Passage of House Bill 2673 propels OKPOP campaign past the 82% mark
Thanks to strong bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, Oklahoma House Bill 2673 (HB2673), became law on May 19. It has expanded eligible donations and allows multiyear pledges to count toward the $18 million state match for The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP). These changes brought OKPOP’s fundraising efforts to $14.83 million (82%).
“This moment marks the most significant step forward we’ve had since the state first established the matching fund. It’s a turning point, the moment that takes us from theory to reality,” said Tom Evans, interim board chair and finance committee chair, OKPOP Foundation.
The OKPOP Foundation, a 501(c)(3) leading the fundraising efforts, has $2 million in proposals currently under consideration. It sees a clear path to meeting the November deadline for the final $3.17 million.
“We’ve spent years building support for OKPOP and creating a campaign that reflects Oklahoma’s cultural legacy. With this bill now law, we have a clear path forward and the momentum we need to share that legacy with the world,” said Abby Kurin, managing director of OKPOP Foundation.
“The provisions of HB2673 put us in a great position to finish the fundraising campaign for OKPOP and get this worldclass museum on its way to opening. I am grateful to Speaker Hilbert and Senator Hall for their leadership in getting this measure through the legislature and to Governor Stitt for allowing it to become law. The fascinating stories of Oklahoma’s musicians, writers, filmmakers, actors, and its entire creative community deserve to be told, and we are well on our way to making that a reality thanks to this bill,” said Trait Thompson, executive director of the Okla homa Historical Society.
HB2673 allows past fundraising efforts to count toward the goal. Funders include the City of Tulsa, George Kaiser Family Foun dation, Tulsa Community Founda tion, Cherokee Nation, BOK Foundation, Chickasaw Nation, Ken and Jeanine Clifford, John and Leigh Reaves, Jim and Susannah Adelson, Coretz Family
Foundation, David and Kim Downing, Dr. Bob and Debbie Blackburn, William and Maddie Sharpe, John and Virginia Groendyke, D. Scott and Gerri Petty, Scott and Teri Hendricks, Dennis and Marian Bire, Tulsa County, Logan and Donna Sharpe, Nabholz Charitable Foundation, Tom and Cheryl Evans, Philip and Miranda Kaiser, Frank Family Foundation, and the Hudson Family Fund.
“It’s hard to put into words what this means. For all of us who have been working behind the scenes, this moment is about more than funding, it’s about the people who have believed in this project through every twist and turn. We are almost there,” said Jacob Krumwiede, executive director, OKPOP Museum.
“We extend our sincere thanks to legislative champions Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Senator Chuck Hall, as well as the many supporters and advocates who helped bring this bill across the finish line. We could not have done it without you,” said Krumwiede.
In addition to fundraising, the OKPOP team continues to acquire items and conduct interviews with Oklahoma pop culture icons. Once fully funded, the design and buildout phase will begin with an anticipated opening of about 24 months after funding.
You can help! Your donations help preserve and showcase the stories of Oklahoma creatives who have made significant contributions to pop culture. By contributing, you play a vital role in celebrating and sustaining the cultural heritage and impact of these talented individuals. Your generosity can help the museum continue to inspire and educate future generations.
Leaves
Glancy Motor Hotel Sign to be restored
Although the Glancy Motor Hotel historic property in Clinton is gone, the sign remains. The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) now possesses the once-modern hotel display, which once guided tourists and travelers to the roadside business on Route 66.
The Glancys saw several marked improvements to their hotels over the years. In 1939, when they opened The Glancy Courts in Clinton, rooms were just $2 per day. In 1950, they expanded to a new motel next to the Pop Hicks restaurant (another Route 66 landmark), offering additional amenities like wall-to-wall carpeting, television, and airconditioning.
In 1962, the Glancy family, offering comfort and convenience to customers, improved their hotel by adding a new office building with “theater-style” carpeting, a large modern swimming pool, and a new, larger neon sign to attract visitors.
Although the sign that attracted many visitors along the Mother Road has fallen into disrepair in the last six decades, plans for its restoration are already in progress. The City of Clinton transferred the sign to the OHS in June, and G & S Sign Services will handle its restoration over the next two years. Once it has been returned to its former glory, the sign will be installed at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, where it will light the way less than two miles from the original site of the Glancy Motor Hotel.
The treasured fiddle of bluegrass artist Byron Berline was recently donated to the OKPOP collections by the Berline Family.
By authorization of the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) Board of Directors, 2,900 copies are prepared at a cost of $1,212.73 bimonthly. The publication is financed in part with federal funds from the National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior.
Contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Oklahoma Historical Society or the United States Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by either organization.
Mistletoe Leaves is published for the members and friends of the OHS in partial fulfillment of its mission to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people.
Students and teachers are invited to share studies and programs and to duplicate content as desired. Editors are welcome to reprint materials with credit.
All Oklahoma Historical Society facilities are for the education and enjoyment of all. State and federal regulations prohibit unlawful discrimination in state and federally-assisted programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, and/or handicap.
Anyone denied benefits should contact the grievance manager of the Oklahoma Historical Society, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive, Oklahoma City, OK 73105-7917, telephone 405-837-7631 and/or the director, Office of Equal Opportunity, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240.
By Trait Thompson
Going into this year’s legislative session, I wasn’t sure what to expect. With a new Speaker of the House of Representatives, a new President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and new chairmen of their respective Appropriations Committees, it was anybody’s guess as to how things would play out. With the understanding that it would be a tighter budget year than it has been in the past, the Oklahoma Historical Society’s request was for a flat budget from the previous fiscal year. Thankfully, last year’s legislature approved an almost $2 million increase to our base budget to cover salary adjustments and the rising cost of utilities, information technology, materials, and equipment. From a financial perspective, our most substantiative legislative ask this year was a one-time appropriation of $2.8 million for a new HVAC system at the Oklahoma History Center. The History Center is in its 20th year, and the boilers, chillers, and cooling towers have become very difficult to maintain due to the age of the equipment and the difficulty of finding replacement parts. In a building that houses hundreds of thousands of rare artifacts and documents, we must maintain the proper humidity and temperature levels for long-term preservation. I am happy to report that our Appropriations subcommittee chairs, Sen. Kristen Thompson and Rep. Jim Grego, listened to our needs, and the appropriation for the
full amount was included in the final budget package approved by the governor. Another major win for the OHS was the passage of HB 2673. This legislation changed the language regarding fundraising for the OKPOP Museum project. The way the original bill was written, all $18 million of our private fundraising dollars were required to be in hand before we could access the state’s $18 million match. This arrangement proved problematic because many large donors pledged funds over months or years. The new legislation allows pledges to count toward the state’s match and will enable us to count significant donations made in a couple of years prior to 2023.
I am very thankful to the authors of HB 2673, Speaker Kyle Hilbert and Sen. Chuck Hall. They asked tough questions about our plans for opening the museum and its sustainability afterward. Ultimately, they put their trust in the OHS. I am also grateful to our OKPOP director, Jake Krumwiede, who spent countless hours at the state capitol speaking to legislators and explaining the vision for the project. His passion and knowledge convinced many legislators to jump on board and support this effort. Along the way, Jake got a crash course in legislative procedure, which isn’t something many museum directors can put on their resumes.
Since the OKPOP legislation passed and the governor allowed it to become law, $500,000 has been additionally pledged, and $24,000 in donations have come in, which puts us 85% of the way to our goal of $18 million by November. The work continues to get new donors on board, but I feel better than ever about meeting this goal and the OKPOP Museum becoming another one of the jewels in the OHS crown.
48 Hours in Atoka - 50 years ago
On August 30–31, 1975, a large music festival took place in Atoka. 48 Hours in Atoka was Oklahoma’s answer to Woodstock and other music festivals across the country. Advance tickets were only $10, and the crowd size was estimated at 40,000 people! Performers included Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Lee Lewis, Freddy Fender, Jessi Colter, Larry Gatlin, Hoyt Axton, David Allan Coe, and Jerry Jeff Walker. Many music historians consider the festival in Atoka to be the beginning of the outlaw country music movement.
Official Program from 48 Hours in Atoka (Atoka Museum and Civil War Cemetery Collection, OHS)
Reporter’s notebooks of Edith Kinney Gaylord
A recent donation from the Inasmuch Foundation to the Oklahoma Historical Society contains several notebooks kept by journalist and newspaper executive Edith Kinney Gaylord. The notebooks date roughly from 1942 through 1945, when the world was at war, and Gaylord worked for the Associated Press (AP) in New York. Five months into WWII, she was transferred to Washington, DC, where she was the only woman on the AP general news staff. Gaylord was assigned to cover the first press conference held by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1944. After that, she served as Mrs. Roosevelt’s media liaison until returning to Okla homa City after the end of the war.
The collection of spiral-bound notebooks captures Gaylord’s fastpaced career as a journalist. Many pages contain quickly written notes as she reported on aspects of World War II. Her pencil script covers meeting and hearing notes and significant dates dating back over 80 years. In more than 10 notebooks, topics range from war stamps, the US Army increasing the number of troops, Japanese internment camps, and the need to include more Women’s Auxiliary Air Corps (WAAC) in the war effort. She notes the names Captain Anna Wilson and Captain Francis Keegan Marquis as key female soldiers, along with a reference to Fort Des Moines, the only training site in the country for African American officers. It was also notably the first WAAC and Women’s Army Corps (WAC) training site.
Edith Kinney Gaylord (1916–2001) grew up in the publishing business as the daughter of Edward King (E. K.) Gaylord. He was the editor and publisher of The Oklahoman and the Oklahoma City Times newspapers. Edith Gaylord’s career spanned several decades and extended into philanthropic interests. She founded the Inasmuch Foundation in 1982, which supports education, the arts, health and human services, historic preservation, and environmental concerns. Gaylord also established the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation.
Keeping a Dead Outlaw’s legend alive
Michael Williams, director of the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and Carnegie Library (OTM), attended the Broadway musical Dead Outlaw’s opening night on April 29, accompanied by notable guests.
The production team initially sought his expertise for work on a documentary about Elmer McCurdy, an infamous Oklahoma outlaw. Williams could hardly have envisioned that his collaboration in 2022 with David Yazbeck and Erik Della Penna, the creators of Dead Outlaw, would have resulted in the original play receiving seven Tony Award nominations this year.
Dead Outlaw follows the story of Elmer McCurdy, who was shot dead by Katy Railroad detectives on October 7, 1911, following a train robbery. After his death, his embalmed body went unclaimed for six months; the mortician placed a rifle with the corpse and charged five cents for viewing. Later, carnival promoters claimed his remains and exhibited them as a sideshow attraction. After lingering in warehouses for twenty years, McCurdy’s body was sold to the Hollywood Wax Museum in 1968. After it closed, his remains ended up at the Nu-Point Amusement Park in Long Beach, California. He was painted fluorescent red and displayed as part of a spooky ride there.
In December 1976, crew members discovered McCurdy’s remains while filming The Six Million Dollar Man.
In February 1977, the City Council of Guthrie offered a burial plot in the Boot Hill section of the Summit View Cemetery for McCurdy. Two months later, on April 22, 1977, his body was delivered by a horse-drawn hearse and finally laid to rest in a plain pine coffin.
The pistol that killed McCurdy resides in the OTM, where exhibit panels illustrate his tragic tale. Director Michael Williams is doing all the traveling now, while Elmer McCurdy stays put, just two miles from the museum.
Honey Springs Battlefield Memorial Service
Honey Springs Battlefield will hold its annual memorial service on Saturday, July 19, at 10:30 a.m., to honor the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Honey Springs near Checotah.
The service commemorates the largest of approximately 107 documented Civil War military engagements throughout Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. The engagement took place at the Honey Springs settlement, Muscogee (Creek) Nation, on July 17, 1863, two weeks after the famous Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg.
For more information regarding the memorial service and Honey Springs Battlefield, call 918-617-7125. You can also email honeysprings@history.ok.gov.
Edith Gaylord Notebooks (2025.038, Inasmuch Foundation Collection, OHS).
Michael D. Williams on opening night of the Broadway Musical Dead Outlaw at the Longacre Theatre, Midtown Manhattan, New York.
July
Resilience—A Sansei Sense of Legacy exhibit opens, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
Li’l Buckaroos Kids Camp, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
OkieTales Storytime Hour, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
Lunch and Learn: “National Trust For Historic Preservation (NTHP) Grant Funding,” State Historic Preservation Office
12 - Night Artillery Firing at Fort Towson, Fort Towson Historic Site, Fort Towson
14 - Okietales Storytime Hour, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
15 - USCIS Naturalization Ceremony, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma
16 - Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee Meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma
17 - Historic Preservation Review Committee Meeting, (in person/ virtual), Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
Summer Sounds Concert Series featuring the Jimmy Lee Jordan Band, The Chisholm, Kingfisher
Honey Springs Battlefield Memorial Service, Honey Springs Battlefield, Checotah
First Friday OKPOP-IN, Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, Tulsa
History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
Belle Starr: The Truth Behind the Wild West Legend book signing and discussion with Michael Wallis, Oklahoma History Center Museum, Oklahoma City
Teacher Resource Social, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
Museum After Dark: “Memories of Injustice” lecture with historian and educator Sam Mihara, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
Lunch and Learn: “The Battle of Turkey Springs” webinar, State Historic Preservation Office
Wreath laying and flyover, Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
“The Cherokee Nation and the Civil War” program, Honey Springs Battlefield, Checotah
Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Committee Meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
Summer Sounds Concert Series featuring Travis Kidd, The Chisholm, Kingfisher
Dutch Oven Gathering, Fort Towson Historic Site, Fort Towson
Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
History Alive! on the Cherokee Strip, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
Okietales Storytime Hour, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
Oklahoma Historical Society Board of Directors Quarterly Meeting, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
Movie Night featuring Casablanca (1942), Will Rogers Memorial Museum, Claremore
Parlor Jams with Wayne Cantwell, The Chisholm, Kingfisher
Night at the Museum Open House, Oklahoma History Center, Oklahoma City
29 - Movie Night featuring The Boy from Oklahoma (1954), starring Will Rogers Jr., Memorial Museum, Claremore
30 - Parlor Jams with Wayne Cantwell, The Chisholm, Kingfisher
31 - Showmanship and the Wild West – Oklahoma’s Wild West Exhibitions: 1886–1933 exhibit closes, Pawnee Bill Ranch and Museum, Pawnee
Lunch and Learn: “The Battle of Turkey Springs”
On Tuesday, August 12, at noon, the State Historic Preservation Office will host a free Lunch and Learn webinar called “The Battle of Turkey Springs” with presenter Gerry Robinson, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Nation.
In the 1878, at the Battle of Turkey Springs, a band of Northern Cheyenne, escaping starvation and illness at their assigned reservation in the Fort Reno vicinity, rebuffed the US Cavalry, who had been sent to return them to the reservation. The Battle of Turkey Springs is notable as the last known armed conflict between the US Army and American Indians in Oklahoma.
The 2025 Teacher Resource Social will be held at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City on Thursday, August 7, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Educators, get ready for resources galore! There will be door prize giveaways and plenty of free resources from museums and organizations around the state to help you plan for the upcoming school year.
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please note that registration information may be shared with Teacher Resource Social vendors.
Nonprofits are invited to share their resources with educators! Museums, organizations, and vendors who would like to participate in this event, please register now.
Teacher Resource Social Attendee Registration
Teacher Resource Social Vendor/Organization Application
“Here’s
looking at you, kid”
Will Rogers Memorial Museum (WRMM) in Claremore will show the movie Casablanca (1932) at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore on Friday, July 25.
Movie Night is a place for family and friends to connect on the last Friday of the month. The doors to the theatre open at 6:30 p.m., and the movie begins at 7 p.m.
Guests can enjoy free admission, popcorn, and drinks while watching the film. Seating is limited, so early arrival is suggested. Thanks to the Bank of Commerce sponsorship, this event is FREE to attend. Please call 918-341-0719 for more information.
Early weather records were kept by fort surgeons
By David C. Reed, Fort Towson Historical Interpreter
Weather has always played a significant role in Oklahoma’s history, with weather diaries serving as some of the state’s earliest records of extreme temperatures. In April and May of 1824, Fort Gibson and Fort Towson were established as military outposts. The US military kept detailed weather records, which provide us with insight into life at these camps two centuries ago and add measurable data to our understanding of the state’s weather patterns.
Gathering and analyzing weather data in the study of disease was a novel concept at that time. It was believed that keeping a weather diary, among other observations, would help account for soldiers’ symptoms and determine the causes and cures for diseases.
At military posts like Fort Towson, Army surgeons maintained weather diaries. They recorded the date, temperature at various times throughout the day, barometer readings, wind conditions, and other pertinent notes. One reason surgeons may have felt compelled to keep such thorough records can be found in the 1821 General Regulations for the Army. It states:
“From an examination of the book containing the diary of the weather, the medical topography of the station or hospital, the account of the climate, prevalent complaints in the vicinity, and from suitable inquiries concerning the clothing, subsistence, quarters, etc., of the soldiers, he will discover, as far as practicable, the probable causes of disease and recommend the best means of preventing them; and also make suggestions regarding the situation, construction, and economy
of the hospitals and infirmaries, as may appear necessary for the benefit and comfort of the sick, and the good of the service.”
In the military, it was emphasized that surgeons at the posts should keep meticulous records on the weather, climate, and geographical features of various forts, as well as the nature of the diseases affecting the soldiers under their care. In her book
The Army Medical Department 1818-1865, author Mary C. Gillett noted that early records aimed to understand how weather influenced the illnesses of soldiers. This meticulous record keeping helped identify patterns in the climate that affected epidemics, malarial fevers, and other diseases.
Temperature records for Fort Towson are available from July 1824 to December 1824, April 1827 to June 1829, July 1831 to February 1832, July 1832 to April 1846, June 1849 to November 1851, and October 1852 to April 1854. Daily precipitation records extend from June 1836 to June 1845, August 1845 to April 1846, June 1849 to August 1851, October 1851 to November 1851, and October 1852 to April 1854. The records are imcomplete, possibly due to the rotation and reassignment of surgeons and soldiers, leading to gaps in the weather diaries.
The original handwritten diaries and documents of the US Army Medical Department and the Army Surgeon General’s Office Government publications are the source of this historical data. These early records, maintained initially by fort surgeons, could prove valuable to modern-day meteorologists.
Follow the Fort Towson Historic Site on Facebook to see a comparison of modernday temperatures at the site compared to the early 1800s.
Parlor Jams with the Flyin’ Fiddler Wayne Cantwell
On the last Saturday of July, August, September, and October, from 1 to 3 p.m., The Chisholm will present a series of jam sessions in the parlor room of Horizon Hill, the home of Territorial Governor A. J. Seay. Wayne Cantwell, “the Flyin’ Fiddler,” will lead an old-fashioned jam session in the parlor of Horizon Hill. Musicians of all levels are encouraged to participate in this excellent learning opportunity to sit and play alongside seasoned performers! The public is encouraged to watch, listen, and join in as musicians play through traditional “oldtime” hits. Musicians are welcome to bring acoustic instruments and join in this free event. For more information, contact the museum at 405-375-5176.
Oklahoma Folklife Festival call for vendors
The Oklahoma History Center invites organizations to participate in the 2025 Oklahoma Folklife Festival this fall on October 25.
Night Artillery Firing
FORT TOWSON HISTORIC SITE
Experience the drama of a night artillery firing of Fort Towson’s Mountain Howitzer on Saturday, July 12 from 7:45 to 9 p.m. The program will start with a boom, with a daylight firing at 7:45 p.m., to be followed by a talk about the artillery piece. A second firing will occur at twilight, and a third will happen after dark. For more information, call 580-873-2634 or email fttowson@history.ok.gov. The Fort Towson Historic Site is located at 896 N. 4375 Road in Fort Towson.
This festival is designed to engage visitors with opportunities to experience other cultures and traditions. Visitors are there to participate in the activities, not just observe. The festival aims to spark curiosity, catalyze intercultural exchange, create participatory experiences, and collaborate with cultural practitioners, communities, and heritage professionals. This event will be held predominately indoors, and admission is free to the public.
If your organization would like to participate, please complete the Oklahoma Folklife Festival Application, and our staff will contact you. There will be a $50 booth fee for groups wanting to sell products at the festival.
Visit okhistory.org/folklife-signup to apply.
“Memories of Injustice” lecture
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is proud to host guest speaker, historian, and educator Sam Mihara at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center from 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Friday, August 8, as part of the center’s Museum After Dark series.
Mihara will deliver his lecture “Memories of Injustice” about the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II and his personal experiences as a prisoner at a US relocation camp near Heart Mountain, Wyoming.
When he was just 9 years old, Sam and his family were forcibly moved from their home in San Francisco to the Heart Mountain, Wyoming, prison camp following the outbreak of World War II. They were placed in a 20 by 20-foot barrack, where they lived for the next three years, much like many other US-born American citizens of Japanese descent. Sam’s family was one of the 120,000 west coast residents spread across 10 camps in the United States. After the war ended, the Mihara family returned home to San Francisco, where Sam attended high school, then enrolled in the University of California at Berkeley and later at the University of California at Los Angeles, earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering. He used those degrees to become an executive on space programs for the Boeing Company until his retirement.
Upon retiring, Sam has been calling on his experiences to become a speaker and educate the public on the mass injustice in the US. His public speaking has taken him to many federal prisons and immigrant detention facilities, along with schools, libraries, the US DoJ, Congress, and other various organizations across the US, Asia, and Europe where he has given over 450 speeches. He also assists in the preservation of the Heart Mountain historic prison site where he spent three years of his young life. He has been a board member of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation since 2014 and is a member of the Japanese American Citizens League, South East Los Angeles and North Orange County Chapter.
Sam Mihara’s presentation will be featured in conjunction with the Resilience—A Sansei Sense of Legacy exhibit that will be on display in the J. E. & L. E. Mabee Foundation Gallery of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center through September 8. Call 580-237-1907 for more information.
$300 million in preservation projects in Oklahoma are in limbo
due to unpaid federal funding
By Trait Thompson and Lynda Ozan
A disturbing trend emerged in the middle of the last century: America’s historic buildings were being demolished, with little thought given to the magnitude of what we were losing. Urban renewal and similar programs wreaked havoc on communities by eviscerating Main Street architecture in favor of here-today-and-gone-tomorrow structures that added little to the character of our cities. The passing of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) in 1966 began to turn the tide, as the United States prioritized preserving historic buildings and sites that were key to shaping our communities and understanding our collective past. Today, almost 60 years after the NHPA was passed, we are in danger of losing the ground we gained due to severe budget cuts at the National Park Service (NPS).
The NPS accomplishes its historic preservation goals through state historic preservation offices (SHPOs) in each state. SHPOs administer the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), applications for historic tax credits, the Certified Local Government Program, and Section 106 review, which considers the impact on historic properties. In Oklahoma, the federal government covers 60% of the funding required to operate the SHPO at the Oklahoma Historical Society through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), equating to $1.2 million.
The president’s recently released proposed budget calls for eliminating the HPF, which would cripple Oklahoma’s SHPO. Furthermore, we have been waiting for the Office of Management and Budget for over six months to release SHPO’s funding for the current fiscal year, with no indication of when or if it will happen. Without additional funding, the SHPO will be forced to cut staff and significantly reduce operations by September 1, harming preservation efforts.
The Section 106 program ensures construction projects using federal funds do not have an adverse effect on properties eligible for or listed in the NRHP. The program gives communities a voice in the federal planning process and allows stakeholders to advocate for preservation. This work is critical for ensuring we are mindful of how we approach construction in sensitive areas. Last year, SHPO reviewed over 2,600 projects involving about 7,100 properties in Oklahoma. Without proper funding, it is conceivable that we could see irreparable damage to Native American burial sites, historic structures, archaeological fields, and other historically significant sites. Under truncated operations, processing historic tax credits associated with building
restoration projects could be drawn out for months, causing some investors to reconsider this work. Over the past five years, developers have invested approximately $800 million throughout the state in restoring historic buildings. These projects likely would not have occurred without state and federal tax credits, which can offset up to 40% of qualified construction costs. A few of the buildings in Oklahoma City that have been saved because of historic tax credits over the past few years include the First National Bank Building, the Walcourt Building, and the Tower Theatre.
It is not just urban buildings that have benefited from historic tax credits. Communities in rural Oklahoma have seen their downtown areas revitalized and new businesses flourish because they were able to save their iconic architecture. Currently, $300 million in construction projects across the state are eligible for historic tax credits, but they may be in limbo if funds are not distributed from NPS to SHPO. Richard Moe, former president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, once remarked, “There may have been a time when preservation was about saving an old building here and there, but those days are gone. Preservation is in the business of saving communities and the values they embody.” For over 60 years, SHPOs nationwide have been saving communities through the Historic Preservation Fund. Now is not the time to turn back the clock to the days when our history was so easily discarded.
A version of this column was originally published by The Oklahoman on May 21, 2025.
At the time of this printing, the SHPO has already made some difficult staffing changes due to the current funding situation. Should you need assistance with SHPO functions, please note these important contact changes:
Architect/Tax Credit: This position is vacant. All questions should be directed to Lynda Ozan, deputy state historic preservation officer.
Survey Coordinator: This position is vacant. All questions should be directed to Michael Mayes, NRHP coordinator.
Digital Technician: This position is vacant. All questions should be directed to Kristina Wyckoff, historic archaeologist/Section 106 coordinator.
Section 106 Technical Services: This position is vacant. All questions should be directed to Kristina Wyckoff or Lynda Ozan. Keep up to date on staffing changes at okhistory.org/shpo/staff.
New Oklahoma National Register Listings
The Oklahoma Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are pleased to announce the National Register of Historic Places designation for the following properties in Oklahoma.
BACCUS HOUSE
McIntosh County
Constructed in 1898 as a railroad office, the Baccus House would later become associated with W. M. Baccus and the politics/government of Vernon, one of the remaining 13 All-Black towns of Oklahoma.
W. M. Baccus was the local sheriff, county commissioner and probate administrator of McIntosh County throughout his life. W. M. and his family purchased the home in 1920 and remained there through his retirement in 1953. Mr. Baccus was instrumental in securing funding for a new school in Vernon while supplying additional funding for repairing and building schools in the All-Black towns of McIntosh County.
ROBERT J. LAFORTUNE TOWER
Tulsa County
The Robert J. LaFortune Tower, located in Tulsa, is significant for its role in social history as it reflects a change in policy leading to the conventional method of construction. It was built to help alleviate the shortages in housing for low-income senior citizens and opened in 1975. The Robert J. LaFortune Tower was the third and last senior housing project development constructed by and for the Tulsa Housing Authority. It was the first and only housing project not developed under the traditional turnkey method. After increased distrust in the turnkey method, the Tulsa Housing Authority began relying on private developers while hiring the architects and builders themselves.
DOZIER MERCANTILE BUILDING
McIntosh County
Listed in the National Register on June 22, 1984, as The Rock Front (NR #84003152), the National Park Service has accepted updated information that amends the original nomination, that changes the historic name of the property to the Dozier Mercantile Building; credits Sim Bow (S. B.) Dozier as the builder; revises the period of significance to 1915–71, which corresponds to when the building was constructed and the last significant alteration; clarifies the boundary of the nominated property; and updates the Statement of Significance to reflect the historical accuracy of the research. The Dozier Mercantile Building is historically significant for Commerce and Ethnic Heritage/Black.
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. The SHPO identifies, evaluates, and nominates properties for the special designation.
The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. 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. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites, and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs, and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.
OHS documentary of the state flag
A new documentary created by OHS videographer Cruz Pulido delves into the interesting history behind the creation of our state flag. Through interviews with State Historian Dr. Matthew Pearce, Executive Director Trait Thompson, Osage Minerals Council Member Everett Waller, and Sue Allen of the Ponca City Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the storied history of Oklahoma’s State Flag unfolds. Scan the QR code above to learn more!
Night at the Museum
On Wednesday, July 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center will hold a special afterhours experience called “Night at the Museum.”
This family-friendly event will bring the museum to life, allowing guests to explore the galleries outside of regular hours with additional crafts, activities, and living history presenters.
The Oklahoma History Center is a 215,000-square-foot learning center exploring Oklahoma’s unique history of Native culture, pioneers, aviation, commerce, and more. Visitors experience Smithsonianquality exhibits that bring to life the voices and visions of Oklahoma, view more than 50 topics and 2,000 artifacts reflecting Oklahoma’s inspiring and adventurous past, and explore research and interpretive programs of Oklahoma’s rich and diverse history.
The event is included with paid admission to the museum. OHS members get in free, and no registration is required.
Summer Sounds concert series at The Chisholm
Join The Chisholm on the third Thursday of July and August for a free Summer Sounds Concert. On Thursday, July 17, the Jimmy Lee Jordan Band will perform, and on Thursday, August 21, singer/songwriter Travis Kidd will play to the crowd gathered on the lawn. Plan to come early and enjoy dinner or des sert from a featured food truck beginning at 6 p.m., spread out your favorite blanket, set up a comfy lawn chair, and enjoy live music from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Horizon Hill, the home of terri torial governor A. J. Seay. The family-friendly event is free. For more information, contact the museum at 405-375-5176.
Singer/songwriter Travis Kidd performs in August.
Oklahoma Historical Society
800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-7917
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
PERIODICALS
Mistletoe Leaves
Vol. 56, No. 5
July/August 2025
HISTORICAL MARKER PROGRAM INTEREST STORY
Stories from the Road: Whirlwind Mission
by Matthew Pearce, state historian
Along a county road in west Blaine County is a historical marker commemorating the location of Whirlwind Mission. The federal government opened a day school for Cheyenne children on the allotment of Chief Whirlwind in 1897. The school soon closed but was reopened by the Episcopal Church in 1904. David Pendleton Oakerhater (Cheyenne) was among the individuals associated with the mission. While the marker states that the mission closed in 1917, it reopened in 1922 to host a convocation of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma Sports Heroes
exhibit
Visit the Oklahoma Sports Heroes exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center Museum (OHCM), where learning about the amazing achievements of Oklahoma athletes is designed to be a fun experience for everyone. Through artifacts and images, the installation in the Sam Noble Gallery explores sports legends from the past, like Jim Thorpe, Wilber Rogan, Mickey Mantle, and Johnny Bench, along with newer stars such as Kaleo Kanahele Maclay, Noah Zuhdi, and Camille Herron.
Custom QR codes link to exciting videos, films, and interviews that offer deeper insights into the lives of Oklahoma athletes. Interactive touch screens and hands-on activities encourage guest participation and testing of athletic skills.
Learn about the AAGPBL pitcher Earlene “Beans” Risigner of Hess, wrestler Danny Hodge of Perry, MLB player “Pepper” Martin of Temple, and Harlem Globetrotter Marques Haynes of Sand Springs.
The exhibit features items recently added to the Oklahoma Historical Society’s collections, made possible by a generous donation from the Oklahoma Sports Heritage Museum in Guthrie. The OHCM expresses its gratitude to Richard Hendricks and the broader Oklahoma sports history community for their support in bringing this exhibit to life.
The Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS) installed the marker for Whirlwind Mission in 1960. Sometime thereafter, floodwater from a nearby creek covered it in mud and debris. Gordon L. Yellowman Sr., Coordinator of the Cultural Protection Program for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, found the inundated marker and immediately set to work on its refurbishment. The restoration effort was entirely community driven with support from the OHS. New concrete was donated by Oakerhater Episcopal Indian Ministries. Tribal member Burton Hawk constructed a pipe fence to protect the marker, and students from a local vocational program provided cutout letters for the fence. Work was completed in May 1998. A recent survey of historical markers revealed that their efforts remain intact.
The OHS strives to maintain a comprehensive inventory of historical markers in Oklahoma. Readers can explore the historical marker database at okhistory.org/ markers. Refurbishing a historical marker can make for a great community project. If you know of a damaged marker that needs restored and would like more information, please contact me at matthew.pearce@history.ok.gov or 405-522-8659.
Veteran Wilber Joe “Bullet” Rogan played with the Kansas City Monarchs for 18 years.
1959 Topps Baseball Card depicts the home run ball that resulted in Mickey Mantle winning the Triple Crown.
Exterior of wood frame of the Whirlwind Church building with covered vestibule, and arched windows (Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma Collection, OHS).
