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SAVE THE DATES
Coming soon! - Doaksville Candlelight Tours
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For more information,
call 580-873-2634 or
email fttowson@history.ok.gov.
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The annual Doaksville Candlelight Tours will be held on Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11, at the Doaksville Archaeological Site in Fort Towson.
In commemoration of the 160th anniversary of Stand Watie’s surrender at the end of the American Civil War, the production will focus on Doaksville during 1865. Scenes will bring to life the news of various Confederate surrenders reaching Doaksville, refugees from the northern part of the Territory, Watie’s surrender, and soldiers and civilians alike trying to decide what to do after the war ended. Included in the cast of characters will be Confederate States Army Brigadier-General Stand Watie, Union Lieutenant Colonel Asa C. Matthews, Union Captain W. H. Vance, and Union Captain Kirby of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry who escorted Matthews and Vance.
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Blacksmithing Demonstrations in Perry
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On Saturdays, October 11, October 25, and November 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School will hold a Blacksmithing Demonstrations in the blacksmith shop. Guests can enjoy watching the craftsmen work and have safe, hands-on experiences.
Families are welcome to attend and watch the demonstrations inside the Blacksmith Shop on the grounds of the Cherokee Strip Museum. For more information about all of the activities planned, please call 580-336-2405.
Free admission for all, but donations are always appreciated.
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Lunch and Learn: “Elmer McCurdy Day”
with David Yazbek, Erik Della Penna, and Michael Williams
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Join the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library on Zoom on Tuesday, October 7, at noon as museum director Michael Williams moderates a discussion on the life and afterlife of Elmer McCurdy with David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, creators of the Broadway musical Dead Outlaw (2025).
Yazbek is an American writer, musician, composer and lyricist. Della Penna is a composer, lyricist, instrumentalist and vocalist who has appeared on over 60 rock, pop and Americana albums. This event is free; however, spots are limited, and registration is required.
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When the Circus Comes to Town exhibit opens |
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The circus is coming! Visit the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie to see its latest exhibit about the history of the circus. The When the Circus Comes to Town exhibit will be on display beginning on Friday, October 10.
Oklahoma has a long, rich history with the circus, its variety of performers, and curious side shows. Circuses often traveled through Indian Territory. Did you know that within months of the opening of the Unassigned Lands, a circus visited Guthrie on its summer tour around the country?
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“Come One, Come All!”
opening celebration and film screening of The Circus (1928)
Come one, come all to the opening celebration of the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library’s new spotlight exhibit, When the Circus Comes to Town!
On Thursday, October 10, at 7 p.m., for a fun-filled evening! With free admission, you’ll get to enjoy a special showing of Charlie Chaplin’s film The Circus (1928). Put your unique skills in the center ring at our talent show—unicyclists are more than welcome!
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History & Haunts at the Overholser
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The Henry and Anna Overholser Mansion will host its annual History and Haunts tours in October. The evening tours will take place on October 10, 11, 18, 24, 25, and 30, from 7 to 9 p.m. each night.
Visitors will see the home in its nighttime splendor, learn the history of the house and its former occupants, and discover why some say they are still roaming the halls!
All ages are welcome, but everyone must have a ticket. Tickets are $30 per person, with no refunds or exchanges allowed.
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Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office upcoming FREE webinars |
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 Saving the Sacred:
"Cemetery Research and Recordation, Session 2"
October 2
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Lunch and Learn:
"Historic Overlay Zoning: What it is and how does it work?"
October 6
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 Lunch and Learn:
"The Battle of Turkey Springs"
October 14
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The OKPOP Museum will host an unforgettable night on its First-Friday OKPOP-IN event on Friday, October 3, from 5 to 10 p.m. The museum will host an Oklahoma Hip-Hop Legacy Forum and Rooftop Showcase, celebrating the past, present, and future of Oklahoma Hip-Hop! The public is invited to this free event, featuring an evening of music, pop culture, and behind-the-scenes access, offering an exclusive look inside the future of OKPOP.
Behind-the-scenes tours of the museum, exhibit plans, and the collections vault will happen hourly from 5 to 8 p.m. BeLight Entertainment will present a special tribute to Oklahoma Hip-Hop on the OKPOP rooftop. Listen to a forum from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with special guests tied to the Hip-Hop legacy. Enjoy an OK Hip-Hop Rooftop showcase from 7 to 9 p.m. From 9:15 to 9:45 p.m., see the OK Hip-Hop Headliner perform. This event promises epic vibes all night long! Food and drinks will be provided.
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Family Farm Day
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.
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On Thursday, October 9, from 1 to 3 p.m., the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) and the Oklahoma Historical Society will partner to host the FREE premiere screening of the OETA Back in Time series episode “Green Corn Rebellion.” The public is invited to this exclusive premiere screening and panel discussion at the Oklahoma History Center.
Be among the first to watch the brand-new episode on the Green Corn Rebellion of 1917 before it airs! In this little-known but fascinating chapter of history, tenant farmers, sharecroppers, and renegade Socialists rose up in rural Oklahoma to resist the draft and America’s entry into World War I. Their dream of sparking a mass movement was bold—but short-lived.
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Archaeology Day at Spiro
Celebrate Archaeology Day at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. This family-oriented event will take place on Saturday, October 18, and will take place all day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kids can learn about the tools of archaeology, prehistoric foods, and participate in a variety of activities, including pottery puzzles, artifact sorting, and a scavenger hunt. Admission to the event will be free for all ages as the site undergoes improvement projects. For more information, call (918) 962-2062.
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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 vendors are now available. No registration is required for spectators. For more information, contact honeysprings@history.ok.gov.
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The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP) has nearly reached its fundraising goal! Oklahoma is stepping up, and the museum is 91% of the way to meeting their $18 million goal. With only $1.6 million remaining, we are challenging everyone to get involved!
This is more than just a building and more than just a museum. OKPOP is all about honoring the people and the voices that have shaped our culture!
Visit OKPOP.org to learn more and find ways to give!
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Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! |
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“Hispanic and Latino Oklahomans in the twentieth century trace their roots to all nineteen Spanish-speaking Latin American nations and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and, after American Indians and African Americans, comprise the third largest ethnic minority in Oklahoma.” Learn more about the history and contributions of Hispanics in Oklahoma by reading Michael M. Smith’s full article in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
National Hispanic Heritage Week celebration, Oklahoma City, 1979 (2012.201.B0262.0409, Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, OHS).
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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: Corn, squash, and pumpkins on display at a vegetable and grain exhibit at the free Street Fair, held October 10–15, 1898, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Territory (4070, Frederick S. Barde Collection, OHS). |
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