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Each spring, Hunter’s Home shears their sheep, following historic farming traditions. Come out on Saturday, April 26 to experience the annual Spring on the Farm event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For working farms, spring is not only a time of shearing sheep. After a long winter's rest, things around the farm are waking up. Visitors can experience demonstrations of butter and cheese making, wool processing, garden talks, children’s activities and crafts, shopping, and more. Regular admission fees apply. For more information, call 918-456-2751.
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Spring Fling at Fort Towson |
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The Fort Towson Historic Site will host a Spring Fling on Saturday, April 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The free event will feature a hands-on map-making activity for kids at 10 a.m., a lecture on Thomas Nuttall at 11 a.m., a picnic on the grounds at noon, and finish with a guided nature walk at 1 p.m. There is no cost for this event.
Kids will start the day with a map-making activity, beginning with a simple pencil and paper. This educational program will teach them important exploring skills that 19th-century travelers used to map their travels. They will also learn about Thomas Nuttall, a botanist who was an early explorer of what later became Fort Towson in 1819. Children will follow in his footsteps, documenting the route through the area when it was uncharted wilderness.
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LISTEN TO THE LATEST
A New State Flag
Oklahoma’s first state flag was a white star on a red field designed by Ruth Clement. The flag never gained favor, and by the 1920s, red flags held a negative connotation due to the nationwide Red Scare. In 1924, the Daughters of the American Revolution held a contest to design a new state flag and Louise Fluke’s winning entry was adopted on April 2, 1925. In this latest episode of A Very OK Podcast, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss the history of the Oklahoma state flag against the backdrop of historic events happening in Oklahoma during the 1920s. Their guest is OHS state historian, Dr. Matthew Pearce.
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SEE THE OHS DOCUMENTARY!
Commemorating 100 Years of the Oklahoma State Flag
The Oklahoma state flag has a storied history. Oklahoma adopted its first state flag in 1911, but it was rarely flown. On April 2, 1925, Governor Martin Trapp signed the legislation that approved the new design. The design by Louise Funk Fluke shows a field of blue with a circular Osage war shield in the middle. The shield has six painted crosses representing stars, seven eagle feathers, and a crossed calumet and olive branch on top. As we commemorate 100 years of the flag, this documentary looks at how the design came to fruition.
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THE VOICES OF OKLAHOMA INTERVIEWS
The Oklahoma City Bombing
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Thirty years ago, on April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m. a bomb exploded in a Ryder truck parked outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City—killing 168 people and injuring approximately 850. At the time, it was the nation’s worst single act of domestic terrorism.
This week, we remember those who were killed, those who survived, and those whose lives changed forever. Learn from the oral histories of the Oklahomans who experienced the Oklahoma City Bombing firsthand. Share in their incredible stories of charity and leadership.
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Sign up for Fort Gibson Education Day |
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The Fort Gibson Historic Site will host its annual Education Day on Friday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
One day a year, the Fort Gibson Historic Site is closed to all but Oklahoma’s young scholars for a fun-filled day of education! Fort Gibson Historic Site staff, living historians, and volunteers will demonstrate skills, crafts, and trades that enabled people to thrive in 19th-century Indian Territory. Registered schools can expect to see demonstrations of daily life in the 1800s, including fiber arts, cooking, military drills, and trade! Several stations will be set up across the grounds of the 200-year-old military post for students to participate in educational activities.
Schools must register in advance to reserve their space in 2-hour time blocks. Teachers, bus drivers, and one chaperone for each 10 students are given free entry. Cost is $4 per student. To register, email fortgibson@history.ok.gov. Registration runs through April 19.
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Your Vote, Your History: OHS Board Ballots Due April 24
The Oklahoma Historical Society is guided by a 25-member Board of Directors, with 13 elected by OHS members and 12 appointed by the governor. These board members play a pivotal role in carrying out the OHS mission to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Ballots for the 2025 OHS Board of Directors election have been mailed to current members and must be received by noon on April 24. This is your opportunity to influence the leadership that shapes the preservation of our state's heritage. For more information on the election process, visit the OHS elections and nominations page or contact Angela Spindle at 405-522-0472 or angela.spindle@history.ok.gov.
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The Oklahoma History Center Museum is creating an exhibit honoring coaches at all levels—from youth to college—who have shaped Oklahoma’s sports legacy. We want your stories! Share how a coach impacted your life or recount your own experiences as a coach. We also welcome photos and artifacts that help tell these stories.
Share your memories or learn more at okhistory.org/coaches, and you could contribute to our upcoming exhibit!
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Explore OHS Historic Homes
When you visit OHS museums and historic sites, a staff member will always be at the door to greet you! We encourage you to explore the charm of our historic homes and their original furnishings to experience life in the state where a diverse and exciting past unfolds.
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We are looking for enthusiastic volunteer judges to help make our upcoming Oklahoma National History Day State Contest successful at the Oklahoma History Center.
Oklahoma National History Day is a program allowing thousands of students across the state to become historians for a year. Students prepare history projects and compete in one of eight contests before advancing to the state contest held each May at the Oklahoma History Center Museum. This year’s contest will be held May 7–8, 2025, with the Junior Division happening on Wednesday, May 7, and the Senior Division on Thursday, May 8. The contest theme is “Rights and Responsibilities in History.”
Judges’ days begin at 8:30 a.m. each morning, breakfast will be provided, and they will conclude by lunchtime or slightly after. Each judge will provide complimentary and constructive comments to the student contestants, make recommendations for improvement, and then rank the top student entries for advancement to serve as Oklahoma’s representatives at the College Park, Maryland, a national contest. No experience is necessary, and we would love for you to bring your unique insight and talents to these incredible student historians.
If you are interested in serving as a judge as an individual or on a team with others at the upcoming State competition, please register here. You may register for one or both days. Please note that if you registered as a judge last year, you will have to register again. If you have any questions about serving as a judge, please email oklahomanhd@gmail.com.
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Celebrate the season with the Oklahoma Historical Society! |
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 PAWNEE BILL RANCH
Annual Easter Egg Hunt
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 WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Easter Egg Hunt
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 PAWNEE BILL RANCH
Sunrise Service
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 PAWNEE BILL RANCH
Earth Day Activities
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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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