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Swing over to Bob Wills Day at the Capitol! |
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Live Music, Dance, and Western Fashion Contest!
Oklahoma State Capitol – 2nd Floor Rotunda
Join in a special celebration of the “King of Western Swing,” Bob Wills, as the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oklahoma Arts Council, OKPOP, and the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, come together for Bob Wills Day at the Capitol! On Monday, March 10, swing by the Capitol’s second-floor rotunda from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. for some great live music performances.
Bob Wills Day at the Capitol commemorates the life and legacy of the “King of Western Swing,” born March 6, 1905, who helped popularize the music genre during the 1930s and 1940s. Wills’ band, the Texas Playboys, had a daily program on the Tulsa radio outlet KVOO and were regular performers at the venerable Cain’s Ballroom.
Performers this year will include Jay Steagall & the Part-Timers, Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys under the direction of Jason Roberts, Georgia Parker, Kyle Dillingham, Jana Jae, Oklahoma Swing, and poetry readings by Jay Snider (the Oklahoma State Poet Laureate).
Various fashion contests will be held on the day of the event. Attendees are invited to come dressed in their Western attire for the chance to earn prizes in categories including boots, shirts, ties (bolo/bow), and Western swing skirts. Embellishments such as embroidery are encouraged! Prizes for the contest are being provided by the Oklahoma Film & Music Office. The sign-ups for the contests will be from 10 a.m. to noon, judging will be at noon, and the winners will be announced at 3:15 p.m.
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On sale now at the Oklahoma History Center Museum Store!
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“Let’s Play, Boys!”
The Oklahoma Historical Society, OKPOP, and 46 Star Records captured rediscovered songs of unearthed radio sessions of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys on Let’s Play, Boys!: Rediscovered Songs from Bob Wills’ Personal Transcriptions.
The songs on the album, originally recorded in 1949, were digitally restored and remastered by Grammy-nominated artist Steve Ripley. Hear the rediscovered radio recording of “There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” “A Little Bird Told Me,” and “Take Me Back to Tulsa” by Western Swing pioneers Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, along with 10 additional remastered songs.
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We’re back with the Oklahoma Historical Society’s annual #ExploreOHS Travel Contest! This year’s contest will be held Saturday, March 1, through Monday, March 31. During these dates, participants will travel to Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) museums and historic sites across the state—competing to see who can visit the most sites!
The Travel Contest is open to the public, and all entries must be submitted on social media using the #ExploreOHS hashtag. Whoever visits the most OHS sites (March 1–31, 2025) will win a prize pack of OHS swag and your choice of:
• Option 1 – Name a baby bison this spring at Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum
• Option 2 – Behind-the-scenes tour of any OHS site (for up to 6 people)
For the complete #ExploreOHS contest rules and eligibility requirements, please visit okhistory.org/exploreohs.
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Awards Banquet tickets and tables on sale |
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On Saturday, March 15, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, artist Jim Mullenax of Rocky Pond Pen and Ink will visit Honey Springs Battlefield to teach the importance of making a nature journal. The class will help teach you how to be inquisitive about the world around you by making simple sketches in a journal, which can become a satisfying practice.
The Nature Journaling Class will spark creativity by prompting questions like, “What do I notice?” or “What do I wonder?” This family-friendly workshop is free with regular admission costs. After the program, guests can check out the exhibits and film in the Honey Springs Battlefield visitor center. The site also has six walking trails with interpretive signs.
For more information, call 918-617-7125 or email honeysprings@history.ok.gov.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Annual Chuck Wagon Gathering
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On Saturday, March 29, come to The Chisholm for a day filled with cowboy fun at the Annual Chuck Wagon Gathering. Drop in to see a variety of working chuck wagons from across the region as they prepare some of their favorite dishes for visitors to try. Live music will feature Kyle Dillingham, Peter Markes, Susanne Woolley, Jim Garling, and Wayne Cantwell. Other activities include cooking demonstrations with sample food, gunfights, Wild West Show performers, Medicine Man shows, and more! Activities are free and run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Please call the Museum at (405) 375-5176 for more information.
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“Third Indian Home Guard” living history program |
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The Fort Gibson Historic Site’s Saturday living history programs every Saturday in March will be centered on the Union's Third Indian Home Guard and how they performed daily maintenance on their firearms, uniforms, and other equipment.
The program includes paid admission to the site. For more information, please call 918-478-4088. The Fort Gibson Historic Site is located at 803 N. Garrison Ave. in Fort Gibson.
Visit The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture to read more about the history of the Indian Home Guard.
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Learn to make marbled paper
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On Saturday, March 15, Hunter’s Home will have a program that will teach guests how to make marbled paper using methods from the 1850s. Throughout this program, we will discuss the history, popularity, and uses of marbled paper during the 1850s. Each guest will have a one-of-a-kind piece of art to take home with them, allowing this ancient craft to continue.
Interested parties should register in advance for this class, which costs $10 per person. To register, please call 918-456-2751. Hunter’s Home is at 19479 E. Murrell Home Rd. in Park Hill. The site is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Sign your kiddos up for Spring Break Activities!
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 Thanks to a donation by Win and Kay Ingersoll, all children under 17 are admitted free during spring break. The only activity requiring registration is Friday’s Mid-Afternoon Frolic Talent Show.
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Sign your kids up today to spend fun-filled afternoons during the Spring Break activities at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum! Events are planned every day from March 17 to 21 between 1 and 3 p.m. to keep kids learning and entertained during their school break. Each activity is based on some aspect of Will Rogers’ extraordinary life, ranging from his time as a cowboy to his love of aviation.
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Make plans to attend the Oklahoma History Symposium |
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 The Oklahoma History Symposium will be held on Saturday, May 3, at the Oklahoma History Center. Award-winning filmmaker Loren Waters (Cherokee/Kiowa) will be the keynote speaker for the event. Waters will share about her short documentary Meet Me at the Creek, which focuses on Rebecca Jim’s (Cherokee) efforts to restore Tar Creek in Miami, Oklahoma.
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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 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: Cowgirls from the Miller Brothers’ 101 Ranch Wild West Show, 1907 (19439.3.34.2, Mabel Tompkins Collection, OHS). |
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March is Women's History Month
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As the world celebrates International Women’s Day this week on Saturday, March 8 and women’s history in the month of March, the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) invites the public to learn about the incredible contributions of Oklahoma women through its valuable online resource. Visit the Women in Oklahoma History page on the OHS website to learn about women as trailblazers, creatives, pioneers, artists, journalists, aviators, tribal leaders, and so much more. The finding aid has a wide selection of online tools, from publications to educational resources. Learn about the women who helped shape the state’s history through articles, photographs, biographies, audio, video, online exhibits, and more.
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