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On Tuesday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will highlight the history, heritage, and contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Oklahoma with “Asian American and Pacific Islander Experiences in Oklahoma: A Historical Journey.” This lunch-and-learn session will also honor individuals who have contributed to the culture of Oklahoma.
Ba Luong (Chinese/Vietnamese), Larry Li (Taiwanese/Chinese), Dr. Murali Krishna (India), Denise Duong (Vietnamese American), and Esther Dagalea Moore (Filipino) will be honored at the event for their contributions to the AAPI community in Oklahoma. Rev. Chin Do Kham (Myanmar) will be honored posthumously. Kevin Dugay (Filipino/Japanese) will be the event’s emcee.
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Registration is available online. Guests can purchase a lunch provided by Rivière Modern Bánh Mì when registering for the conference. Lunch orders must be placed before Thursday, May 9, at 11:59 p.m.
The event is sponsored in part by Medina Exploration. Supporting organizations include Rivière Modern Bánh Mì, Asia Society OK, Greater Oklahoma City Asian Chamber of Commerce, IYF Korean, Asian District Cultural Association, the Share and Grow Association and the India Association of Oklahoma.
For additional questions, you may contact Oklahoma Historical Society’s multicultural officer Saidy H. Orellana, at (405) 522-5204, or saidy.orellana@history.ok.gov.
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Picnic in the Village
Enjoy a beautiful Spring Sunday picnic at the Picnic in the Village event on the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center grounds on May 19 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.! With the purchase of one ticket, guests will reserve a picnic basket for two, with early 20th-century picnic fare, a blanket to sit on, supplies for a hands-on activity, and some take-home gifts. This lunchtime event is perfect for a Mother’s Day gift, lunch date, or nice Sunday afternoon outing with a friend.
Tickets are priced at $40. A limited number of tickets are available for this event, so reserve yours now! For more information call 580-237-1907. Purchase your tickets today!
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COMING ON MAY 18!
Fort Towson 200th Anniversary
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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.
For more information, call 580-873-2634 or email fttowson@history.ok.gov.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Pawnee Bill's Original Wild West Show
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The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will celebrate the lives of Major Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie, his wife May Lillie, and their famous Wild West Shows with a one-day celebration on Saturday, June 8. Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the original historic ranch site. 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 Historic Wild West Show.
See the full schedule of events.
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A NEW EXHIBIT OPENING SOON
Inaugural Impressions opens on June 7
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On June 7, the Oklahoma History Center Museum will open a new exhibit in the Sam Noble Gallery entitled Inaugural Impressions: Oklahoma’s First Ladies Go to the Ball. This installation will feature the dresses Oklahoma’s first ladies wore to the state’s inaugurations. Unlike past exhibits focused on fashion, the exhibit will feature a variety of gowns from the Oklahoma Historical Society’s collections while exploring women’s roles, accomplishments, and contributions while their husbands served as governors.
Oklahoma’s 16th governor, J. Howard
Edmondson, and first lady Jeannette
Edmondson lead the grand march on inauguration day, January 12, 1959 (2012.201.OVZ001.4380 OPUBCO, OHS).
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OU/OAS Field School begins at Spiro Mounds |
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From May 13 to June 12, the University of Oklahoma students, faculty, and the Oklahoma Archeological Survey staff will perform a month of excavations at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. Visitors are welcome to observe the research and ask questions while the group works.
Under the direction of Dr. Scott Hammerstedt, Dr. Amanda Regnier, and Dr. Patrick Livingood, students will be excavating areas of interest at the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center as the only pre-European contact site in Oklahoma. This is a great opportunity for students and visitors to see what real archaeologists do to understand the past. The archaeologists will be on site until 2:30 p.m. each day of archaeological excavation.
Admission to the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is currently free of charge while the visitor’s center undergoes construction. The interpretive center and trails regularly are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m.
The Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center opened to the public on May 9, 1978. The center is located three miles east of Spiro on Highway 9/271 and four miles north on Lock and Dam Road. For further information about the center, please call 918-962-2062.
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Free and family-friendly summer concerts!
Join The Chisholm on the third Thursday of May, June, July, and August for sessions of the free Summer Sounds Concert series! See Jason Scott and High Heat at the museum on Thursday, May 16!
Plan to come early and enjoy dinner from a featured food truck beginning at 6 p.m. Then, spread out your favorite blanket or set up a comfy lawn chair and enjoy live music from 7–8:30 p.m. at Horizon Hill, the home of territorial governor A.J. Seay. Each month will feature a unique group of Oklahoma musicians and a local food truck. The family-friendly events are free. For more information, contact the museum at 405-375-5176.
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1880s-era Baseball Game at WRMM |
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On Saturday, May 18, from 1 to 4 p.m., learn the history of America’s favorite pastime at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum (WRMM) in Claremore as living history athletes conduct an 1880s-era baseball game. Bring the family and your gloves to learn about the history of baseball while watching a 19th-century-style baseball game on the grounds of the museum. The “Wayne McCombs Classic” ballgame was named for the Claremore native who followed the history of baseball from when it was played on the cow pastures of Indian Territory to the modern era. Watch heavy hitters “swing the hickory” and “put some steam on” to run the bases on May 18! Call 918-343-8127 for more information.
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State Historic Preservation Office May workshops
The State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to announce its May Workshop series. The sessions will be held via Big Marker with registration by clicking here. All four workshops will be held from 10 to 11 a.m.
Due to a staff vacancy, there will be no live National Register workshop in May 2024. Please visit the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office’s YouTube channel for past NRHP workshops by clicking here. For more information or to register for classes, please contact Tifani Darata at tdarata@history.ok.gov or 405-521-6249.
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On May 6, 1935—88 years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Works Progress Administration (WPA) with an executive order. The WPA’s goal was to employ as many people as possible on projects that would provide long-term benefits to local communities while providing jobs and income for millions of Americans. During the first two years of its eight-year existence, the WPA put 119,000 Oklahomans to work. Learn more about the WPA in Oklahoma from The Encyclopedia of Okahoma History and Culture by clicking here.
Photograph of old Valliant High School under construction in 1936. Built by WPA workers who are standing outside of the building (2012.030.102.14, Kenny Sivard Collection, OHS).
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Bedre Premium Dark Chocolate Ground Coffee
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Bamboo Oklahoma state shaped cutting and serving board with pasture scene
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The OHC Museum Store is stocked full of books and unique gift items related to Oklahoma history and culture, that mothers and friends are sure to love. A variety of gifts that celebrate the state, including apparel, prints, kitchenware, and decorative items are available.
For those hard-to-shop-for friends and family, remember to give the gift of history by gifting them with an Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) membership! Store associates can help you purchase an OHS gift membership.
Visit store.okhistory.org to see and shop for hundreds of gift ideas from the comfort of your home, or call 405-522-5214 for more information.
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Click event listings below for more information.
8 - Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) webinar, State Historic Preservation Office
8 - Oklahoma Restaurant Roundtable *postponed,* 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
24 - Mr. Pettigrew film screening, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
25 - "Dirt Tells the Story of Our History" talk with Christina Rich-Splawn, Pioneer Woman Museum and Statue, Ponca City
28–30 - History Day Camp, Fort Towson Historic Site, Fort Towson
31 - “Hunter Trapper” living history program ends, Fort Gibson Historic Site, Fort Gibson
31 - Movie Night featuring Angels in the Outfield (1994), Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
1 - Clem Rogers and the Legacy of the Rogers Ranch exhibit closes, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
1 - Vintage Snack Sets exhibit opens, Fred and Addie Drummond Home, Hominy
1 - History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
1 - "Sounds of the Prairie" bluegrass performance, Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School, Perry
7 - Inaugural Impressions: Oklahoma’s First Ladies Go to the Ball exhibit opens, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
7 - Basic Barn Quilt Workshop, The Chisholm, Kingfisher
7 - Oklahoma History Center Open House, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
8 - Quilting Workshop, Sod House Museum, Aline
8 - Guided Tours, Honey Springs Battlefield, Checotah
8 - Basic Barn Quilt Workshop, The Chisholm, Kingfisher
8 - Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum, Pawnee
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Masthead image: Colorized image detail of a letter written by Josiah H. Vose from Fort Towson, April 22, 1834 to Major General Thomas S. Jesup, Quartermaster General in Washington, D.C. The letter requests that a "suitable house" and stable be built for Vose in his role as commanding officer by first of December of 1834. (Detail page 1, RG94: Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1762–1984, NAID: 423, National Archives). Hear the full contents of the letter being read in the "Post Commander's Quarters" episode of Fort Towson's video series Towson Tales.
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