Educational Programs

THS members and staff are active in community education projects. These programs are available to schools and civic groups. Please contact us at 918-712-9484 to schedule a presentation.

Early Tulsa 1880 to 1909 - watch Tulsa grow from the fur trade industry to booming cow town to the Oil Capital of the World.

Tulsa's Art Deco - Walking and driving tours of local Art Deco influences are available. To learn more click here.

Art Deco 101 - Learn the basics of Art Deco through three distinct periods.

Tulsa's Movie Theaters - Tulsa’s movie theater history begins in 1906 with the opening of the Dreamland and the Lyric Theaters. Follow the rise and fall of Tulsa’s elegant and glamorous theaters through a power point presentation, which highlights the cultural and economic impact on our city. The program includes photographs and commentary showcasing over 26 theaters, including the Orpheum, Ritz, and Delman theaters.

Statehood Day at J.M. Hall's General Store - A Readers Theater for Fourth Grade - Students reading a short script in the classroom present a readers theater representing 18-23 actual 1907 Tulsa personalities. Some of the characters include: J. M. Hall, Rachel Perryman, Rev. C. W. Kerr, Ida Glenn, Sue Bland, Dr. Fred S. Clinton, Dr. Sam Kennedy, and Will Rogers. The setting is Hall’s General Store, the first non-Creek Indian mercantile in Tulsa. Characters relive their contributions and experiences in early Tulsa as they await the telegram saying that President Theodore Roosevelt has signed the bill making Oklahoma the 46^th state of the Union. Children are encouraged to wear “period clothing.” Some props and costuming will be provided by THS. As an evaluation, teachers will have their students brainstorm about the four concepts that are developed during the presentation. Those concepts include: community cooperation, the effects of oil discovery and transportation on a cow town, and the cultural contributions the ladies made. Seven of the fourth grade PASS objectives for oral language and social studies are met in this program.

Outlaws! - Some of the most ornery characters in these here parts come to life (and death) in this rootin' tootin' presentation of infamous outlaws. Just get yourself real tied up and comfortable, because you are going to get to be real good friends with the likes of Belle Starr, Bill Cook, the Doolin gang, Cherokee Bill, Heck Thomas, Pistol Pete, Tulsa Jack, and Little Britches. We'll also take you to many of the locales where these hoodlums practiced the fine art of holdups and robberies - the likes of which we thought only existed in western movies. Of course we don't leave out the brave lawmen such as the Lighthorsemen who brought these criminals to justice, either in an alley shootout or the gallows of Hangin' Judge Parker.  Due to the violent content of this program, we recommend it for mature audiences only.

Gusher! -  The discovery of oil at the Glenn Pool led to Tulsa proclaiming itself the Oil Capital of the World. Follow the boom-and-bust development from the early days of roughneck oil scouts through the fabulous wealth the oil companies bestowed on Tulsa.