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Vietnam War-Era Pinning Ceremony at OHC
On March 29, 2022, on National Vietnam War Veterans Day, the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will hold a special pinning ceremony to honor the service men and women who served anywhere in the world during the Vietnam War era. This includes service from November 1, 1955, to April 30, 1975. The event will be held in the Devon Great Hall of the OHC from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
March 29 was designated National Vietnam War Veterans Day in 2017. The date was chosen to commemorate March 29, 1973—the day when the last US combat troops were withdrawn from Vietnam.
The Oklahoma History Center is working in association with Villages OKC and Humana Market Point to make this special event possible. The ceremony will be open to the public with free admission. The OHC is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City.
While visiting the OHC, be sure to take in the outdoor exhibit Tip of the Spear, unveiled in 2021. It is centered on a Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter—better known as a Huey helicopter—one of the most recognizable icons of the Vietnam War. For additional information, call 405-522-0765.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking and installation of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “The Wall,” designed by 21-year-old Yale architecture student Maya Lin in 1982, carries a chronological list of the names of those who died in combat or were declared missing in action during the nearly 20-year-long campaign.
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From Institution to Inclusion: The History of disAbilities in Oklahoma exhibit now open
Through digital photographs, From Institution to Inclusion highlights Oklahoma’s disability pioneers. Guests can view images of the institutions, legislators, and citizens who fought to break down barriers; the organizations making a difference today; and self-advocates who continue to lead the charge for change. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore historical items from OHS collections, including ledgers from the Cherokee Insane Asylum dating to 1879, an iron lung (pictured above) used for treating polio, and examples of the evolution of prosthetics and assistive devices. The exhibit will offer a unique, hands-on experience in which visitors can move their fingertips across the lines of a braille textbook, use a weighted blanket, and become acquainted with modern daily living assistive devices.
Historical materials and documents in this exhibit may include offensive language, negative stereotypes, and descriptions of traumatic events. These materials are presented as part of the historical record and do not represent the viewpoints of the Oklahoma Historical Society. This exhibit was made possible through a grant funded by the Developmental Disabilities Council of Oklahoma and will be available for viewing through August 31, 2022.
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Oklahoma Maverick in space
On Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m., the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will host a Movie Night featuring the film Space Cowboys (2000). The movie stars Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland, and Oklahoma's own James Garner.
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 event is FREE to attend thanks to sponsorship by the Bank of Commerce. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Did you know?
James Garner (1928–2014) was born James Scott Bumgarner in Norman, Oklahoma, on April 7, 1928. He gained fame in the American Western television series Maverick (1957–1962), playing a savvy poker player, just as the US space program/NASA was working to put a man on the moon.
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The real space cowboys
The exhibit Launch to Landing: Oklahomans and Space currently on display at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) features a number of personal items utilized by astronauts. Among them are flight suits worn by Fred Haise, John Herrington, and Gordon Cooper. Articles of clothing worn by Shannon Lucid and other crew members of the International Space Station missions are also featured. Other exhibit items include Oklahoma flags flown in space, a NASA Mission Control console, space shuttle heat shield tiles, and lunar “moon rock” samples. The centerpiece of the exhibit is the Skylab 4 Apollo Command Module (CM-118), which spent 84 days in space.
Make a visit to the OHC today to see the exhibit associated with Oklahoma aviators and the US air and space program!
Launch to Landing is the culmination of several years of coordination and planning with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, and the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas. The OHC is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City.
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OKPOP website celebrates Oklahoma creatives
The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture's (OKPOP) colorful and interactive website allows visitors to see, hear, and read about Oklahoma creatives. Website users can learn about some of the incredible, creative people connected to Oklahoma who have contributed to pop culture around the world. Every category of entertainment included on the website carries a convenient, alphabetical listing of featured artists. Whether looking for a movie star or a musician, artist biographies on the website come to life! Visit www.okpop.org or follow OKPOP on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @OKPOPTulsa.
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Registration is now open for the 2022 Oklahoma History Symposium!
This one-day symposium will be held on Saturday, April 9, at the Oklahoma History Center. Click here for a complete schedule, session descriptions, and registration details.
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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.
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Click event listings below for more information.
12 - Quilting workshop with Martha Ray, Sod House Museum, Aline
12 - "Second Saturday Silents" featuring Tom Mix in Trailin' (1921), Circle Cinema, Tulsa
12 - "The First Indian Home Guard" presentation by Dr. M. Jane Johansson, Honey Springs Battlefield, Checotah
14–18 - Spring Break Activities, Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Birthplace Ranch, Claremore and Oologah
16 - Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
19 - Museum OKademy volunteer training class, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
19 - Family Kite Flite Day, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, Spiro
19 - Chuck Wagon Gathering and Fundraising Dinner, Chisholm Trail Museum and Horizon Hill, Kingfisher
19 - Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
19 - History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
20 - Wanted: Dead or Alive exhibit closes, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum, Pawnee
20 - Vernal Equinox Walks, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center, Spiro
22 - Oklahoma State Capitol Museum grand opening and ribbon cutting, Oklahoma State Capitol, Oklahoma City
24 - 2022 Oklahoma Historical Society Awards Banquet, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
24 - Thursday Night Lecture Series featuring the 1979 Will Rogers Days Parade planners, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
25 - Movie Night featuring Space Cowboys (2000), Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
26 - Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit opens, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum, Pawnee
26 - Dust, Drought, and Dreams Gone Dry exhibit opens, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum, Pawnee
29 - Vietnam War-Era Veterans Pinning Ceremony, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
1 - Hammered Aluminum Ware exhibit opens, Fred and Addie Drummond Home, Hominy
2 - Museum OKademy volunteer training class, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
2 - History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
5 - Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
6 - Blacksmithing Demonstrations with the Saltfork Craftsmen, Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School, Perry
8 - Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
8 - Museum After Dark: Village Sounds, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
9 - Quilting workshop with Martha Ray, Sod House Museum, Aline
9 - “Perspectives in History”: The Oklahoma History Symposium, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
9 - Oklahoma Historical Society Membership meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
9 - Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors organizational meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
9 - “Historic Skills and Trades Expo” Second Saturday Demo, Fort Towson Historic Site, Fort Towson
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March is Women's History Month |
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Singer-songwriter Wanda Jackson was born on October 20, 1937, in Maud, Oklahoma. Revered as the "Queen of Rockabilly," she carved out a name for herself with her fearless and feisty style in the genres of rock and roll, country music, and rockabilly.
Jackson began performing as a child, later hosting her own radio show in Oklahoma City and touring with Elvis Presley in the 1950s. Her lifelong career of firsts brought her national and international acclaim for her rowdy, pioneering style. She single-handedly opened up possibilities for future generations of artists.
Jackson was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. To read more about her life and influence click here.
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