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Join us for one of the Oklahoma Historical Society's biggest events this weekend! |
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Battle of Honey Springs Education Day - Friday, November 7
On Friday, November 7, students from schools across the state and the general public will have the opportunity to explore numerous education stations teaching topics related to the Civil War in Indian Territory and the battle itself. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., living historians will demonstrate military drills, cooking techniques, everyday activities for soldiers, and civilian life. Numerous sutlers will be selling 19th-century reproduction military equipment, clothing, books, and souvenirs, and food vendors will also be on-site. Education Day is free to the public but we ask you to preregister.
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Battle of Honey Springs Reenactment
Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9
The Battle of Honey Springs Reenactment will take place November 8–9. Honey Springs Battlefield and the Friends of Honey Springs Battlefield are grateful for the generous support from the reenactment community. We hope you have a great time during our event and appreciate the effort and dedication you put into making this event a meaningful and memorable experience for all. We invite reenactors to participate in the events and register online. Each participant must register separately.
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Questions?
For more information regarding this event or Honey Springs Battlefield, please call
918-617-7125 or email molly.hutchins@history.ok.gov.
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STEP BACK IN TIME!
Wagons and Buggies Show: A Rural Heritage Festival
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On Saturday, November 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., experience the sights, sounds, and spirit of 1893 at the Wagons and Buggies Show: A Rural Heritage Festival at the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School in Perry.
This special event highlights the traditions of early Oklahoma settlers and promises a day full of history, hands-on activities, and fun for the entire family.
Visitors can explore wagons and buggies on display outside the museum, enjoy live music on the lawn, and participate in carriage rides. Kids will love the petting zoo and the chance to sit on Howdy the longhorn. The day will also feature blacksmithing demonstrations, two Rose Hill Schoolhouse sessions at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and crafts inside the museum. At the event, guests can enjoy a hearty chuck wagon chili meal while immersing themselves in the sights and sounds of Oklahoma’s rural heritage.
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“Tiny Boxes and Vast Legacies: Mapping the African American Homesteading Story in Oklahoma Territory” presented by Dr. Kalenda Eaton |
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On Friday, November 14, at 6 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is pleased to host a talk with Dr. Kalenda Eaton of the University of Oklahoma. Eaton will present “Tiny Boxes and Vast Legacies: Mapping the African American Homesteading Story in Oklahoma Territory.”
Using a new data map produced from the Oklahoma Black Homesteader Project, this presentation will explore the communities of African American homesteaders in Oklahoma Territory during the late-19th and early 20th centuries. Specific examples from Garfield County will be highlighted.
The talk will be held at the Village Church in the Humphrey Heritage Village. The cost of attending the presentation will be the regular price of admission.
Dr. Kalenda Eaton is a professor in the Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies at The University of Oklahoma. She is a humanities scholar whose research focuses on African American Western regional studies; intersections of Black literary studies and cultural history; and women’s studies.
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FREE PUBLIC CELEBRATION
Milestone event at the Oklahoma History Center!
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On Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will open its doors to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This milestone event is free and open to all. Whether you are a longtime supporter or a first-time visitor, November 15 is the perfect day to discover what makes the Oklahoma History Center a place worth celebrating!
Since 2005, the Oklahoma History Center has connected visitors to the stories of our state. Now, it’s marking its 20th anniversary with a free public celebration.
This one-day event offers something for every history enthusiast or anyone curious about the people and stories that shaped Oklahoma. Guests can explore hands-on artifact carts, join guided tours led by staff and volunteers, and enjoy live historical interpreters throughout the museum galleries. Special programming will take place throughout the day. The event will also feature the opening of the new exhibit Collect. Preserve. Share. 20 Years at the Oklahoma History Center in the Sam Noble Gallery.
As an affiliate of both the Smithsonian and National Archives and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, the Oklahoma History Center invites the public to experience history in meaningful, engaging, and accessible ways.
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Kilgen Theatre Organ Performance featuring Chris Elliot and the silent film Phantom of the Opera (1925)
On Monday, November 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., a Kilgen Theatre Organ performance will be held in the Devon Great Hall at the Oklahoma History Center featuring organist Chris Elliot accompanying Rupert Julian’s silent film Phantom of the Opera (1925).
Tickets are $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for the general public and are available by calling 405-522-0765.
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The Rhapsody Project exhibit opens in Enid
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The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) is proud to present The Rhapsody Project in the J. E. and L. E. Mabee Gallery, running through January 10.
This unique in-house exhibit explores the rich musical history of northwest Oklahoma.
In collaboration with Tammy Wilson from the Enid Event Company in Enid, CSRHC will highlight the contributions of individuals and groups from the Cherokee Outlet who have significantly influenced the music industry. The admission fee for this exhibit is included in the regular ticket price.
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The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is seeking proposals for “Milestones in Oklahoma History”: The Oklahoma History Symposium. This one-day event will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
Presented by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the symposium is a one-day event that encompasses a range of historical topics related to the state of Oklahoma. It provides a venue for scholars, students, educators, public history professionals, and the general public from across the state and region to share their work and interests with others.
In 2026, the Oklahoma History Symposium will convene during preparation for two significant national commemorations: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the 100th anniversary of the designation of US Highway 66. Therefore, the 2026 symposium will center on the theme “Milestones in Oklahoma History.”
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Have you heard? OKPOP is nearly there!
Imagine believing so strongly in a dream that you carry it through every obstacle. That’s the story of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP). For years, it existed only as an idea—sometimes fragile, sometimes uncertain. But the belief that Oklahoma’s stories deserve to be told never wavered. And today, because of friends and supporters like you, that dream is alive and thriving. Your continued support helps ensure these stories will be celebrated for generations.
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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:
On November 27, 1868, Lt. Col. George A. Custer led the U.S. Army’s 7th Cavalry on an early morning attack along the Washita River near present-day Cheyenne, Oklahoma. During the Battle of the Washita, troops attacked a village of Cheyenne people who were living with Peace Chief Black Kettle. When the attack commenced at dawn, people in the village were still asleep. They awoke to the sound of gunfire—then they had to flee or fight for their lives. They fought to protect their families, their horses, and their property.
Masthead image: Cheyenne Chief Homer Heap of Birds (who witnessed the attack as a young boy) and Chief Little Hand visiting the site, c. 1929 (19589.126.32, Alvin Rucker Collection, OHS).
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