the new documentary Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 at the Showest 4 Theatre in Weatherford. The Oklahoma Historical Society, in collaboration with director Bryan Beasley, producers Jon and Jaime Roman, and with support from the Inasmuch Foundation, has produced Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66. This documentary examines the evolution of Route 66 in Oklahoma, from the hardships of the Dust Bowl era to post-WWII…
Find out more »Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 screening
On Friday, October 2, at 4 p.m., there will be a free screening of the new documentary Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 at the Flix on 6 in Elk City. A Q&A will follow the screening. The Oklahoma Historical Society, in collaboration with director Bryan Beasley, producers Jon and Jaime Roman, and with support from the Inasmuch Foundation, has produced Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66. This documentary examines the evolution of Route 66 in Oklahoma, from the hardships of…
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