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This year, renew your love of history with OHS! |
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The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) was founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association to safeguard newspapers chronicling a young Oklahoma Territory.
Today, the OHS continues to collect, preserve, and share our history and culture. Our extensive collections have grown to include artifacts, photographs, documents and records, oral histories, audio, film, and video. Beyond our headquarters at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City, we maintain museums, historic homes, forts, and battlefields across the state.
Through exhibitions, publications, and experiences, we strive to illuminate Oklahoma’s complex and fascinating past. Our commitment to serving all Oklahomans ensures that future generations will have the opportunity to connect with our shared history.
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WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE PART
See the exhibits at the Oklahoma History Center
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The Oklahoma History Center Museum (OHCM) highlights the many people and stories that make the state unique. Whether you are bringing friends and family from out of state or just looking for a fun and educational outing for the family, the OHCM brings the past alive. The museum has exhibits from oil and gas to aviation, the Dust Bowl to space exploration, All-Black towns to military history, and Indigenous history to Route 66. There is a compelling story around every corner. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, the OHCM allows young people, families, and students to experience a piece of the Smithsonian—their national museum—through immersive exhibit experiences that educate and inspire. View admission prices, location, and holiday hours.
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FIND YOUR ROOTS
Build your family tree at the OHS Research Center
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The OHS John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center, located on the first floor of the Oklahoma History Center, is open to the public from Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
The center’s reading room offers free access to multiple subscription websites, including Ancestry Library Edition®, Fold3, HeritageQuest™, Newspapers.com, and The Oklahoman Digital Archives, at no charge to the public. The Research Center is a treasure trove of books, photographs, manuscripts, maps, newspapers, oral histories, audio, and video about Oklahoma history, culture, and genealogy.
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DELVE INTO HISTORY
Explore the past with OHS online resources!
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The Gateway to Oklahoma History is a free online repository of Oklahoma history by the Oklahoma Historical Society. Visitors can search and view historic newspapers, photographs, maps, and documents. The Gateway is a free resource available day and night to anyone interested in Oklahoma history! This convenient digital tool makes it easy to research any topic of one’s choosing. |
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WHAT WILL YOU DISCOVER?
Visit OHS museums and historic sites
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What do Wild West Shows, Victorian mansions, sod houses, forts, and battlefields have in common? They are all right here in Oklahoma, where our diverse and exciting past unfolds across the state. Take time to visit some of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s museums, historic sites, or affiliates this year. Before you head out on the road, check the OHS website or follow our museums and historic sites on social media for the latest updates on special hours or inclement weather closures.
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FIND YOUR INSPIRATION
Make learning fun with "History at Home"
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Explore Oklahoma Historical Society educational resources
Last year, the Oklahoma Historical Society reached more than 580,000 students, educators, researchers, history enthusiasts, and learners of all ages. Discover social studies resources, a timeline of Oklahoma history, an audio tour of the Oklahoma History Center Museum's artifacts, Oklahoma symbols, and loads of educational activities available to the public free of charge.
The Oklahoma History Center has a wide variety of E-Exhibits you can view from the cozy comfort of your home! Each one explores an Oklahoma history topic and includes historic images, activities, a glossary, and a bibliography.
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PRESERVATION MATTERS
State Historic Preservation Office of Oklahoma
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The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society, is responsible for carrying out the mandates of the National Historic Preservation Act (P.L. 89-665, as amended) in Oklahoma in partnership with the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Park Service and local governments. The SHPO works with citizens and groups throughout the state to identify, evaluate, and protect Oklahoma’s diverse historic, architectural, and archaeological resources.
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The Oklahoma Historical Society maintains an active publications program.
The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture is an OHS online resource that is comprised of more than 2,600 articles. It contains biographies, geographical features, town and country histories, significant events and historical movements, and more about the state of Oklahoma and its people.
Other publications include The Chronicles of Oklahoma scholarly journal, Mistletoe Leaves newsletter, Extra! newsletter, several books and research guides, and digital content.
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PRESERVING OUR LEGACY ONE VOICE AT A TIME
Listen to the Voices of Oklahoma
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Voices of Oklahoma is dedicated to preserving Oklahoma’s oral history, capturing the voices and stories of famous Oklahomans and ordinary citizens in their own words. These far-ranging interviews cover oil and gas, ranching, politics, education, sports legends, and more. The Oklahoma Historical Society is proud to partner with the Voices of Oklahoma project, which was founded by John Erling in 2008.
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HELP US REACH OUR MILESTONE
Join the "Heart & Soul" campaign!
The OKPOP Foundation is currently fundraising for the future of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture in Tulsa. To date, it has raised approximately $8.6 million in private funding contributions, which is 48% toward the private match goal.
Oklahoma Legislators set aside an $18 million match for OKPOP in 2023, and in July 2024, Governor Stitt signed SB1155, solidifying the match that set a fundraising deadline of November 2025. Key donors who have already made major contributions to the $8.6 million raised to date include BOK Financial, the Chickasaw Nation, the Cherokee Nation, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, Tulsa Community Foundation, the City of Tulsa, Ken and Jeanine Clifford, and Leigh and John Reaves.
When complete, the Heart and Soul Campaign will provide funding for the design and buildout of interactive museum exhibits featuring hundreds of Oklahoma pop culture creatives and artifacts, as well as additional acquisitions, museum operations, and marketing. OKPOP has acquired more than 40,000 items, including instruments, puppets, playbills, costumes, sketches, and more. In addition, the OKPOP team has recorded nearly 700 video interviews with Oklahoma creatives.
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Your support makes our work possible
Each year, the Oklahoma Historical Society realizes its mission through the incredible generosity of donors like you. By making a gift to the annual fund, you make a direct and meaningful impact on our organization. Your support plays a pivotal role by fostering a vibrant community of history enthusiasts and learners of all ages, safeguarding our heritage, and empowering the next generation of historians.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Back in Time: “Oklahoma’s Nazi Prisoners” premiere screening and panel discussion
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FIND EVENTS AND PROGRAMS
Bookmark the OHS calendar page!
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Follow the OHS website calendar to learn about all of our events and programs at OHS museums and historic sites across the state!
From seasonal events to celebrations, exhibits, films, educational classes, workshops, our calendar is constantly changing and being updated with the latest programs and activities.
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Connect with the Oklahoma Historical Society on social media—where you can learn more about Oklahoma history and get up-to-date information about events and exhibits across the state!
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Masthead image: A blinding snow blankets the Oklahoma City and slows traffic on Broadway near NW 5th Street. The line of cars keep moving, but at a snail's pace, January 21, 1954 (2012.201.OVZ001.7076, Oklahoma Publishing Company, OHS).
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