OHS EXTRA! - That's a fact, Jack!

Oklahoma Historical Society sent this bulletin at 04/13/2022 05:00 AM CDT

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History Center Research Museums & Sites Preservation Publications

April 13, 2022

Will Rogers stands beside a horse with rider, caption "Will's Cowboy Trader Days"

Learn about the tools of the trade

On the third Saturday of the month from April to October, bring the family to the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch in Oologah to take part in Will’s Cowboy Trader Days. Local craftsmen and women will gather each month to display their goods and western wares. See a wide selection of locally handcrafted saddles, cowboy hats, tack, boots, and other items from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more about events and programs at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Birthplace Ranch, visit www.willrogers.com, contact wrinfo@willrogers.com, or call 918-341-0719. See you at the next event on April 16!

Admission to Will's Cowboy Trader Days is FREE!!

To apply to be a vendor at Will’s Cowboy Trader Days, please click the button below. The Will Rogers staff reserves the right to refuse any vendor and space is limited. Vendor spots for this event are $10 per day and must be paid before the event.

Vendor Application

Cover of the book Texas Jack by Matthew Kerns, colorized image of an historic portrait

Hit the trail with Texas Jack

On Thursday, April 21, from 7 to 9 p.m., Matthew Kerns, author of Texas Jack: America’s First Cowboy Star (2021), will make a presentation as a part of the Thursday Night Lecture Series at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum (WRMM). Kerns will share the story of Texas Jack, one of the first well-known cowboys in America.

Matthew Kerns is a historian, author, and digital archivist from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He has researched and published multiple articles for the Texas Jack Association. His book, Texas Jack: America's First Cowboy Star follows the life of John Baker ("Texas Jack") Omohundro who began as a Confederate scout, serving under the command of Major General J. E. B. Stuart. He became an accomplished scout known for his marksmanship and tracking abilities. After the Civil War, he became a cowboy and trail boss in Texas, leading cattle on the Chisholm and Goodnight–Loving Trails through New Mexico, California, Kansas, and Nebraska. The cowboy eventually became the subject of a series of dime novels written by Ned Buntline.

The Thursday Night Lecture Series is free to the public. To learn more about events and programs at the WRMM, contact wrinfo@willrogers.com or 918-341-0719.

Free Museum Day in Guthrie

The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library will open its doors to visitors on Saturday, April 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission in conjunction with the 2022 ’89er Parade and Celebration taking place in Historic Downtown Guthrie.

Oklahoma's '89er Day Celebration is an annual April event commemorating Oklahoma's first land run, which was held on April 22, 1889, opening the Unassigned Lands of central Oklahoma to non-Indian settlement. The theme for this year's celebration focuses on lawmen and special agents. The celebration will occur in Historic Downtown Guthrie, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Territorial Museum is located at 406 East Oklahoma Avenue in Guthrie. Call 405-282-1889 for more information.

a pair of pantaloons hangs on the clothesline at Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, Washboard in foreground

Come clean at Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch!

On Saturday, April 16, Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch will host Family Day at the Birthplace Ranch from 1 to 3 p.m. Through 19th-century hands-on activities, crafts, games, and demonstrations, visitors will get a glimpse of what life was like in the early days of the ranch during Will Rogers’s childhood! Families can also enjoy hayride tours and mini hikes at the Birthplace Ranch.

The Homestead Ladies of Northeast Oklahoma will be holding soap making demonstrations on April 16. In addition to all of the tours and activities, families can watch and learn about the process of making old-fashioned lye soap, which had to be cooked over an open fire. Family Day at the Birthplace Ranch is free and open to the public, and donations are appreciated. Call 918-341-0719 for more information.

Work up a lather at the Oklahoma History Center

Join the Oklahoma History Center on Saturday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a hands-on class exploring the art of handcrafted soap making using both historic and modern methods. Participants will learn how to make old-fashioned lye soap, discuss the history of making soap, and craft their own soaps to take home.

This Handcrafted Soap Making class is popular—and the registration deadline is today. Register online by clicking here.

The cost of the class is $40 for OHS members and $50 for non-members. All materials, including safety equipment, will be provided. Space is limited to 12 people and registration is required. The age limit is 12 and above. Please, for your safety, no open-toed shoes or sandals. For more information please contact Torie Taylor at ttaylor@okhistory.org or 405-522-0793.

handmade soaps placed together in a grid

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.