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Experience Spring at Hunter’s Home |
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Learn about 19th-century agriculture at Hunter’s Home on Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as the staff prepares for the upcoming growing season.
At the Spring on the Farm event, adults and children can observe the gardens, fields, animals, and Hunter’s Home, observing the changing seasons at the only remaining pre–Civil War plantation home in Oklahoma. Sheep shearing and other demonstrations will be happening at the event. Spring on the Farm is included in the regular admission price to Hunter’s Home. For more information, call 918-456-2751.
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Virtual Field Trip will explore Asian Pacific American History |
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On Monday, May 6, the Oklahoma History Center Museum’s Learning and Engagement department will host two virtual field trips in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution. The session for elementary students is from 10 to 11 a.m., and the high school session is from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Dr. Theodore Gonzalves, curator of Asian Pacific American History at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, will discuss artifacts and objects featured in his book Smithsonian Asian Pacific American History, Art, and Culture in 101 Objects (2023).
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SAVE THE DATE!
Fort Towson bicentennial to be held on May 18
The Fort Towson Historic Site will host a living history event to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the establishment of the fort. The ceremony will recognize the contribution of the soldiers who manned Fort Towson when it was active while celebrating the tremendous contributions of the Choctaw and Chickasaw people.
The event will be held on May 18 from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Living historians will present a glimpse into the lives of military members and civilians who lived in military outposts 200 years ago. Scheduled presentations will be held every hour between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The event will be free to the public. To learn more about the event, click here. For more information, call 580-873-2634 or email fttowson@history.ok.gov.
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“Hunter Trapper” Living History program |
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Long before Fort Gibson was established, hunters and trappers in Indian Territory hunted and trapped fur-bearing animals for trading for goods. Once Fort Gibson was established, hunters and trappers were pivotal to a thriving economy, which had a more significant part in the development of America.
Fort Gibson Historic Site’s staff members will set up a camp throughout the month of May to illustrate the daily life of hunters and trappers. This living history program is free with regular admission and will take place on Fridays and Saturdays throughout May from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3:30 p.m. Please feel free to call 918-478-4088 for more information.
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Come to The Chisholm Trail Museum on May 2, from 6 to 8 p.m., for a unique spin on the museum’s annual gala event, Boots, Beer, and BBQ. The evening will feature live music by the Red Dirt Rangers, BBQ and sides prepared by a working chuck wagon, drinks, dancing, and more on the lawn at Horizon Hill. This annual event helps support the museum and its mission.
This event is for adults ages 21 and older. Each participant will receive dinner and drinks provided by an Oklahoma brewery! This event is limited to 150 participants, and tickets are available in advance for $60 per person or $100 per pair.
Payment must be received to secure registration. Please contact the museum at (405) 375-5176 to reserve tickets!
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Register for the Oklahoma History Symposium |
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Join us on Saturday, May 4, for “Perspectives in History.” Presented by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oklahoma History Symposium is held each spring at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. This one-day symposium offers scholars, historians, authors, and museum professionals a forum to share their work with history enthusiasts.
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Oklahoma National History Day |
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Oklahoma National History Day (OkNHD) is more than an academic exercise for thousands of Oklahoma junior high and high school students—it is a tradition. Starting Wednesday, May 1, and continuing on Thursday, May 2, more than 200 6th through 12th grade students will present their exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites, and papers at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. First- and second-place winners at this state competition will advance to the National History Day® 2024 National Contest.
Due to the size of the OkNHD event, there will be some Oklahoma History Center gallery closures on May 1 and 2. Please call ahead to 405-522-0765 to ensure that exhibits are open for visitors.
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Step back in time and experience life on the Cherokee Strip during History Alive! in the Humphrey Heritage Village at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. On the first and third Saturday of each month, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., the historic buildings in the Village come alive with reenactors who are tending their shops, working their trades, or socializing at the Village Church. Visitors can learn about different skills and trades of the time or file their own land claim in the original Enid Land Office.
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Blacksmithing Demonstration in Perry |
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On Saturday, May 4, the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School will hold a Blacksmithing Demonstration in the blacksmith shop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests can enjoy watching the artisans work and 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. Free admission for all, but donations are always appreciated. For more information about all of the activities planned, please call 580-336-2405.
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From Our Hands exhibit opening at CSRHC |
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A new exhibition, opening May 6, entitled From Our Hands, will be on display at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center through July 6.
The exhibit will include various works of art created by Oklahoma Native American artists. The work on display will consist of pieces by Burgess Roye (Ponca) (1944 – 2015), Paladine Roye (Ponca) (1946 – 2001), Penny Coates (Potawatomi), and Amber DuBoise-Shepherd (Prairie Band Potawatomi/Sac and Fox) as part of the annual Spring Art exhibit series. The exhibition will be displayed in the Mabee Foundation Gallery.
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Fort Towson Historic Site will host a History Day Camp for kids ages nine to 12 from Tuesday, May 28, through Thursday, May 30. The camp takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.
During the three-day camp, young people can explore the site with physical and experiential learning activities that will encourage them to learn what life was like in the 1840s. Historical interpreters will lead campers in hands-on activities such as archaeology, military drills, old-fashioned games, and hands-on crafts.
Registration is required and limited to 15 students on a first come, first served basis. You may register by calling 580-873-2634, emailing fttowson@history.ok.gov or visiting the Fort Towson Historic Site. The deadline to apply is May 3.
This camp is made possible by the Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation.
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APRIL IS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH
Thank you, Volunteers!
Over the years, the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) has developed numerous collections, programs, research centers, museums, historic homes, and military sites across the state. We recognize that we are able to function throughout the year thanks to our faithful and steadfast volunteers who give their time at all our locations.
Volunteers make the mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society possible by providing invaluable resources through educational programs, assisting in daily operations, and working behind-the-scenes in collections. Our volunteers help us in countless ways, including giving tours to schoolchildren, assisting with hands-on learning experiences, and providing living history demonstrations that keep history alive for our visitors.
Thanks, OHS volunteers, for all you do to carry the OHS mission forward—helping us collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of Oklahoma and its people!
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She performed for Presidents
This Oklahoma talent was born as the tenth of 15 children in Enid. She began singing in her father's church choir, had an award-winning international career, and was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
Can you guess her name?
To see if your guess is right, listen to her Voices of Oklahoma interview, conducted this spring with John Erling. Read her full biography in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
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All of a Sudden and Forever: Help and Healing After the Oklahoma City Bombing
by Chris Barton
29 years after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, this Children's title renews hope by following the story of the Survivor Tree and its seedlings which offer solace to people grappling with tragedy and loss.
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Voices from the Heartland, Volume II
Edited by Sara N. Beam, Emily Dial-Driver, Rilla Askew, and Juliet Evusa
In 2007, Voices from the Heartland provided a much-needed platform for Oklahoma women—prominent and unknown—to tell their stories. This timely sequel reflects an even broader cross-section of women’s experiences.
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Click event listings below for more information.
27 - Poultry of Antiquity: Using Historical Techniques to Raise Poultry Breeds, Hunter’s Home, Park Hill
27 - “Dirt Tells the Story of Our History” talk with Christina Rich-Splawn, Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue, Ponca City
28 - Hammered Aluminum Ware exhibit closes, Fred and Addie Drummond Home, Hominy
1–2 - Oklahoma National History Day State Contest, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
2 - Boots, Beer, & BBQ Gala Dinner, Chisholm Trail Museum and Horizon Hill, Kingfisher
3 - “Hunter Trapper” Living History program begins, Fort Gibson Historic Site, Fort Gibson
3 - Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
4 - “Perspectives in History” The Oklahoma History Symposium, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
4 - Spring on the Farm, Hunter’s Home, Park Hill
4 - Oklahoma Historical Society Membership Meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
4 - Blacksmithing Demonstration, Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School, Perry
4 - Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors Organizational Meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
4 - History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
6 - From Our Hands, exhibit opening, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
6 - Virtual Field Trip with Dr. Theodore Gonzalves (2 sessions), Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
8 - Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) webinar, State Historic Preservation Office
8 - Oklahoma Restaurant Roundtable, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
9 - Drafting and Executing Section 106 Agreement Documents with the OKSHPO webinar, State Historic Preservation Office
11 - Quilting Workshop, Sod House Museum, Aline
11 - Civil War-Era Music Program, Honey Springs Battlefield, Checotah
13 - OU/OAS Archaeological Field School at Spiro Mounds begins, Spiro Mounds Archaeological Site, Spiro
13 - The Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program Overview webinar, State Historic Preservation Office
14 - The Historic Preservation Tax Credit: A Case Study webinar, State Historic Preservation Office
14 - “Asian American Pacific Islander Experiences in Oklahoma: A Historical Journey,” Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
15 - Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee meeting *canceled,* Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
16 - Summer Sounds Concert featuring Jason Scott and High Heat, The Chisholm, Kingfisher
18 - 200th Anniversary Commemoration, Fort Towson Historic Site, Fort Towson
18 - History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
18 - The Wayne McCombs Classic, 1880s-era Baseball Game, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
19 - Picnic in the Village, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
22 - “Cats and Cathouses” presentation, Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library, Guthrie
23 - Thursday Night Lecture Series: The Will Rogers Medallion Award with Chris Enss and Preston Lewis, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
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Masthead image: Detail of the Report of A.W. Robb, acting quartermaster for Fort Gibson, ending August 31, 1864. It includes a hand-written account of clothing, camp, and garrison equipage used by the post. (1981.119.03, Kay Senseney Collection, Oklahoma Historical Society Manuscript Collection).
To enlarge and read the report, click here.
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