Historical Societies Near Me in Springer
The Toy and Action Figure Museum
111 South Chickasaw, Pauls Valley, OK
About Us:
The museum got its start in 2000 during a citywide process called VISION 2010. In a series of meetings, local citizens came together and identified goals they would like the community to reach in the next ten years. Many things were discussed. Among them the town wanted unique attractions that would help to make Pauls Valley a destination city.
With the help of local artist and toy designer (and collector) Kevin Stark, a board was formed to start working on the world’ s first museum devoted to the art and sculpting of action figures! The museum acquired its 501(c)3 nonprofit status and the group began researching and creating the plans for a first – class facility in the heart of downtown Pauls Valley. It took the group five years to put everything together and the doors opened on October 15, 2005.
Since that time the museum has had visitors from every state in the union and over 40 foreign countries and has helped serve as an economic catalyst for the downtown area. With group tours from state wide public and private schools, senior citizen groups and various tourist groups, not to mention curious travelers, the museum has seen over 50,000 visitors since it opened its doors.
An accredited museum, The Toy & Action Figure Museum has won several awards, including the Redbud Award for Best New Tourist Attraction in the state for 2006 at the Oklahoma Governor’ s Conference on Tourism.
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
2401 Chautauqua Avenue, Norman, OK
Our Mission
The Sam Noble Museum at The University of Oklahoma inspires minds to understand the world through collection-based research, interpretation and education.
Our Vision
As one of the finest museums, we are at the heart of our community, collectively working to inspire understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the earth and its peoples.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
We are committed to achieving a diverse, equitable and inclusive community by embracing each person’s unique contributions, background and perspectives. We recognize that fostering an inclusive environment for all, with particular attention to the needs of historically marginalized populations, is vital to the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission. This view enhances the experience for all faculty and staff, students and for the communities and audiences that we engage.
Jasmine Moran Children's Museum
1714 Highway 9 West, Seminole, OK
Children natually love to play in the grown-up roles of their parents. Our special place provides children an environment in which they can explore many careers, all from a pint-sized vantage point built to child-sized scale. The Jasmine Moran Children's Museum uniquely affords children the opportunity to play to learn.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
415 Couch Drive, Oklahoma City, OK
Mission:
Our mission is to enrich lives through the visual arts.
History:
The Oklahoma City Museum of Art's roots trace to early statehood efforts of the Oklahoma Art League and Art Renaissance Club, organizations concerned with art education for a young city. Over time, more formal efforts began with a works Progress Administration (WPA) Experimental Gallery, which was open to the public. The Museum transitioned from a federally funded gallery to a private institution when it was incorporated on May 18, 1945.
The Museum today is the synthesis of two predecessors, the Oklahoma Art Center, itself an outgrowth of the WPA Experimental Gallery, and the Oklahoma Museum of Art. Although both institutions were committed to collecting, public programs, and exhibitions, a depressed economy following the downturn in the energy industry during the 1980s challenged the city's ability to support two institutions and led to a merger of the two museums in 1989. Museum leaders seized the opportunity to bring a new Oklahoma City Museum of Art to maturation as a single, financially secure entity.
Led by a $14.5 million capital grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and by an extraordinary outpouring of support from more the 500 foundations, corporations, and individual donors, the $40 million goal was reached to build and endow the new museum, entirely with private funds. In March of 2002, the Oklahoma City museum of Art, Donald W. Reynolds Visual Arts Center, opened to critical acclaim. The Museum now attracts over 130,000 visitors each year with its permanent collection, cycle of temporary exhibitions, inventive education opportunities, international film program, Museum Store, and Museum Cafe.
Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum
620 North Harvey Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK
Mission Statement:
The Mission Statement was the cornerstone document in shaping the meaning and guiding the design and development of the Memorial. It represents a remarkable community consensus document which evolved under the most difficult circumstances
Oklahoma Historical Society.
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK
Our Mission:
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. For over 100 years the Oklahoma Historical Society has strived to protect, chronicle and share the history of our great state. The Oklahoma Historical Society maintains numerous historic sites located throughout Oklahoma. Intriguing destinations including historic homes, military sites, and museums offer a unique glimpse into Oklahoma's past.
Science Museum Oklahoma
2020 Remington Place, Oklahoma City, OK
National Cowboy And Western Heritage Museum
1700 North East 63rd Street, Oklahoma City, OK
Mission Statement
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum preserves and interprets the evolving history and cultures of the American West for the education and enrichment of its diverse audiences of adults and children.
About The Museum
The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is America's premier institution of Western history, art and culture. Founded in 1955, the Museum, located in Oklahoma City, collects, preserves and exhibits an internationally renowned collection of Western art and artifacts while sponsoring dynamic educational programs to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of the American West.
More than 10 million visitors from around the world have sought out this unique museum to gain better understanding of the West: a region and a history that permeates our national culture. The Museum features a superb collection of classic and contemporary Western art, including works by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell, as well as sculptor James Earle Fraser's magnificent work, The End of the Trail. The exhibition wing houses a turn-of-the-century town and interactive history galleries that focus on the American cowboy, rodeos, Native American culture, Victorian firearms, frontier military and Western performers.
Stafford Air and Space Museum
3000 East Logan Road, Weatherford, OK
Weatherford is the birthplace and childhood home of astronaut and flight pioneer General Thomas P. Stafford. The Stafford Air & Space Museum houses an amazing collection of air and space exhibits featuring flown-in-space artifacts and historically important aircraft.
The Stafford Air & Space Museum, founded in 1981, had humble beginnings and started with a few memorabilia items and artifacts donated to the airport and displayed in a cabinet in the lobby. A museum architect was engaged to build two rooms to display the life and career of Thomas Stafford, which was completed in 1993. In 1999, a 12,000 square ft. addition was constructed to properly house some of the large artifacts that had been collected. A major addition was constructed in 2001 to include a large series of aeronautical and space artifacts purchased from a private collection. The multi-function use Apollo Room, gift shop, offices, rest rooms, and foyer area were added in 2003. The 8,700 square feet addition in the Hubble Gallery classroom and exhibit area for the Apollo, Gemini, and Space Shuttle programs was added in 2006. The museum has expanded to 40,000 square feet with the addition of the Rose and Tom Luczo Educational Center completed in February 2009.
The Stafford Air & Space Museum is the premier museum of its type in the southwestern area of the United States. Currently, the museum houses many of the best flight exhibits and space artifacts available. Its mission is to promote the adventurous spirit of flight and space travel, while encouraging primarily science and mathematics educational excellence. The Board of Directors, Ex- Officio Board Members, Executive Directors, staff, donors and volunteers are dedicated to making the Stafford Air & Space Museum the premier interactive air and space flight discovery center in the Southwest. The museum is owned and operated by the City of Weatherford, Oklahoma and is a 501(c)3 charitable organization since 1996. The Stafford Air & Space Museum is supported by General Thomas P. Stafford, as well as public, private and corporate donations.
Pawnee Bill Ranch And Museum
1141 Pawnee Bill Road, Pawnee, OK
About Us:
The Pawnee Bill Ranch was once the showplace of the world-renowned Wild West Show entertainer Gordon W. "Pawnee Bill" Lillie. Visitors can tour Pawnee Bill and his wife May's fourteen-room mansion, fully furnished with their original belongings. Their dream home, completed in 1910, is filled with Lillie family memorabilia, photographs, original art work, and much more. The Ranch property also houses a museum with exhibits related to Pawnee Bill, the Wild West Shows, and the Pawnee tribe. The 500-acre grounds include the original Ranch blacksmith shop, a 1903 log cabin, a large barn built in 1926, and an Indian Flower Shrine—all available for the public to tour.
A herd of bison, longhorn, and several draft horses call the Pawnee Bill Ranch home and can often be found grazing in the drive through exhibit pasture. The Ranch is also a day-use facility and several outdoor amenities can be reserved for private functions. The Ranch has covered picnic shelters, tipi-covered picnic tables, fishing ponds, a playground, and a meeting room. The Big Barn, shelter, meeting rooms, porches, and lawns can be rented for weddings, reunions, meetings, and more. The Pawnee Bill Ranch also proudly recreates Pawnee Bill's Original Wild West Show in June every year.
Tulsa Children's Museum
560 North Maybelle Avenue, Tulsa, OK
About Us
Tulsa Children’s Museum is a community children's museum, non-profit organization established in 2007 by a group of professionals passionate about bringing a children’s museum to Tulsa. They developed common goals: to create a place for children to experience imaginative and interactive play; to bring our community together through entertaining and educational programming; and to provide creative learning experiences for children in need.
Tulsa Children’s Museum is governed and its programs run by a dedicated group of volunteers. There are currently twelve board members from a wide variety of educational backgrounds and experiences. Since the museum’s formation, they have served over 10,000 children in and around the Tulsa area.
Mission
Inspiring children, connecting families, and building community through exploration, exhibits, programming and play.
Gilcrease Museum
1400 North Gilcrease Museum Road, Tulsa, OK
History:
Gilcrease Museum is the product of a lifetime of collecting by Thomas Gilcrease, whose fortune was made in the dusty oilfields of Oklahoma nearly 100 years ago. As Gilcrease's fortunes grew, so did his desire to learn more about the art, history and cultures of North, Central and South America. His collections make up the vast majority of works on display within the galleries of Gilcrease Museum.
Gilcrease Museum has something for everyone - ancient Mayan pottery, Frederic Remington's stunning tributes to the American west, and letters penned by historic luminaries such as Diego Columbus and Thomas Jefferson. These are just a few examples of the great exhibits at the museum.
Thomas Gilcrease loved collecting art. He purchased his first oil painting in 1922, but most of his collecting was done after 1939. The first Gilcrease Museum opened at his oil company headquarters in San Antonio in 1943. Within a few years, Gilcrease returned to Tulsa with his oil company and his growing collection. He opened a gallery for public viewing on his Tulsa estate in 1949. Thomas Gilcrease deeded his collection to the city of Tulsa in 1955.
Mission:
Gilcrease Museum, through its collections, is dedicated to bringing art and people together to discover, enjoy, and understand the diverse heritage of the Americas.
Woody Guthrie Center
102 East M.B. Brady St., Tulsa, OK
Mission Statement: The Woody Guthrie Center is dedicated to preserving Woody Guthrie's body of work and celebrating his life and the continuation of his legacy. As an educational facility, we provide resources to students, teachers, and academics about Woody's important role in American history and his advocacy for social justice.
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
2229 West Gary Boulevard, Clinton, OK
History
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is operated by The Oklahoma Historical Society, a state agency. The museum was originally opened to the public in 1968 as the Museum of the Western Trails, operated by the Oklahoma Industrial Trust and Recreation Department (which later became the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation).
In 1991 the museum was transferred to OHS. In 1993 plans began for a redevelopment of the museum in order to focus on transportation and Route 66. The project was funded with federal, state and private funds, with the citizens of Clinton (population approximately 10,000) raising over $200,000.00.
The museum officially opened on September 23, 1995, as the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum with a grand opening celebration in Clinton including car shows, free live entertainment, a rock’n roll dance and many other activities.
Exhibits begin with “The World’s Largest Curio Cabinet,” home of special treasures collected from along the route. An audio tour written and narrated by Michael Wallis, author of Route 66: The Mother Road, will guide visitors through six decades of Route 66 history.
Along the way visitors see vehicles and listen to music while they experience the history and culture of each decade concerning road construction, transportation, lodging, restaurants, garages, curio shops, attractions, and other artifacts, graphics, and videos. At the end of their trip down the “Main Street of America,” visitors catch their breath in the drive-in theater, before stopping in the “Curio” gift shop with its wide selection of signs, books, videos, clothing, toys, games and numerous other mementos, of Route 66 and the Museum.
Leonardo's Children's Museum
200 East Maple, Enid, OK
Our Mission: Leonardo's enriches and inspires children of all ages by creating fun learning opportunities.
Tulsa Zoo And Living Museum
6421 East 36th Street North, Tulsa, OK
About Us:
Tulsa Zoo is a fun environment for our guests and our animal residents, Learn about animals from all parts of the world at this third largest zoo in the U.S. by exploring various habitats including "Cheek-to-Cheek with Chimpanzees, "Siamang Island," "Elephant Encounter" and "African Savanna During your visit, you may be photographed or filmed. Your admission to the Tulsa Zoo serves as your permission for use of your image by Tulsa Zoo Friends and the Tulsa Zoo
Tulsa Air And Space Museum and Planetarium
3624 North 74th East Avenue, Tulsa, OK
With a mission to preserve Oklahoma’s aerospace history and to inspire science-based learning through discovery, the Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium (TASM) has carved out a unique niche in the Oklahoma museum community. TASM has been exposing students to real-world applications of STEM for over 15 years.
Education is provided in a stimulating environment that includes inspirational stories of aerospace pioneers and events, unique and priceless aircraft, computer flight simulators, cockpit trainers, demonstrations, and simulated space voyage experiences.
Learn more about the museum, our history, and our future…
Our Mission:
From the very beginning, the focus of the museum has always been education.
The museum’s mission is carried out in a stimulating setting that includes inspirational stories of aerospace pioneers and events, priceless aircraft, computer flight simulators, aerospace based curriculum, a teacher resource center and a library and media center.
Hands-on activities have been proven to enhance learning: as a result, group tours are interspersed with activities and aircraft that students can actually touch. Open cockpits, a robotic arm, a space shuttle launch, a space maneuvering unit and a simulated wind tunnel are all included to help students comprehend the principles of flight as well as the technology utilized by astronauts, pilots, and scientists.
Every year TASM provides hundreds of group tours and hands-on activities for school field trips. Approximately 60% of visitors to the museum are college-aged and younger. Over 40% of admissions are school field trips. As a consequence, TASM has developed a reputation throughout northeastern Oklahoma as a premier destination for young families
Our History:
Our story began in 1998 in a 1940’s hangar on the Spartan School of Aeronautics’ campus. In 2005, TASM moved into the Sherman and Ellie Smith Hanger One (its current location) on a 17.8 acre campus on the north side of the Tulsa International Airport. With the help of Tulsa County’s Vision 2025 proposition, the James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium opened in 2006, providing many Oklahomans their first experience in a planetarium.
Since it’s inception, TASM has grown into viable and well-managed operation that attracts increasing numbers of students and visitors, establishing its position not only as a center for educational enrichment, but as a tourism and convention resource for Tulsa. Since the public opening in May 1998, the museum has welcomed over 600,000 visitors through its doors.
Marland Estate
901 Monument Road, Ponca City, OK
Mission Statement of the Marland Estate:
- To restore and preserve this historic, architectural landmark
- To educate the public about E. W. Marland, founder of the Marland Oil Company, and his family
- To create an authentic atmosphere which portrays the Marland lifestyle during the 1920's and 1930's
Welcome to the home of E.W. Marland. The Marland story is fascinating and his home is an architectural wonder. It was designed and constructed as a showplace for pieces of fine art and in the process, it became a masterpiece in its own right. As you tour through this site, we'll show you the mansion and tell you the Marland story. You'll learn about the Marland family, the industry that made it all possible, and the "oil boom-town" that rose from it all, Ponca City, Oklahoma.
The Marland Estate has several small historic museums housed in original buildings that have been restored. These areas in the Artist Studio and Lydie's Cottage (formerly the chauffeur's cottage) each relate to Mr. Marland and help visitors learn more about his unique history.
Will Rogers Memorial Museum
1720 West Will Rogers Boulevard, Claremore, OK
Mission:
To collect, preserve, and share the life, wisdom, and humor of Will Rogers for all generations.
Vision:
The Will Rogers Memorial Museums are the premier destinations to introduce, showcase, and celebrate the life, legacy, and spirit of Will Rogers.
J.M. Davis Arms And Historical Museum
330 North J.M. Davis Boulevard, Claremore, OK
Mission
Our mission is to preserve the J.M. Davis collection for the education and enjoyment of the general public for many generations to come.
About Us
Featuring over 50,000 unique items including firearms, swordsm knives, military weapons, saddles, and spurs. Also, outlaw guns, the smallest commercially produced handgun in the world, Native American artifacts, John Rogers statuaries, Western memorabilia, antique music boxes, musical instruments, and 1,200 steins from all over the world.