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AAAH-HAAA!
Bob Wills to be celebrated at the Oklahoma State Capitol on March 9
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Join in a special celebration of the “King of Western Swing,” Bob Wills, as the Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Arts Council, OKPOP, and Oklahoma Film + Music come together for a fun-filled day! On Monday, March 9, swing by the Capitol’s second-floor rotunda from 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. to hear and dance to great live music performances. The event will honor the life and legacy of this iconic musician, songwriter, and bandleader.
Schedule of performers:
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10 a.m. Jay Steagall and The Part-Timers
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11 a.m. Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys under the direction of Jason Roberts
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12:30 p.m. Katie Shore
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1:30 p.m. Hank Thompson’s Brazos Valley Boys under the direction of Morey Sullivan with special guest fiddler Jana Jae
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3:30 p.m. Oklahoma Swing
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Save the date!
The Oklahoma History Center will hold the 2026 Oklahoma Farm-to-Table Festival on Saturday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free, family-friendly event will encourage the exploration of historic and modern agriculture. There will be hands-on activities and demonstrations for visitors of all ages.
The festival will offer many educational opportunities and experiences, including chuckwagon cooking and nutrition demonstrations, livestock, a petting zoo, various crafts, and story time. In addition, Made-in-Oklahoma vendors will attend to illustrate how their products are created and distributed, and musical entertainment will be on the main stage. The event will take place indoors and outdoors.
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E. E. Dale Awardee Caleb Gayle
The 2025 winner of the Oklahoma Historical Society E. E. Dale Award for Outstanding Book on Oklahoma History is Caleb Gayle for Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State (Riverhead Books, 2025).
Caleb Gayle is an award-winning journalist and the author of Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State (longlisted for the National Book Award) and We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power. A professor at Northeastern University in Boston, he is a contributing writer at The New York Times Magazine.
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Reserve your Oklahoma Historical Society Annual Awards Banquet tickets today! |
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On Thursday, March 19, along with E. E. Dale Award winner Caleb Gayle, the Oklahoma Historical Society will honor award recipients and Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame inductees at our annual Awards Banquet. This event is held at the Oklahoma History Center, located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City. There will be a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. The dinner and program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Cocktail attire is requested, and guests are asked to RSVP by March 9.
Steven W. Taylor, former chief justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, will be the keynote speaker. OHS Board Member T. S. Akers will serve as the event's emcee.
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Art of the Wish exhibit discussion with co-creators Marn Jensen and Andy Newcom |
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On Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m., co-creators of the exhibit Art of the Wish, Marn Jensen and Andy Newcom, will hold an informal meeting with their teammate Julie McFarland at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (CSRHC) in the J. E. & L. E. Mabee Foundation Gallery.
This talk with the co-creators of the exhibit will be a great opportunity for the public to ask questions and learn more about the inspiration for Art of the Wish and the ideas that shaped its content. The informal gathering will be open to the public at no charge.
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CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
"The History We Know vs. The History They See: Editing Wikipedia for Women's Stories"
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The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will host a free Lunch and Learn webinar on Thursday, March 19, from 12:00 to 1:15 p.m. Central Time, exploring the current gender gap on Wikipedia.
This webinar, guided by Brandi Burns, will explore the representation of women’s history on Wikipedia, summarize Wikipedia’s mission, and explore how Wikipedia editors build a consensus-based system. She will also share a demonstration of how Wikipedia edits are made.
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#ExploreOHS Travel Contest underway! |
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The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) is excited to host another #ExploreOHS Travel Contest, which will be held through Tuesday, March 31. During these dates, participants will travel to OHS museums and historic sites across the state—competing to see who can visit the most sites! This contest is open to the public, and all entries must be submitted on social media using the #ExploreOHS hashtag.
The person (or family/group traveling together) who visits the largest number of OHS sites (March 1–31, 2026) will win a prize pack of OHS swag and your choice of:
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Option 1: Name a baby bison this spring at Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum
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Option 2: Behind-the-scenes tour of OKPOP in Tulsa (for up to 6 people)
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REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!
Will's Wild West Kids Camp
Enrollment is now open for the Will’s Wild West Kids Camp for children ages 7 to 12 from Monday, June 15, through Wednesday, June 17. On those days, the camp will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum. We encourage kids to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Children will learn about Will Rogers, cowboys, and what life was like in pre-statehood Oklahoma!
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REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!
Li'l Buckaroos Kids Camp
The Will Rogers Memorial Museum will host a two-day Li’l Buckaroos Kids Camp for children aged 5 to 6 years old on Monday, July 6, and Tuesday, July 7, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The camp will be filled with activities, games, and entertainment specifically designed for young children. Each child will receive a cowboy hat, shirt, rope, and other crafts they make and take from camp.
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The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP), is located in the Tulsa Arts District across from the historic Cain’s Ballroom. Under the direction of the Oklahoma Historical Society, the museum will showcase countless stories of Oklahoma Creatives who have impacted the worlds of music, movies, television, radio, comics, animation, literature, and more. The museum is currently in phase II of development, focused on acquisitions, fundraising, and exhibit design. Follow all of the latest developments on the OKPOP Facebook page.
The mission of OKPOP is to inspire and empower new generations of creatives by showcasing the legacy of Oklahomans and their influence on popular culture.
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HONEY SPRINGS BATTLEFIELD
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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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Detail of Beverly’s Chicken in the Rough Restaurant menu from a bygone era. Its namesake chicken dinner (served without silverware) cost 50 cents, and included shoestring potatoes and hot buttered rolls. Date unknown (21412.BH2376.1, Z. P. Meyers/Barney Hillerman Photographic Collection, OHS). |
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Masthead image:
A car hop takes an order at the first Beverly’s Chicken in the Rough Restaurant, located at 2429 N. Lincoln—US Route 66. It opened in 1936. During its heyday, the chain had seven locations in Oklahoma City and expanded to include hundreds of franchise locations nationwide (21412.M3140.25, Z. P. Meyers/Barney Hillerman Photographic Collection, OHS).
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This year, Route 66 celebrates 100 years!
For more information about all of the Route 66 centennial events, be sure to visit the OHS website at okhistory.org and the official Oklahoma Route 66 website at okroute66.com.
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