|
Hear from Tom Kenny, the voice behind SpongeBob SquarePants, talk about the creative impact of show creator Stephen Hillenburg!
Join the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture for The Creative Impact of Stephen Hillenburg at OKPOP on Friday, August 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in celebration of the Oklahoma-born creator of SpongeBob SquarePants and his enduring influence on animation, storytelling, humor, and popular culture.
Special guests will include Tom Kenny, the Emmy Award-winning voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, and Derek Drymon, longtime SpongeBob SquarePants creative collaborator, writer, director, and producer.
Guests will receive a first look at selected materials from the Stephen Hillenburg and SpongeBob SquarePants Collection and Archive at OKPOP, followed by a public conversation exploring Hillenburg’s creative life, the making of SpongeBob SquarePants, and the role of imagination, collaboration, curiosity, and humor in the creative process.
The event is free and open to the public, but after chairs are filled, there will be standing room only.
|
|
Visit our table at the Teacher Resource Fair!
|
|
|
The 2026 Teacher Resource Fair will be held at the Science Museum of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City on Tuesday, August 4, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Do you know an educator, or are you a homeschool parent? Visit the Oklahoma History Center Museum table at the annual Teacher Resource Fair at the Science Museum of Oklahoma on the evening of August 4. The Oklahoma History Center Museum will have great resources to share, and many other organizations will share as well. The Oklahoma Museums Association sponsors this event, and it is free for educators.
|
|
|
ENROLL TODAY!
“Thinking Genealogically” Symposium
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Basic Barn Quilt Workshop
The Chisholm in Kingfisher will hold a Basic Barn Quilt Workshop on Saturday, August 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oklahoma State University Extension educator Lindy Hoel will lead the workshop. Each participant will complete a barn quilt to proudly display at home.
Registration is required, and classes are limited to 24 people. The cost is $70, and lunch is included with registration. The workshops are for adults or teens attending with an adult.
Please get in touch with The Chisholm at 405-375-5176 to reserve your place.
|
|
The World of Woodward: “Native Lands, Grand Estates, and a City Park”
Join Briana Hefley-Shepard as she delves into the history of Woodward Park and Gardens Historic District. Located in Tulsa, Woodward Park is one of the city’s finest public gardens and features upper and lower rock gardens, formal terraces, and a rose garden. It is also home to beautiful architecture—from the Italian Renaissance villa to the glass conservatory—making Woodward Park an amazing place with an amazing history.
|
|
“A History of Kaw Lake and Kaw Nation” lecture with Claire Cox
Join the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library on Tuesday, August 11, at 7 p.m. for a free lecture on the history of Kaw Lake and the Kaw Nation.
From 1940 to 1982, the US Army Corps of Engineers built more than 200 artificial lakes in Oklahoma. The fact that these lakes are relatively new to the region often escapes public memory, as does the idea that the federal government built each lake at a high ecological and social cost, requiring the destruction of ecosystems and the forced displacement of Native peoples.
The lecture is free to the public.
|
|
|
The Oklahoma Historical Society’s Multicultural Office has collected a number of first-hand interviews through its “People of Oklahoma” series, which explores Oklahoma’s diverse heritage and gives voice to historically underrepresented communities.
The Oklahoma Historical Society Audio and Oral History Archives include more than 7,500 recorded interviews. The earliest recordings of late 1930s radio program interviews; most of the collection dates from about 1970 to the present. The average interview length is between one and two hours.
|
|
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!
|
|
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.
|
|
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). |
|
|
|
|
