|
|
Join Route 66 enthusiasts, policy leaders, business owners, and historians for an exciting summit at the Oklahoma History Center on Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24.
The 2nd Annual Mother Road Summit offers a unique opportunity to learn about the new things happening on Route 66 and network with people from across the 8 states traversed by the Main Street of America. The summit is sponsored by the U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission and hosted by the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission, Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and Visit OKC.
For more information on the itinerary, hotels, and the agenda, please visit www.motherroadsummit.com.
|
|
|
GET YOUR KICKS and MERCH
Stop in anytime!
The Oklahoma History Center Museum Store has a great selection of Route 66 items, and a unique selection of gifts for the history lover in your life! Visiting the Museum Store is free of charge, and its shelves are filled with charming Oklahoma-made gift items, fascinating books, fun historic toys, and beautiful gifts that celebrate our state’s spirit.
|
|
|
HOLDING DOWN THE FORT
“Camp Life of Washington Irving and the Mounted Rangers”
|
|
|
On Saturdays, April 11 and April 25, from 10 a.m. to noon, and again from 1 to 4 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site staff will hold a come-and-go living history program to recount the year 1832 when expeditions of the western frontier were based at the fort. The program is included with admission.
In 1832, author Washington Irving arrived at Fort Gibson, which was the last stop on his journey to explore the western frontier. He also traveled with a unique group of Mounted Rangers. During his time with Captain Bean’s company of Mounted Rangers, Irving gathered the materials for his book A Tour on the Prairies (1835), one of the first written accounts of daily life on the western prairie and one that reached many American readers in the East.
|
|
|
GIVING IT THEIR BEST SHOT
Artillery Demonstration with the 1st Arkansas Mountain Artillery
|
|
|
On Saturday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m., at the Honey Springs Battlefield, the 1st Arkansas Mountain Artillery will hold a demonstration of Civil War artillery in a free public program.
The group will portray Captain Roswell W. Lee’s Battery, which made up the Confederate artillery line at the Battle of Honey Springs. This program will consist of approximately two shots from a Mountain Howitzer—an artillery piece seen on both sides of the conflict at Honey Springs—and a program featuring Jim Spillars, a living historian from Fayetteville, Arkansas, and director of the 1st Arkansas Mountain Artillery. For more information regarding Honey Springs Battlefield, call 918-617-7125. You can also email honeysprings@history.ok.gov.
|
|
|
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS
395th Army Reserve Band America250 Celebration performance
|
|
|
On Saturday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the 395th Army Band will be performing at the Oklahoma History Center Museum. They will be celebrating with a special America250 celebration performance, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Enjoy a high-energy concert with an “America at 250” theme, featuring patriotic favorites and modern selections that honor the spirit, service, and stories of our nation. The performance is open to the public at no charge with museum admission. Active-duty military and veterans (with ID) enjoy free admission. For additional information, please call 405-522-0765.
|
|
|
TOAST OF THE TOWN
Liquid History: Off the Vine
|
|
|
On Friday, April 10, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center(CSRHC) will present its annual Liquid History event. This year’s theme is “Off the Vine,” which will explore Oklahoma’s rich wine history. Tickets for Liquid History: Off the Vine are priced at $40 per guest. This special event is for ages 21 and over.
Grape growing and wine production have been an important part of Oklahoma’s horticulture and agritourism industries since before statehood, with the first documented winery being opened in Oklahoma Territory in 1898.
|
|
|
EXPERIENCE FARMING TRADITIONS
Spring on the Farm at Hunter's Home
|
|
|
It’s spring, and Hunter’s Home’s sheep need to be shorn. Attend Spring on the Farm on Saturday, April 25, to see this annual tradition from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For working farms, spring isn’t just about shearing sheep—things around the farm are waking up again after a long winter’s rest. Spring on the Farm will include demonstrations of wool processing, fireplace cooking, children’s crafts, spinning, knitting, and more.
Spring on the Farm is included with paid admission to the site. For more information, call 918-456-2751. Hunter’s Home is at 19479 E. Murrell Home Rd. in Park Hill, and the site is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
|
|
Save the date!
The Oklahoma History Symposium will be held on Saturday, May 2, 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 Oklahoma. It provides a venue for scholars, students, educators, public history professionals, and the interested public from across the state and region to share their work and interests with others.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed during the program do not necessarily represent those of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
|
|
|
ON THE RISE
Spring Bake Day at Fort Gibson
|
|
|
On Saturday, April 18, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site staff will once again bring the bake house back to life with their Spring Bake Day. This annual fundraiser offers visitors to the site a chance to taste the past through freshly baked bread.
Bread is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The first loaves will start coming out around 12:30 p.m., with the last batches around 3:30 p.m. As always, the bake house will be closed to the public until the last of the bread is finished, to ensure the right baking temperature. Bread will be available in the 1870s Hospital and Visitor Center located at 803 N Garrison Ave.
|
|
|
FORGING FUN
Blacksmithing Demonstrations
On select Saturdays in April, May, and June, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cherokee Strip Museum and Rose Hill School will hold a come-and-go blacksmithing demonstration in the blacksmith shop. Guests can enjoy watching traditional metalworking techniques in action and learn about the time-honored craft of blacksmithing. For more information, please call 580-336-2405. Admission is free for all, but donations are always appreciated.
|
 (Photo by Korbyn McKale)
|
|
|
EXPERIENCE THE PAST
History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
Step back in time on the first and third Saturdays of every month and experience life in the Cherokee Outlet during History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, a living history program at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center in Enid.
The five historic buildings in the Humphrey Heritage Village, dating back to the territorial era, come to life with living history interpreters dressed in period clothing from the late 1800s.
|
|
On April 8, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt embarked on a multi-day wolf hunt in southern Oklahoma Territory. The hunting party included Jack Abernathy and Quanah Parker, among others. Jack Abernathy had the unique ability to catch wolves with his bare hands, as he demonstrated during the hunt. Read the fascinating story of Roosevelt’s Wolf Hunt in The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
Left to right: Jack Abernathy, Theodore Roosevelt, and Quanah Parker (21397.2 | 6116 | 2847, OHS Photograph Collection) |
|
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. |
|
|
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!
|
|
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 |
|
|
Begin your journey on the Route 66 Resources page on the Oklahoma Historical Society’s website to keep up to date with the upcoming events and exhibits celebrating the legendary Mother Road. Explore a rich collection of online treasures, from interesting archives and podcasts to detailed publications and hands-on educational tools, each highlighting Route 66’s unique role in Oklahoma’s history. Immerse yourself in captivating stories, relive the past through vintage videos, and find your inspirations by visiting the iconic landmarks that dot this iconic highway.
Experience the thrill of more than 400 miles of Route 66 winding through Oklahoma. Head to the Travel Oklahoma website to learn about all of the charming towns, classic roadside diners, and quirky attractions along the nation’s longest drivable stretch of Route 66.
|
|
|
|
|
