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May is Preservation Month! |
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Explore your neighborhood's past!
Join the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and the OHS Research Center for a fun, hands-on activity celebrating Preservation Month—“Exploring Neighborhood Changes Through Historic Maps!”
Dive into your community’s history by comparing historic and modern maps to see how your neighborhood has changed over time. Has everything stayed the same, or have there been major changes? Do you think it was better before, or do you like how the landscape has changed? Whether you’re a history buff or just curious about your neighborhood, this activity is perfect for individuals, families, or classrooms. Join the conversation and help us to tell the story of a place’s evolution!
What you’ll do:
Discover roads, landmarks, and features on historic maps and compare past and present land use and development. Or, take a walking tour to spot what’s changed and what’s stayed the same. Then you can snap photos of the changes and submit them to SHPO.
Let’s explore the stories our neighborhoods have to tell—one map at a time!
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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 at least two (2) days before the day of the event. |
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THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center celebrates 47 years this week!
The Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center opened on May 9, 1978, 47 years ago this week. The site’s trails are open to guests who enter through the visitor center. The site’s exhibits, complete with artist depictions of people from the Mississippian culture and artifacts of the prehistoric culture, tell the story of the Spiro people. The center preserves 150 acres along the Arkansas River. Visitors can explore nearly two miles of interpreted trails, including a half-mile nature trail.
The mounds site, located seven miles outside of Spiro, Oklahoma, is the only prehistoric, American Indian archaeological site in Oklahoma open to the public. The mounds are one of the most important American Indian sites in the nation.
Join in the fun at Spiro’s Birthday Bash on Saturday, May 10! This all-day event will offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the site’s history and future.
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Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center's UPCOMING EVENTS: |
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MAY IS AANHPI MONTH!
AANHPI Collective History Day
Join us this May as we celebrate Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) National Heritage Month. To honor their contributions to Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Historical Society will host AANHPI Collective History Day on Friday, May 23, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center.
This event will be an evening of reflection and celebration, bringing together Oklahomans interested in exploring our state’s shared experiences of the AANHPI communities. It will feature a book signing, a panel discussion with authors and scholars specializing in the topic, and exceptional cultural performances and interactive activities.
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Old Fort Days at Fort Gibson
On Saturday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Fort Gibson Historic Site will partner with the town of Fort Gibson to host Old Fort Days.
Visitors can expect to see demonstrations about the life of 19th-century soldiers, military disciplinary measures, the post’s jail, hunter/trapper watercraft, 18th-century keelboats, 19th-century gardening, encampments, and cooking. The event will also focus on women in the military, the essential service of laundresses and seamstresses, and traveling merchants. Old Fort Days will also teach about the outpost’s bakehouse, sutler store operations, and the 1870s Hospital on the Fort Gibson Historic Site.
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SAVE THE DATE!
Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show - June 14
The Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum will celebrate the lives of Major Gordon W. “Pawnee Bill” Lillie, his wife May Lillie, and their famous Wild West Shows with a one-day celebration on Saturday, June 14. Pawnee Bill’s Original Wild West Show will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the original historic ranch site. For more information about this year’s Wild West Show please call 918-762-2513 or email pawneebill@history.ok.gov.
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Beginning Woodturning
FORT TOWSON HISTORIC SITE
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Victorian Tea and Etiquette program
HUNTER'S HOME
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Book signing and discussion with author
FORT GIBSON HISTORIC SITE
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1880s-era Baseball Game
WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM
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Blacksmithing Demonstrations
CHEROKEE STRIP MUSEUM AND ROSE HILL SCHOOL
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History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip
CHEROKEE STRIP REGIONAL HERITAGE CENTER
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Cake with Kate: Kate Barnard 150th Anniversary Celebration
OKLAHOMA TERRITORIAL MUSEUM AND CARNEGIE LIBRARY
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Movie Night featuring The Sandlot (1993)
WILL ROGERS MEMORIAL MUSEUM
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TODAY AT THE HISTORY CENTER!
Oklahoma National History Day - May 7–8
Oklahoma National History Day (OkNHD) is more than an academic exercise for thousands of Oklahoma junior high and high school students—it is a tradition. Starting today, May 7, and continuing tomorrow, May 8, more than 200 6th through 12th-grade students will present their exhibits, documentaries, performances, websites, and papers at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
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Due to the Oklahoma National History Day competition, visitors will have limited access to galleries between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on May 7.
On May 8, access to the Inasmuch Gallery will be limited, but the other galleries will be open. |
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Mother's Day is Sunday, May 11!
The Oklahoma History Center Museum Store and OHS sites across the state have a unique selection of gifts—perfect for the history lover in your life! Please be sure to stop at your favorite OHS museum or historic site this spring and frequent the gift shops found at most of our locations. To see a complete list of our museums and historic sites, visit okhistory.org/sites/index.
For those hard-to-shop-for friends and family, remember to give them the gift of history by gifting them an Oklahoma Historical Society membership!
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 Reproduction tea sets and flavored teas are just some of the unique gifts found at the Fort Gibson Historic Site gift shop.
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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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