OHS EXTRA! - It's a date!

Oklahoma Historical Society sent this bulletin at 02/09/2022 05:00 AM CST

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History Center Research Museums & Sites Preservation Publications

February 9, 2022

Celebrate Valentine's Day at the CSRHC

Impress your sweetie with a one-of-a-kind date night at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center just in time for Valentine's Day!

Museum After Dark: Date Night at the Museum will be held 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 Humphrey Heritage Village on-site after hours. Hors d’oeuvres and a choice of romantic beverages will be served. Call 580-237-1907 for more details.

2022 Historians Hall of Fame awardees, Dr. Bob L. Blackburn, Dr. Davis Joyce, Justice Yvonne Kauger, Dr. Theda Perdue

Annual OHS Awards Banquet will honor Oklahoma historians

The 2022 Oklahoma Historical Society Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, February 24, 2022, at the Oklahoma History Center. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt will be the guest speaker at the evening event, and Tulsa County Commissioner Karen Keith will serve as the emcee.

A cocktail reception will begin at 6 p.m., and dinner and the awards program will follow at 6:30 p.m. Cocktail attire is requested. At this annual ceremony, the OHS will make presentations to OHS annual award recipients, SHPO annual award recipients, and Guardians of History honorees. Dr. Bob Blackburn, Dr. Davis Joyce, Justice Yvonne Kauger, and Dr. Theda Perdue, seen above, will be inducted into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.

Proceeds from this event will be matched by the Kirkpatrick Family Fund and will go toward the Dr. Bob Blackburn Collections Endowment Fund. For information about the event, please contact Angela Spindle at 405-522-0317 or aspindle@okhistory.org.

Reserve your tickets today!

Make a Casserole Carrier basket

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. A potluck lunch will be served during the workshop. The cost is $45 per person, which will cover all supplies needed 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 Site is located north of US 70 near Fort Towson.

24th Missouri will hold training exercises at Fort Gibson

On Saturday, February 19, Fort Gibson Historic Site will operate as it did over 160 years ago, holding drills and classes for a group of Civil War reenactors. During the 24th at the Fort event, the restored log fort and stockade will come to life through the actions of the 24th Missouri Infantry Volunteers. The group travels to one military post each year in order to spend time running drills and furthering their education about the lives of Civil War soldiers.

The 24th Missouri Infantry Volunteers 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 regarding the period correctness of their uniforms and equipment. This is a rare educational opportunity for the public to observe reenactments. While at the site, don’t forget to view the exhibits detailing the history of the fort that are located in the Commissary Visitor Center on Garrison Hill. Please contact 918-478-4088 or fortgibson@okhistory.org for more information.

Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $4 for students ages 6–18, and free for veterans and active-duty military. Members of the OHS and Friends of Fort Gibson are also admitted free with a membership card.

Fort Gibson is open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

February is Black History Month

As an educational organization and a dedicated community partner, the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) has long believed that one important step toward ending racism and injustice is a better understanding of our shared history. By providing resources that give context for the Black experience in Oklahoma, we hope to spark civil discourse and open dialogue about the role of race in the history of our state. While these conversations about our past may not be comfortable, they are necessary to understand where we have been and how we can best move forward together. As new voices call for change, the OHS stands committed to our mission to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of all Oklahomans.

The OHS has a number of free resources related to the Black experience in our state. Click the button below to read historic Black newspapers, research All-Black towns of Oklahoma, and learn much more about Black Oklahomans whose struggles and triumphs were important to our shared history.

OHS Black history resources

Black Women boarding a bus on 4th street

OHS COVID-19 safety measures

We recommend that visitors who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 wear face masks and maintain social distancing in indoor public areas. All visitors, staff, volunteers, contractors, and vendors should use appropriate handwashing techniques.

We ask that you avoid visiting OHS museums, sites, and affiliates if you have COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms, have a fever, or are otherwise feeling sick or unwell.