|
Free Screening of Crossroads of America: Oklahoma's Route 66 at the Tee Pee Drive-in Theatre! |
|
|
On Sunday, September 13, at 8 p.m., there will be a free screening of the new documentary Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66 at the Tee Pee Drive-In Theater in Sapulpa.
The Oklahoma Historical Society, in collaboration with Director Bryan Beasley, producers Jon and Jaime Roman, and with support from the Inasmuch Foundation, has produced Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66. This documentary examines the evolution of Route 66 in Oklahoma, from the hardships of the Dust Bowl era to post-WWII road trips. It explores the highway’s history and future through interviews with historians, interactions with small-business owners, and scenes created using virtual production technology filmed at the Cherokee Film Studios. A Q&A with Bryan Beasley and Trait Thompson will follow the screening. No admission is required, but attendees must reserve a seat!
Additional free screenings:
September 20 - 4 p.m. at Center Theater on 66, Vinita
View September 20 screening details.
September 24 - 7 p.m. at Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
A Q&A with OHS Executive Director Trait Thompson will follow. View September 24 screening details.
October 1 - 7 p.m. at Showest Theatre, Weatherford
View October 1 screening details.
|
|
|
COMING TO CLAREMORE
Route 66: The Main Street of America screening and panel discussion with filmmaker John Paget
|
|
|
Celebrate the centennial of a truly legendary highway with a special screening of Route 66: The Main Street of America at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore on Sunday, September 20, from 2 to 4 p.m.
This new feature-length documentary shares powerful stories of the everyday heroes and enduring towns along Route 66—an immersive portrait of this iconic road.
From roadside attractions to revitalized main streets, each encounter reveals the spirit of communities finding new life and new purpose—proof that the most meaningful journeys often begin on the road less traveled.
Whether you’ve driven Route 66 or only imagined it, this film offers an engaging, heartfelt look at an American icon—full of humor, warmth, and discovery.
Following the film, stay for a live Q&A with filmmaker John Paget and featured participants.
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE!
Guest Lecture with author Caleb Gayle
The Oklahoma Historical Society will host a guest lecture with Caleb Gayle at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City on Thursday, September 24. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Black Moses charts the rise of Edward McCabe and his efforts to create a Black state in Oklahoma Territory during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
After the lecture, there will be a question-and-answer session, followed by a book signing and reception. Copies of Black Moses will be available to purchase during the event.
Tulsa native Caleb Gayle is an award-winning journalist and the author of Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State 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.
Black Moses: A Saga of Ambition and the Fight for a Black State (Riverhead Books, 2025) has received numerous accolades and was longlisted for the National Book Award for Nonfiction. The title earned the Stubbendieck Great Plains Distinguished Book Prize and the Oklahoma Book Award for Nonfiction.
The event is free and open to the public, and registration is requested.
|
|
The evening will also mark the conclusion of the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail Grant Program, which supported projects across the state to preserve and share Oklahoma’s civil rights history. |
|
Kilgen Theatre Organ performance “Welcome Traveler” with guest organist Ryoki Yamaguchi
On Monday, September 21, 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 guest organist Ryoki Yamaguchi. His performance encompasses several American standards, aligning with his theme of “Welcome Traveler.”
Tickets are $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for the general public and are available by calling 405-522-0765.
Purchase tickets online.
|
|
Hungry Oklahoma: Confronting Poverty and Food Insecurity book presentation with author Robert Lee Maril |
|
|
On Wednesday, September 9, at noon, the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library will host a book presentation by author Robert Lee Maril. He will be discussing his book Hungry Oklahoma: Confronting Poverty and Food Insecurity (University of Oklahoma Press, 2026).
In writing the book, Maril drew upon interviews and participant-observation data from his volunteer work at a food pantry and combined them with census and sociological data. Join the discussion on the ethnographic details of the status of poverty and low-wage workers in the state today.
|
|
|
Oklahoma has many distinctive and unusual place names, including Slapout, Grainola, Whizbang, Lookeba, Snow, IXL, Bessie, Bluejacket, Bugtussle, Okemah, Cookietown, Yant, Frogville, Looney, Gene Autry, Nowata, Bushyhead, Nuyaka, Bowlegs, Okay, Swink, Slick, Slim, Sweetwater, Hoot Owl, Forty-One, Rubottom, Tamaha, Tonkawa, and Corn.
Explore The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture for detailed information on the history and unique local stories of towns, cities, and municipalities across the state.
|
|
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!
Masthead image:
A young boy, dressed in period clothing, crouches on the ground in Checotah to watch the Battle of Honey Springs Reenactment (Staff photo by Trait Thompson).
|
|
|
|
|
