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December 2023
History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
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 four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
Find out more »Winter Bake Day
Fresh-baked gingerbread soldiers, nurses, and laundresses will be served at Fort Gibson Historic Site’s Winter Bake Day on Saturday, December 16. The smell of fresh-baked gingerbread cookies will fill the crisp autumn air on Garrison Hill as staff and volunteers once again bring the 1860s military bakehouse to life. Gingerbread cookie kits will be available to purchase from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or while supplies last. Cookies are made from 19th-century recipes and include candy trimmings similar to those…
Find out more »Holiday Candlelight Tours
Oklahoma’s only remaining pre-Civil War plantation home will host two nights of candlelight tours in December to encourage visitors to see the historic property in a new light. The tours of Hunter’s Home will take place from Friday, December 15, and Saturday, December 16, through 8 p.m. each day. Once the sun sets on those days, tours will lead visitors through the historic home decorated with period Christmas decorations, and candlelight will adorn the home’s lavish parlor, sitting room, and…
Find out more »Christmas at the Fort: 19th-century traditions
Fort Towson Historic Site will host Christmas at the Fort on Saturday, December 16, from 1 to 3 p.m. The theme for 2023 is “Traditions.” Guests can learn about 19th-century traditions and meet a soldier in an 1860s military camp who is anxiously waiting to receive packages from home. A living history interpretation will depict some of the long-lasting Christmas traditions that continue to be practiced today, and others that are long forgotten. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be warming…
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 »Jim Edgar and the Roadrunners exhibit closes
The exhibit featuring the “Godfather” of the Oklahoma City Rock and Roll scene: Jim Edgar (1939–2022) will remain open through Friday, December 29. The exhibit follows Edgar’s life as a musician and the success of his musical group. In the mid-1960s—the group’s most successful era—the band consisted of Jim Edgar, Sam Edwards, Farland Stanley, Larry Marcum, and Jimmy Driskol. In 1966, Jim and his band were the first to appear on the new program by Ronnie Kay titled The Scene,…
Find out more »January 2024
Silver Selections from the USS Oklahoma exhibit closes
The Oklahoma History Center Museum will have pieces of silver service from the USS Oklahoma on display through January 5, 2024, to commemorate the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The complete set consists of 55 pieces. Only select pieces will be available for public view.
On December 7, 1941, the USS Oklahoma was one of eight battleships docked at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, when it came under attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. The USS Oklahoma suffered 429 casualties, and the battleship capsized due to multiple torpedo strikes.
The tradition of creating presentation silver sets for American warships of the “first rank” began with the USS Maine in the late 1890s. Continuing this tradition, the Oklahoma Legislature appropriated $7,500 in 1913 to create a silver service to express the state’s pride in having a new battleship named for the state.
Find out more »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip with musical group Zoetrope
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 Saturday, January 6, the musical group Zoetrope will play traditional songs of yesteryear during the History Alive! event. The four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room…
Find out more »Encountering John Brown exhibit opens
The exhibit Encountering John Brown, will be displayed inside the Honey Springs Visitor Center from Tuesday, January 9 to Saturday, March 16.
The exhibit will explore the history of the man who helped ignite the American Civil War. The display will also provide meaningful historical connections between John Brown and those who later fought at the Battle of Honey Springs on July 17, 1863.
Encountering John Brown was developed, designed, built, and toured by Overland Traveling Exhibits from North Newton, Kansas. Founding institutions include the Watkins Museum of History in Lawrence, Kansas.
Find out more »OETA’s Back in Time: “Will Rogers, Oklahoma’s Favorite Son” premiere
On Tuesday, January 9, at noon, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum (WRMM) will premiere Back in Time: “Will Rogers, Oklahoma’s Favorite Son.” OETA has partnered with the museum to arrange the first screening of Back in Time: “Will Rogers, Oklahoma’s Favorite Son” in the museum’s theatre. A panel discussion and a question-and-answer session with Back in Time producer Robert Burch and WRMM experts will follow the screening. This event is free but does require registration. Register for the screening. Back…
Find out more »Lunch and Learn: “The Canadian County Jail and Current Preservation Efforts” presentation with Amy Neathery
The effort to preserve the old Canadian County jail will be highlighted in a Lunch and Learn webinar hosted by the State Historic Preservation Office on Wednesday, January 10, starting at noon. The featured speaker is Amy Neathery with Preservation El Reno. The jail was finished in 1907, a few months before Oklahoma became the 46th state. It cost $18,000 to build. The jail served the county for 78 years. The presentation will focus on the jail’s rich history, including…
Find out more »“Soldiers on Post” living history program
From Thursday, January 11, through Saturday, January 13, the Fort Gibson Historic Site will hold a living history program from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. On those days, visitors will be able to observe what life was like for “Soldiers on Post.” Living history demonstrations will include weapons care, winter maintenance, KP duty, and examples of what soldiers did to keep themselves entertained during the winter months. The program is free with admission. Admission is…
Find out more »“Soldiers on Post” living history program
From Thursday, January 11, through Saturday, January 13, the Fort Gibson Historic Site will hold a living history program from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. On those days, visitors will be able to observe what life was like for “Soldiers on Post.” Living history demonstrations will include weapons care, winter maintenance, KP duty, and examples of what soldiers did to keep themselves entertained during the winter months. The program is free with admission. Admission is…
Find out more »“Soldiers on Post” living history program
From Thursday, January 11, through Saturday, January 13, the Fort Gibson Historic Site will hold a living history program from 10 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m. On those days, visitors will be able to observe what life was like for “Soldiers on Post.” Living history demonstrations will include weapons care, winter maintenance, KP duty, and examples of what soldiers did to keep themselves entertained during the winter months. The program is free with admission. Admission is…
Find out more »Encountering John Brown exhibit grand opening
The exhibit Encountering John Brown will be celebrated with a grand opening to the public on Saturday, January 13, at 1 p.m. The Grand Opening will be celebrated with light refreshments and is included with paid admission. This is a good opportunity to see the exhibit material that uncovers the history of the man who helped ignite the American Civil War. Join the excitement as the Honey Springs Battlefield site in Checotah officially opens Encountering John Brown to the public!…
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 »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, January 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 lynda.ozan@history.ok.gov by noon on Wednesday, January 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 »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
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 four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
Find out more »Make Your Own Tea Blend: “Grown in Oklahoma” workshop **class is full**
The Oklahoma History Center will host two workshops in January and February called “Make Your Own Tea Blend: Grown in Oklahoma.” Participants will learn the basics of creating tea blends while making a blend to take home. This class is full.
Find out more »Osage Ribbonwork class with Ruth Shaw *postponed due to weather*
A series of four programs taught by Osage artist Ruth Shaw will introduce the techniques of making Osage ribbonwork. The classes will occur at the White Hair Memorial in December 2023 and January 2024. Each student will create an Osage ribbonwork piece to take home with them. The classes will be held on four Sundays: December 3 December 10 January 21 *postponed to February 4 due to weather* January 28 February 4 Each class will take place from 1 to…
Find out more »Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meeting
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 May meeting which will take place on Friday, May 3, also at 1:30 p.m. 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 »Oklahoma-Built Excellence: GM OKC exhibit opens
Oklahoma-Built Excellence: GM OKC, a new exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center Museum, will open to the public on Thursday, January 25. Using a timeline, archival newspaper prints, physical artifacts, photos, and informational signage, the exhibit aims to tell the story of the Oklahoma City General Motors plant and its employees.
Visitors will learn the history of the plant and its contribution to the economic growth of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma as a whole. At its peak, the Oklahoma City plant was estimated to provide 7,500 local jobs outside the plant, with an additional 2,600 jobs inside the plant. The exhibit looks at the growth provided by General Motors in the metro area and what happened to its employees following its closure.
It will be located in the Curator’s Corner area of the Noble Gallery on the third floor of the Oklahoma History Center Museum.
Find out more »Movie Night featuring Will Rogers in Steamboat Round the Bend (1935)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a FREE Movie Night featuring the classic film Steamboat Round the Bend (1935) in its theater on Friday, January 26. 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 »Osage Ribbonwork class with Ruth Shaw **class is full**
A series of four programs taught by Osage artist Ruth Shaw will introduce the techniques of making Osage ribbonwork. The classes will occur at the White Hair Memorial in December 2023 and January 2024. Each student will create an Osage ribbonwork piece to take home with them. The classes will be held on four Sundays: December 3 December 10 January 21 January 28 Each class will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. at no charge. All supplies needed will…
Find out more »OCSS State Conference
Be sure to mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more details about this year’s annual OCSS State Conference to be held January 30, 2024 at the Oklahoma History Center! The Oklahoma Council for Social Studies is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing resources and professional development to all social studies educators in Oklahoma. Registration for the conference comes with a membership to OCSS. Register for the OCSS State Conference. Make an application for a session proposal. Applications will…
Find out more »February 2024
Antique Doll Exhibit opens
The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will host an exhibit of antique dolls throughout February. This exhibit will showcase 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 Thursday, February 1, and ending on Thursday, February 29, this exhibit will surely delight doll collectors and lovers alike.…
Find out more »February Living History: 19th-Century Commerce
In February, every Thursday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site will hold a living history program about early 19th-century commerce. This come-and-go program will provide an interpretation of commerce among the American Indian nations and other settlers in the area. Examples of goods of the era will be on display. When Fort Gibson was established in 1824, it was the westernmost military outpost of its day. With 300–500 hundred…
Find out more »Blacksmithing Demonstration
On Saturday, February 3, the Cherokee Strip Museum will be holding a Blacksmithing Demonstration in the blacksmith shop 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. 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 »History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
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 four historic territorial buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village come to life with reenactors dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s. Attendees can sit at school desks in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse while lessons are…
Find out more »“The History of John Brown” presentation by Dr. Jennifer Murray
On Saturday, February 3, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Honey Springs Battlefield and Visitor Center, author and teaching associate professor at Oklahoma State University Dr. Jennifer Murray will present “The History of John Brown.” After the presentation, visitors are encouraged to tour the Encountering John Brown exhibit, view the 3D Battle of Honey Springs film, and tour Oklahoma’s largest Civil War battlefield. Dr. Jennifer Murray’s presentation will supplement the history presented in the Encountering John Brown exhibit and add…
Find out more »Discover Greatness: An Illustrated History of the Negro Leagues exhibit opens
On Friday, February 9, the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) will open the exhibit Discover Greatness: An Illustrated History of the Negro Leagues which tells the complex history of Negro Leagues baseball. It is a truly American story, full of aspiration, injustice, triumph, and complexity.
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.
The leagues also provided a structure for Black agency and entrepreneurship. In February 1920, African American team owners convened at a YMCA in Kansas City to form a league of their own, the Negro National League (NNL). The NNL and the other professional Black baseball leagues that followed created a forum where star players could showcase a style of speed, daring and showmanship that would come to characterize the special excitement of Negro League play.
The Negro Leagues remained a robust institution for other Black players until one of their own, the Kansas City Monarchs’ Jackie Robinson, broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier in 1947. Three months later, former Newark Eagles star Larry Doby integrated MLB’s American League.
Find out more »The Foresaken and The Dead: Bass Reeves Trilogy book discussion with Sidney Thompson *canceled*
On Tuesday, February 6, at 7 p.m., the Museum of the Western Prairie will welcome author Sidney Thompson. He will present a book discussion of The Forsaken and The Dead (2023), the third book in his Bass Reeves Trilogy.
Thompson is returning to Altus to present this popular trilogy’s third and final book and to share his experiences working as a consultant on the Lawmen: Bass Reeves Paramount+ mini-series.
Find out more »Everyday Oklahoma: Fascinating Stories about Familiar Places, “All-Black Towns in Oklahoma”
This first installment of SHPO’s 2024 Speaker Series, “Everyday Oklahoma: Fascinating Stories about Familiar Places,” will explore the topic of All-Black Towns in Oklahoma. The featured speakers are Gina Sofola, AICP, president and owner of Sofola & Associates, and Kory Van Hemert, architectural historian for Stantec. The free webinar will occur online on Thursday, February 8, at 2 p.m., Central Time, lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes. Register for this webinar. Oklahoma had more than 50 identifiable All-Black towns between…
Find out more »Museum After Dark: Date Night at the Museum
On Friday, February 9, from 7 to 9 p.m., impress your Valentine with a date night at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center! Inside the museum, couples can explore the Discover Greatness: An Illustrated History of the Negro Leagues exhibit while enjoying baseball-themed hors d’oeuvres, a choice of romantic beverages, and typical Valentine’s treats to supplement the museum experience. The Humphrey Heritage Village will be open as a part of this “Museum After Dark” event for participants to see Oklahoma’s…
Find out more »Quilting Workshop
The Quilting Workshop meets on the second Saturday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Sod House Museum for $5 per person. Learn to create appliqué designs, traditional block patterns, original designs, crazy quilts, landscape designs, and paper piecing. New members of any skill level are always encouraged to attend! Share in the happy exchange of shared skills, fun, camaraderie, refreshments, discussions, quilt patterns, and old-fashioned bed turnings at the next quilting workshop. Proceeds directly fund Sod…
Find out more »“Crochet a Little: Flowers for Valentine’s Day” workshop with Avril Martin
On Saturday, February 10, from 1 to 3 p.m., crochet artist Avril Martin will teach students how to crochet flowers. This class is meant for beginners with a basic knowledge of crochet stitches. Tutorial videos will be emailed out ahead of time to students who enroll in the workshop. Tickets are $30 for members and $35 for non-members, with a special $50 deal for couples. Register for the workshop. About the artist: Avril Martin describes themselves as a multifaceted human…
Find out more »Lunch and Learn: “Preserving Dr. Wyatt H. Slaughter’s Home and Family Legacy” webinar
On Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at noon, The State Historic Preservation Office will hold a webinar session of the SHPO’s “Lunch and Learn” series focused on the efforts underway to preserve the home and family legacy of Dr. Wyatt H. Slaughter, Oklahoma City’s first Black doctor, and his wife, Mrs. Edna Randolph-Slaughter. Register to reserve your spot.
Find out more »“Pal”-entine’s Mixer
On Wednesday, February 14, the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will open its doors for a “Pal”-entine’s Mixer for singles and friends to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The after-hours event is geared toward adults looking to celebrate Valentine’s Day. From 4 to 6 p.m., the mixer will feature gallery strolls, drinks, hors d’oeuvres, sweet treats, music, and shopping. Bring your friends and pals to receive a 10% discount in the museum’s gift shop. Consignment items in the gift shop will not…
Find out more »Valentine’s Day Couples Night
On Wednesday, February 14, the Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue will open its doors for a Valentine’s Day Couples Night between 7 and 9 p.m. This date night experience will encourage couples to take turns through the museum’s galleries while listening to romantic music and partaking in drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and sweet Valentine’s treats. After viewing the galleries, guests can shop with a 10% discount on all items. Consignment items in the gift shop will not be included in any…
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