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The 2025 Oklahoma History Symposium will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City. Presented by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the symposium is a one-day event encompassing a range of historical topics pertaining 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. The 2025 symposium will center on the theme “Oklahoma in Context.”
Keynote award-winning filmmaker Loren Waters (Cherokee/Kiowa), (pictured above), will be our keynote speaker. Waters will share about her short documentary Meet Me at the Creek, which focuses on Rebecca Jim’s (Cherokee) efforts to restore Tar Creek in Miami, Oklahoma. Waters’s experience in the film industry includes directing, producing, and casting for film and television including Reservation Dogs, Fancy Dance, and Killers of the Flower Moon.
The Oklahoma History Symposium is free and open to the public.
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This program is funded in part by Oklahoma Humanities (OH) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the program do not necessarily represent those of OH or NEH. |
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Spiro Mounds Birthday Bash |
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Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center will celebrate the 47th anniversary of its opening on Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a Birthday Bash! This all-day event will offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the site’s history as well as its future. Guests can speak with the site director about upcoming projects planned for the site in the coming months, including new trail signage, mound rehabilitation, and a new exhibit in the interpretive center. Light refreshments will be served throughout the day at this family-friendly event for all ages.
Beginning on May 12, visitors will have the opportunity to closely observe live archaeological fieldwork when University of Oklahoma students and faculty will perform a month of excavations at Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center. Visitors are welcome to observe the research and ask questions for several weeks while the group works through Friday, June 13. They will excavate areas of interest at the center, the only pre-European contact site in Oklahoma.
If you would like more information about the Birthday Bash or the excavations, please contact Director Anna Vincent at 918-962-2062 or spiro@history.ok.gov.
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The Art of Woody Big Bow
An exhibit featuring works by Kiowa artist Woodrow Wilson “Woody” Big Bow is now on exhibit in the ONEOK, Inc. Gallery of the Oklahoma History Center. Big Bow was born in Carnegie, Oklahoma, on January 29, 1914. He was the grandson of Kiowa chief Zepko-ette. Big Bow studied art at the University of Oklahoma under the instruction of Oscar B. Jacobson.
Big Bow is best known for the Thunderbird insignia he designed for Oklahoma’s 45th Infantry Division. The exhibit includes sketches and other iterations of the 45th Infantry logo from the Oklahoma Historical Society’s collection.
Big Bow employed the narrative-based style of painting known as Flatstyle, which was popularized by Native American artists in the 20th century. Flatstyle emphasizes shape and contour by using limited shading and perspective. Examples of this technique painted by Big Bow are included in the exhibition.
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FORT TOWSON HISTORIC SITE
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Sign up today for the OHS State Historic Preservation Office's May webinars! |
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The Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office has several upcoming webinars. There are no registration fees unless noted. All events will take place virtually, unless otherwise stated. For more information call 405-521-6249. Note: If you have a disability and need an accommodation, call 405-521-6249 at least two (2) days before the day of the event.
CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES: Many of these programs meet the requirements for HSW hours/State of Oklahoma's Board of Governors of Licensed Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers, and for PDH hours/Oklahoma State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. The SHPO will email certificates of attendance after the event, and participants self-report or document their attendance per policies of the respective boards.
Select a workshop below to read more about the workshops offered and to register online.
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Wednesday, May 14, 10 a.m.
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Thursday, May 15, 10 a.m.
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Sign your kids up for History Day Camp today! |
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Fort Towson Historic Site will have a FREE History Camp for young people ages 9 to 13, from Tuesday, May 27 through Thursday, May 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
During the three-day camp, young people can explore the site with physical and experiential learning activities that will encourage them to learn what life was like in the 1840s. Historical interpreters will lead campers in hands-on activities such as archaeology, military drills, old-fashioned games, hands-on crafts, and outdoor exploration.
Registration is required and limited to 15 students on a first come, first served basis. You may register by calling 580-873-2634, emailing fttowson@history.ok.gov or visiting the Fort Towson Historic Site. This is a FREE camp thanks to a grant from the Carolyn Watson Rural Oklahoma Community Foundation. The deadline to apply is May 10.
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APRIL IS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH
Volunteers keep our doors open!
Over the years, the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) has developed numerous collections, programs, research centers, museums, historic homes, and military sites across the state. We recognize that we are only able to function throughout the year thanks to our faithful and steadfast volunteers who give their time at all our locations.
Volunteers make the mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society possible by providing invaluable resources through educational programs, assisting in daily operations, and working behind-the-scenes in collections. Our volunteers help us in countless ways, including dressing the part for living history demonstrations, assisting with hands-on learning experiences, and cooking over an open flame—quite literally keeping the home fires burning!
Thanks, OHS volunteers, for all you do to carry the OHS mission forward—helping us collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of Oklahoma and its people!
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COMING THIS NOVEMBER!
Battle of Honey Springs Reenactments and Education Day registration is now open!
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This year, Honey Springs Battlefield offers its biennial multiday event, which begins with an Education Day for school groups on Friday, November 7. Events continue on Saturday, November 8, and Sunday, November 9, with reenactments and self-guided tours through the Union, Confederate, and civilian camps. Visitors can experience military drills, demonstrations, and living history programs and take a walk through Sutler’s Row, which features a number of vendors selling clothes, books, souvenirs, and reproduction of nineteenth-century military equipment. Visitors from around the state come to see special presentations and watch the battle unfold.
Registration forms for reenactors and school groups, and application forms for sutlers and vendors are now available. No registration is required for spectators.
For more information, contact honeysprings@history.ok.gov.
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Save the date for May 2!
The OKPOP Museum is launching its First Friday OKPOP-IN open house on Friday, May 2, the public is invited to a free exclusive look inside the future of OKPOP with behind-the-scenes tours of the museum at 5, 6, 7,and 8 p.m. Free sodas from Cheers Soda will be served at the event. In addition to the tours, an ink and draw station with comic artist Jerry Bennett, and an all-Oklahoma vinyl listening lounge will also be offered to guests.
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#maythefourthbewithyou
A collection from a galaxy far, far away
Did you know Oklahoma native Archie Goodwin from Tulsa wrote over 30 issues of the Marvel Comics Group Star Wars comic book series?
In March 2024, the children of Archie Goodwin donated much of his vast collection and many pages of original artwork from the Star Wars comics and other publications to OKPOP. The items in his collection were received on three pallets from storage units in New York. Goodwin was born in Kansas City and raised in Tulsa. He was a Will Rogers High School graduate whose work in the comic book and magazine industry included serving as editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics. Goodwin wrote for comic books and newspaper strips that featured the comic adaption of the 1977 Star Wars film. He also wrote comic adaptations of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.
Stay up to date with all of the collection activities at the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture by following OKPOP on Facebook. To help complete the museum, donate to the Heart & Soul campaign by clicking the button below.
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Follow the OHS website calendar to learn about all of our events and programs at OHS museums and historic sites across the state! From seasonal events to celebrations, exhibits, films, educational classes, workshops, our calendar is constantly changing with the latest programs and activities. |
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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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Masthead image: Cowgirls from the Miller Brothers’ 101 Ranch Wild West Show, 1907 (19439.3.34.2, Mabel Tompkins Collection, OHS). |
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