What are the opening hours?

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

Oklahoma Historical Society

Home
United States
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma Historical Society

Collecting, preserving, and sharing Oklahoma history since 1893
(275)

06/19/2026

On June 19, 1865, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger proclaimed the end of slavery at Galveston, Texas.

News of emancipation spread north to the enslaved people in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) at different times during the summer of 1865. However, emancipation was not immediate for all enslaved people—it was enforced later through the Reconstruction Treaties of 1866.

Photo of Robert and Sofa Williams, Muscogee (Creek) freedmen, c. 1935 (14373.B, Works Progress Administration Collection, OHS)

06/18/2026

One of the most popular entries in “The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture” is about Chiricahua Apache leader Geronimo. He was a spiritual and military leader known for fierce resistance to Mexican and US forces.

This undated photo shows Geronimo in his war bonnet and coat.

You can learn more about Geronimo and hundreds of other topics by visiting okhistory.org/enc.

(4051, Oklahoma Historical Society Photograph Collection, OHS)

06/17/2026

Mark your calendars for a book discussion with Dr. Lisa Barnett! The FREE event will be held on Wednesday, June 24, at 3:30 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

Dr. Barnett will be discussing her book “Peyote Politics: The Making of the Native American Church, 1880–1937” (University of Oklahoma Press, 2025). It details the rise of Peyotism and the Native American Church in Oklahoma and the Great Plains.

“Peyote Politics” details the rise of Peyotism and the Native American Church in Oklahoma and the Great Plains. The ingestion of pe**te by Native Americans during religious ceremonies came under scrutiny by opponents who sought to classify the plant as a narcotic. Peyotists resisted such restrictions by incorporating as the Native American Church in 1918 and securing constitutional protection for pe**te rituals. Dr. Barnett frames this history within the context of federal Indian policy and the Progressive Era to show how Peyotists, many of whom were not yet American citizens, honored their Native identities while also securing religious freedom.

This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

06/16/2026

You may not want to listen to our newest podcast episode on an empty stomach! 😋

As traffic increased on the Mother Road, restaurants opened to provide sustenance for travelers on their way to their destinations. In this episode of “A Very OK Podcast,” Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn discuss a few historic restaurants, both closed and still thriving, along Route 66 in Oklahoma. Their guest is Kathy Anderson, president of the Billboard Museum Association.

Listen wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

(21412.BH2377, Z.P. Meyers/Barney Hillerman Photographic Collection, OHS)

06/15/2026

The Oklahoma Historical Society will commemorate Juneteenth with a free educational program at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City on Thursday, June 18, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Juneteenth commemorates the momentous occasion of emancipation in the United States after the Civil War. The courageous efforts of Freedmen and their descendants to achieve and protect their rights in Indian Territory became a central theme of Reconstruction and continue to shape Oklahoma today. A panel featuring Eli Grayson (moderator), LeEtta Osborn-Sampson, Dr. Carla Pratt, and Marilyn Vann will discuss the history of Freedmen and provide context to contemporary debates surrounding tribal citizenship.

This event is sponsored by the OHS Black Heritage Committee. Light refreshments will be available. No registration is required.

06/13/2026

Then and Now: Route 66

One of Oklahoma’s more unique sites is the Ed Galloway Totem Pole Park, about three miles off Route 66 near Foyil. Construction started in 1937. The sculptures are meant to reflect Galloway’s deep respect for Native American history and traditions.

06/11/2026

This photo from May 9, 1875, shows F. B. Severs Cash Store in Okmulgee, Indian Territory.

Frederick B. Severs was a prominent rancher and entrepreneur in Indian Territory. He was also the first postmaster in Okmulgee, appointed by President Ulysses S. Grant. He contributed to the development of Okmulgee and Muskogee by building numerous business structures. Severs also played a key role in establishing and organizing the First National Bank of Muskogee.

(2406, Oklahoma Historical Society Photograph Collection, OHS)

06/10/2026

🔊 Turn your sound up to hear the peaceful nature sounds at Hunter’s Home in Park Hill, Oklahoma!

Hunter's Home is the only remaining pre–Civil War plantation home in Oklahoma. This video shows the creek next to the rock springhouse on the property. The springhouse was used to store and preserve food.

06/09/2026

George Nigh, who served four different terms as Oklahoma’s governor, was born on this day in 1927. In our archives, we have more than 100 boxes containing his manuscripts, campaign and political materials, letters, and photos. Some of those items include a paper that he wrote for a public relations class in high school and his honorable discharge certificate from the United States Navy.

06/08/2026

The Oklahoma Historical Society and Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office are pleased to announce the National Register of Historic Places designation for the following property in Oklahoma.

The Kerr Homestead Dugout in Noble County was built in 1893 by Elias Kerr and his sons during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet. The 13.5-foot-long by 6.5-foot-wide dugout was constructed of readily available materials, including native sandstone, and shows how homesteaders used environmental conditions and available resources to shape their construction decisions. Ongoing research will help reveal more about dugout construction and settlement at the turn of the 20th century.

The National Register of Historic Places is our nation’s official list of properties significant in our past. Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is an honorific designation that provides recognition, limited protection, and, in some cases, financial incentives for these important properties.

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

http://okhistory.org/, http://okhistory.org/podcast, http://okhistory.org/join

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Oklahoma Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed Government Service in Oklahoma City?