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THE OKLAHOMA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN
Help us bring history to life.
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The Oklahoma Historical Society is launching its Annual Giving Campaign to help
support the projects and programs that make history come to life. Funds raised
through this campaign impact every aspect of our organization. From The Chronicles
of Oklahoma to The Gateway to Oklahoma History, and exhibits to special
events—your gift to the Annual Giving Campaign makes it possible to uncover,
honor, and chronicle our past.
Your help is more important now than ever before. Federal funding cuts have left
many of our programs at risk, and we are asking for your help to ensure we can
continue to honor our past through high-quality programming and educational
initiatives. This year, we hope to raise $90,000 to collect, preserve, and share our
state’s unique history. Your gift provides critical operational support at every level
of our organization, making it possible to host events throughout the state, offer
free educational resources, and tell new stories of our state’s past. Without your
help, our work simply wouldn’t be possible.
Your support is also tax deductible. Each gift, regardless of size, makes a difference.
Gifts of $500 or more are recognized in The Chronicles of Oklahoma,
the Oklahoma Historical Society’s scholarly journal. Gifts of $1,000 or more are
additionally recognized on the Oklahoma History Center donor board. Every dollar
raised through the Annual Giving Campaign makes our mission possible and
affirms our work to collect, preserve, and share our past.
For questions, please contact Brittney Berling, development officer, at 405-522-0317 or brittney.berling@history.ok.gov.
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AT THE OKLAHOMA HISTORY CENTER
Beyond the Sash: Reflections on Oklahoma Pageants exhibit open
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With six Miss America winners to its name, Oklahoma has long been a powerhouse in the world of pageantry. Beyond the Sash: Reflections on Oklahoma Pageants is a new exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center Museum that explores the depth and variety of the state’s pageants and cultural representation. Through both historic and contemporary examples, the exhibit examines how these events reflect tradition, identity, and change.
From national competitions like Miss America to local honors such as Fairest of the Fair and cultural ambassador titles within tribal and multicultural communities, Oklahoma’s many forms of pageants have served as platforms for personal achievement, artistic and cultural expression, and public service. The exhibit highlights the varied experiences of participants across generations and backgrounds.
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The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid will host Family Farm Day on Saturday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Family Farm Day allows guests to experience the agricultural advancements of the 1890s and 1900s with hands-on activities like shelling and grinding corn, churning butter, and more. In addition, guests can visit a farm animal petting zoo, get up close with vintage farm equipment, and participate in a pie auction and pumpkin decorating.
The museum will also be open to guests, and docents will be available to tour the galleries and teach about the area’s rich agricultural traditions. Family Farm Day and guided tours are included with paid admission.
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STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE
Lunch and Learn: “Historic Overlay Zoning” webinar with Kathryn Friddle and Felicity Good
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The State Historic Preservation Office will hold a free webinar on Monday, October 6, at noon to discuss historic overlay zoning. Kathryn Fiddle, historic preservation officer for the City of Oklahoma City, and Felicity Good, senior planner for the City of Tulsa, will be the featured presenters.
This session will discuss creating ordinances to address protecting historic properties, when a certificate of appropriateness is used and/or needed, and the different levels of regulations at the local level for historic preservation beyond zoning.
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OHS Fall events and programming |
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Movie Night featuring Roman Holiday (1953)
Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore will show the movie Roman Holiday (1953), in Claremore, on Friday, September 26.
Movie Night is a popular community event, offering a place for family and friends to connect on the last Friday of the month. The doors to the theatre open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m.
Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested. Thanks to the Bank of Commerce sponsorship, this event is FREE to attend. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
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Annual Quilt Show opens
Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will host its annual Quilt Show during the month of October, featuring heirloom and modern quilts from across the state. Cimarron Valley Quilt Guild and Pawnee Bill Quilt Guild members are instrumental in putting together this yearly event.
There is no charge to view the Quilt Show, which is available to visitors during regular hours of operation. For more information about the Quilt Show or other programs, please call 918-762-2513 or email pawneebill@history.ok.gov.
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Doaksville Candlelight Tours
The annual Doaksville Candlelight Tours will be held on Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11, at the Doaksville Archaeological Site in Fort Towson. Directions to its location can be found on the "Plan Your Visit" page for Fort Towson.
The cost for admission is $10. Guests age six and under will be admitted for free. Visitors can pre-purchase tickets at the Fort Towson Historic Site or by calling 580-873-2634. Tours begin at 7 p.m. on both nights, with the last tour starting at 9:30 p.m. Tours will leave from the Fort Towson cemetery every 30 minutes. Guests should be aware that the terrain is rugged.
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2025 Oklahoma Folklife Festival
The 2025 Oklahoma Folklife Festival at the Oklahoma History Center will be held on Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
The festival’s objectives include sparking curiosity, facilitating intercultural exchange, creating participatory experiences, and collaborating with cultural practitioners, communities, and heritage professionals. The event will primarily take place indoors, and admission will be free for the public.
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Cinnamon Roll Social
The Fort Towson Historic Site will host a Cinnamon Roll Social on Saturday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is free, and everyone is invited.
While enjoying fresh, hot cinnamon rolls from the Dutch oven, the sutler store will provide a backdrop that brings to mind a time when soldiers worked, drilled, and received their sustenance on the same piece of ground. Guests will be invited to tour the museum, explore the grounds, and learn about the significant impact of the fort. For more information, call 580-873-2634 or email fttowson@history.ok.gov.
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Handkerchief Embroidery Workshop
Back by popular demand, Hunter’s Home’s beginner-level handkerchief embroidery workshop will take place on Saturday, October 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. This workshop is targeted towards everyone ages 12 and up! All supplies, including hoops, fabric, embroidery floss, needles, and sewing accessories, will be included.
Interested parties should register in advance for this class, which costs $10 per person. To register, please call 918-456-2751.
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Annual Research Center Book Sale
The Oklahoma Historical Society’s (OHS) John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center will host its 2025 book sale Wednesday, October 22, through Saturday, October 25, at the Oklahoma History Center, located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. The sale is open from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.
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Honey Springs Battlefield offers its biennial multiday event this year, which begins with an Education Day for school groups on Friday, November 7. Events continue on Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9, with a reenactment and self-guided tours through the Union, Confederate, and civilian camps. Visitors can experience military drills, demonstrations, and living history programs and walk through Sutler’s Row, which features several vendors selling clothes, books, souvenirs, and reproduction of nineteenth-century military equipment. Visitors from around the state see special presentations and watch the battle unfold.
Don't miss this opportunity! Registration forms for reenactors and school groups and application forms for sutlers are now available. No registration is required for spectators. For more information, contact honeysprings@history.ok.gov.
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Follow the OHS website calendar to learn about our events and programs at OHS museums and historic sites across the state! Our calendar constantly changes with the latest programs and activities, from seasonal events to celebrations, exhibits, films, educational classes, and workshops. |
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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: The surface of a wooden desk in the Turkey Creek one-room schoolhouse in the Humphrey Heritage Village. A McGuffey's® Fourth Eclectic Reader, a penmanship booklet, an ink blotting paper, a quill pen, and ink bottle are arranged on the antique desk top. |
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