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Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony |
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The Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held Saturday, July 25, at 2 p.m. at the Frisco Conference Center, 101 S. 4th Street in Clinton. The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) will be a sponsor of the event, and OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson will be attending.
At 2 p.m., the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will induct two individuals into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame, including one posthumous recipient. This year also features a third, special centennial inductee, all to be announced at the ceremony.
Inductions are held every two years for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion or preservation of Route 66.
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TUNE IN TO HISTORY
Hit the road this summer with Route 66-themed podcast episodes!
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ENROLL TODAY!
“Thinking Genealogically” Symposium
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Genealogy Symposium, Inc. is partnering with the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) to hold a three-day hands-on symposium from August 13 to 15, dedicated to instructing participants in the effective use of Ancestry®, Family Search, and the resources of the OHS John and Eleanor Kirkpatrick Research Center. Professional genealogists and educators Billie Stone Fogarty and Dave McDonald will serve as the workshop instructors.
On Thursday, August 13, the group will receive an overview and a teaching tour of Ancestry®, the world’s largest genealogy site. On Friday, August 14, instructors will explore Family Search—one of the world’s largest genealogy organizations and networks. On Saturday, August 15, participants will learn about the OHS digital portal, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, and resources available at the OHS Research Center. The workshop meets from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. each day.
Registration is open through August 7, and the workshop will be limited to 48 registrants. The OHS will assist with the program and provide behind-the-scenes tours of the OHS Research Division and museum collections. Lunches will not be provided. Brown bagging is especially encouraged on Saturday. To learn more, email dave@thegenealogysymposium.com.
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FROM VISION TO VENUE
Your Holiday, Our Halls.
Celebrate the season surrounded by history and charm at the Oklahoma History Center Museum, where holiday magic and timeless elegance come together to create unforgettable moments! Holiday dates fill quickly for the Oklahoma History Center Museum, so we encourage you to book your celebration today and make the coming season one for the history books! For more information, contact our Events Office at events@history.ok.gov or by calling 405-522-0745.
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Summer Sounds Concert Series doubleheader! |
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Tomorrow, on Thursday, July 16, from 6:45 to 9 p.m., The Chisholm in Kingfisher will have a doubleheader concert featuring Kyle Dillingham and Peter Markes, followed by Oklahoma Swing as a part of the Summer Sounds concert series held at The Chisholm in Kingfisher.
The Summer Sounds concerts series brings a rhythm to summer evenings as live music fills the open air at Horizon Hill, the storied home of territorial Governor A. J. Seay. Spread out your favorite blanket, sink into a comfy lawn chair, and let the melodies wash over you from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The family-friendly event is free! For more information, contact the museum at 405-375-5176.
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Don’t miss OkieTales this Saturday, July 18!
Join the Oklahoma History Center Museum on Saturday, July 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for OkieTales story time at the Oklahoma History Center! Staff will be reading a book about the Dust Bowl and life during the Great Depression.
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COMING SOON!
OkieTales Storytime with “Buckaroo Bart” Taylor
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On Saturday, July 25, bring your children for a fun-filled OkieTales with “Buckaroo Bart” Taylor from Will Rogers Memorial Museum. He will read his new book, Will Rogers and His Great Inspiration, at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. This special story time will include a roping demonstration and lesson.
OkieTales story time and activities are geared toward elementary students, preschoolers, and their families. It’s a free come-and-go program with paid museum admission. OHS members can get in for free.
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The Battle of Honey Springs Memorial |
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Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 18, at 10:30 a.m., to honor the 163rd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah.
Tom Wing from the Drennen-Scott Historic Site will serve as the keynote speaker, addressing the connections between Arkansas and Indian Territory during the Civil War and their influence on the Battle of Honey Springs. OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson and Honey Springs Battlefield Site Director Molly Hutchins will also offer remarks. For more information regarding the memorial service and Honey Springs Battlefield, call 918-617-7125. You can also email honeysprings@history.ok.gov.
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Learn to care for your personal artifacts |
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Attend a personal artifact care workshop at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library on Saturday, July 18, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Curator Erin Brown will offer expert guidance on preserving antique quilts, clothing, books, and photographs.
The workshop is limited to 20 participants, with a fee of $40 per person. To register, please get in touch with the museum. Early registration is recommended, as space is limited.
Visit okhistory.org/otm-workshop to secure your tickets today!
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Oklahoma Territorial Museum collaborating in international effort |
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The Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library in Guthrie is collaborating with the International Research and Archives Network (IRAND) to present an accessible online exhibit of artwork created by Cheyenne and Arapaho children who attended the Seger Indian Training School in Washita County, Oklahoma, in the 1890s. The project will become a museum resource, creating content available for downloading as an international presentation next year. In addition, museum staff will collaborate with Dr. Eric Singleton of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City to develop a physical exhibit of the drawings in 2027.
The drawings were originally collected by Florence Louise Hitchcock Burke, a US deputy marshal’s stenographer, during her travels on westward circuit court rides in 1893. Burke got the drawings from Cheyenne and Arapaho schoolchildren attending the Seger Indian Training School. Established by John Homer Seger in the late 19th century, the Seger Indian Training School focused on foundational subjects, including reading, writing, and arithmetic. As students advanced, they received mechanical and vocational training, including house building, masonry, basic accounting, and agricultural practices like cattle ranching and animal husbandry.
Members of the Burke family donated the drawings to the Oklahoma Territorial Museum. This project is one of the first in the United States to join the international effort highlighting children’s artwork and experiences preserved in archives and research institutions. IRAND is a cooperating institution of the Sub-Committee on Education Research of UNESCO’s “Memory of the World” program. UNESCO is the United Nations organization that promotes cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication to foster peace worldwide.
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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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The Parking Meter is an Oklahoma invention
In the 1930s, downtown workers in cities such as Oklahoma City occupied most parking spaces, forcing retail customers to park farther from stores. To address this issue, Carl Magee, in collaboration with engineers at Oklahoma State University, invented the first parking meter, installed in Oklahoma City on July 16, 1935. This coin-operated device prevented individuals from monopolizing spaces, improved parking availability, and generated city revenue at a rate of five cents per hour, with fines issued when time expired.
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Masthead image: Officer W. L. Williams playfully issues a ticket to an unnamed horse, caught lingering too long at an expired meter during Oklahoma City’s Frontier Fun Days in 1958. This two-day back-to-school sales event, held on August 12 and 13, invited families downtown to experience the ‘Wild West’ while they shopped. With Main Street between Robinson and Hudson closed to cars, the two-block area staged roping and riding shows, stagecoach adventures, a burro mine train, and a host of other attractions (2012.201.B1412.0209, Oklahoma Publishing Company Collection, OHS). |
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