OHS EXTRA! - A moment of silence

Oklahoma Historical Society sent this bulletin at 05/25/2022 05:00 AM CDT

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History Center Research Museums & Sites Preservation Publications

May 25, 2022

African American World War One Veterans holding American flags

Partially colorized digital image of six unidentified World War I soldiers, c. 1914-1919 (20941.94.170.173, Museum of the Western Prairie Collection, OHS).

Oklahoma Historical Society Military Records

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, the nation remembers those who gave their life through service to the country. The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) Research Center is home to countless military resources that explore the stories and service of war veterans. Visit the OHS Research Center Military Records databases and indexes by clicking here. To search through the Oklahoma Military Casualties database, click below.

Oklahoma Military Casualties

Pawnee Bill Wild West Fest stagecoach and living history reenactors

Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Days

Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Days will be held on Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum. Stagecoaches will roll amid thundering horse hooves while the lightning of gunfire explodes around Pawnee Bill, May, and their cohorts as the talented performers thrill and amaze audiences. This one-day celebration will feature exhibitions of acts from the original Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Shows.

Kevin Webb will portray Pawnee Bill for the 14th time. Webb, a long-time Wild West Show cast member and Pawnee Bill Ranch employee is also a whip artist and chariot racer. Alyce Webb will portray May Lillie for the 4th time, performing her act on horseback. The Mike Pahsetopah family will perform as the Dancing Eagles, paying tribute to American Indian culture with their stunning Native dancing. Show cowboys and cowgirls will be back again this year to demonstrate their skills with reckless feats of horsemanship and entertaining races.

The museum will be open to the public during the festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food from local food trucks will be available on-site. There will be historically accurate entertainment—such as blacksmithing, chuck wagon cooking, gunfighters and sharpshooters, a magician, medicine man shows, and musicians—held continuously during the festival. Leather making, quilting, and candle making will join craft vendors for the event. Demonstrations by beekeepers, a cowboy campsite with storytelling, a boot throw and buffalo chip throw contest will also be held on the ranch grounds.

Alongside the traditional acts, Oklahoma City Thunder mascot Rumble the Bison will be on-site from 11 a.m. to noon to greet visitors!

There is no admission fee to attend this event. Join in the celebration of Pawnee Bill’s Wild West Days and experience some of the best of historic Western entertainment. For more information, please contact 918-762-2513 or pawneebill@okhistory.org.

A historic photo of a 1950s housewife in kitchen with apron, side by side with an image of ceramic snack sets of the period

Be our guest at the Fred and Addie Drummond Home

The Fred and Addie Drummond Home in Hominy will feature Vintage Snack Sets, a temporary exhibit during the month of June. From the 1940s to the 1970s, women often entertained at home by hosting teas, coffees, or church socials. On these special occasions, they would wear their Sunday best and bring out pretty snack sets that included a plate with a round indention to hold the matching cup. This exhibit will include pieces by manufacturers such as Anchor Hocking, Hazel-Atlas, the Indiana Glass Company, Royal Windsor, Queen Anne, and Royal Albert. For more information, please call 918-885-2374. The Fred and Addie Drummond Home is located at 305 N. Price Ave. in Hominy.

Stacey Sanders, seated outdoors with a guitar in hand

Museum After Dark: Village Sounds featuring Stacey Sanders

On Friday, June 10, from 7 to 9 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) in Enid will present Museum After Dark: Village Sounds featuring singer/songwriter Stacey Sanders.

Sanders unapologetically shies away from love songs and prefers telling gritty, earthy stories. Many of his songs are based on true-life experiences while others are whimsical, wild tales. Early childhood memories of family vacations that stretched from Los Angeles to the plains, boyhood journeys of red dirt roads, hitchhiking blue highways, and lunch breaks at interstate truck stops are all touched on with his clever lyrics.

The concert is included with the cost of admission to the CSRHC. Members of the CSRHC or the Oklahoma Historical Society always visit the center for free. This event is made possible through the financial support of our community partner, Park Avenue Thrift. For more information about this series, please call 580-237-1907.

A man dressed in cowboy gear teaches youngsters how to make a lasso

Fort Towson Homecoming

Visit Fort Towson Historic Site on Saturday, June 11, to celebrate the town of Fort Towson's Homecoming. The day’s activities will begin with a morning homecoming parade through downtown Fort Towson. The festivities move to Fort Towson Historic Site midday for more Homecoming celebrations. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to sit on the grounds and listen to a live band. Children’s games and a pony express race will make this a fun event for the whole family. A barbecue lunch will be available for purchase. The evening will end with an old-fashioned street dance. Enjoy the festivities with old friends and meet some new ones! Call 580-873-2634 for more information.

The Battle of Honey Springs at deadCenter Film Festival

On Saturday, June 11, at 11 a.m. the educational film The Battle of Honey Springs will be shown at the deadCenter Film Festival. The screening will occur at Harkins Theatres Bricktown 16 in Oklahoma City.

The Battle of Honey Springs is a Pantheon Digital Production written and directed by Bryan Beasley and produced by Jaime Roman and Jon Roman. The film stars Sidney Flack, Aaron Martin, David Burkhart, T. S. Akers, Roderick Berko, Tyler Huffman, Warren Gavitt, Jeremy Guana, and Elisha Pratt.

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Child with a cowboy hat sits "milking" a wooden cow cut out

Will's Wild West Kids Camp taking registrations through June 11

Grab your lasso and join the fun at Will‘s Wild West Kids Camp June 20–22 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum (WRMM) in Claremore.

Will’s Wild West Kids Camp will transport participants back in time to the Wild West with hands-on activities in a fun and entertaining learning environment. Kids will have the opportunity to participate in nature programs, crafts, period dancing, 19th-century games, and much more. A chuck wagon lunch is included.

The camp is for ages 5–12, and preregistration is required. The cost for the camp is $30 for WRMM members and $45 for nonmembers. The deadline for registration is June 11. For more information or to register for the camp, please visit www.willrogers.com, or register online by clicking here.

OHS COVID-19 safety measures

We recommend that visitors who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 wear face masks in indoor public areas. 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.