Oklahoma Historical Society

Oklahoma Historical Society Collecting, preserving, and sharing Oklahoma history since 1893
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We hope the school year is off to a great start for everyone! Did you know that all OHS museums and historic sites offer...
09/01/2026

We hope the school year is off to a great start for everyone! Did you know that all OHS museums and historic sites offer discounted student tickets? We even offer group rates!

Make plans to start exploring Oklahoma history by visiting our website to see the full list of sites. We put a link in our bio and in the comments.

This 1910 photo shows students at the Arapaho District 35 Common School in Custer County.

(11254.2, Lucille Snider Parks Collection, OHS)

08/31/2026

Cyrus Avery, known as the “Father of Route 66,” was born on this day in 1871. He moved to present-day Oklahoma in 1901. Avery was one of five people chosen by the federal government to develop a naming scheme for the new federal highway system. He became one of Oklahoma’s leading advocates for better roads and interstate highways.

Learn more about Avery by listening to the January 2026 episode of “A Very OK Podcast” with guests Michael Wallis and Ken Busby. You will find it on your favorite podcast app.

Make history part of your back-to-school plans and keep the education going beyond the classroom. Two Oklahoma Historica...
08/29/2026

Make history part of your back-to-school plans and keep the education going beyond the classroom. Two Oklahoma Historical Society membership levels are on sale through August 31, 2026! Each one provides unlimited free admission to all OHS museums and historic sites.

➡️ Family membership: $50 (regularly $75)
➡️ Basic membership: $35 (regularly $40)

Don’t miss your chance to create memorable family experiences and discover the stories that shaped our state. We put a link in our bio and the comments if you’re ready to join.

Just ONE DAY to go! ⏰“Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66” premieres on OETA at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 29!Pro...
08/28/2026

Just ONE DAY to go! ⏰

“Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66” premieres on OETA at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 29!

Produced with the help of the Oklahoma Historical Society, this documentary takes viewers on a journey through the history of Route 66 in Oklahoma. Our state has 400+ miles of drivable road—the longest stretch of the Mother Road in the United States. For many travelers, Route 66 represented freedom and a distinctive way to experience the country.

This project was made possible with support from the Inasmuch Foundation and the Cherokee Film Commission.

The summer 2026 edition of “The Chronicles of Oklahoma” is ready for you to read! OHS members should receive it in their...
08/27/2026

The summer 2026 edition of “The Chronicles of Oklahoma” is ready for you to read! OHS members should receive it in their mailboxes soon. Members who have opted for digital publications received a link today in their email.

This issue includes articles on Father Robert McDole, the Klan and civic authority after the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, and Kiowas in World War I.

Scroll through each photo to see a more detailed description of the articles.

📖 Do you want a copy? These are sold in the Museum Store at the Oklahoma History Center Museum in Oklahoma City. Copies are also available at Full Circle Bookstore in Oklahoma City and Best of Books in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Then and Now: Route 66The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, helps preserve the memory of Will Rogers, ...
08/27/2026

Then and Now: Route 66

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, helps preserve the memory of Will Rogers, also known as America’s “Cowboy Philosopher.” The museum opened to the public in 1938 and is still open today. The site houses all of his writings and the world’s largest collection of Will Rogers memorabilia. Will Rogers, his wife Betty, and several family members are entombed at the site.

We want to send our condolences to the family and friends of Dolly Parton, who died today at the age of 80. This photo f...
08/25/2026

We want to send our condolences to the family and friends of Dolly Parton, who died today at the age of 80. This photo from our archives shows Parton and the Wagon Masters performing at the Civic Center Music Hall in Oklahoma City in 1968, just one year after her debut album “Hello, I’m Dolly.”

(2012.201.B1344.0507, Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, OHS)

What was the title of the play that inspired the musical “Oklahoma!”? The play was written by Lynn Riggs, who was born...
08/25/2026

What was the title of the play that inspired the musical “Oklahoma!”? The play was written by Lynn Riggs, who was born near Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1899.

This photo shows the cast of “Oklahoma!” performing in 1946.

(2012.201.B0957.0612, Oklahoma Publishing Company Photography Collection, OHS)

📅 Save the Date 📅 The Oklahoma Historical Society will host Caleb Gayle for a guest lecture at the Oklahoma History Cent...
08/24/2026

📅 Save the Date 📅

The Oklahoma Historical Society will host Caleb Gayle for a guest lecture at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City on Thursday, September 24. The event will be held from 7 to 9 p.m., and doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

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.”

“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. The OHS recognized “Black Moses” with the E. E. Dale Award for Outstanding Book on Oklahoma History.

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 for purchase.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is requested. We put a link in the comments and our bio.

Support for this event is provided by the Oklahoma Civil Rights Trail Grant Program.

08/22/2026

We are so excited to share this trailer for “Crossroads of America: Oklahoma’s Route 66,” which premieres on OETA on Saturday, August 29, at 4 p.m.!

Produced with the help of the Oklahoma Historical Society, this new documentary explores the rich history of Route 66 in Oklahoma—from the challenges of the Dust Bowl era to the golden age of the American road trip and beyond.

We’re excited to share this journey with you. Be sure to tune in to OETA on Saturday, August 29, at 4 p.m.

This project was made possible with support from the Inasmuch Foundation and the Cherokee Film Commission.

Address

800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive
Oklahoma City, OK
73105

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+14055212491

Website

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