Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

OKLAHOMA
HALL OF FAME
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame, formerly
known as the Oklahoma Heritage Association,
is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving
and promoting Oklahoma’s incredible
story through its people. The organization
was founded in 1927 by Anna B. Korn and a
distinguished group of prominent Oklahomans
to officially celebrate Oklahoma Statehood
Day, promote the observance by teachers and
pupils with exercises to inspire children with
Oklahoma’s commonwealth, and create an
official ceremony to recognize Oklahomans
with the state’s highest honor, induction
into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. Programs of
the Oklahoma Hall of Fame include history
education, publishing, and the Gaylord-Pickens
Museum, home of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
The Gaylord-Pickens Museum opened to
the public on Saturday, May 10, 2007. Located
at 1400 Classen Drive in Oklahoma City, this
state-of-the-art facility is filled with interactive
exhibitory where visitors virtually meet the
Oklahomans who have impacted our state,
country, and world. The museum is designed
to engage visitors of all ages and its garden and
event space have become one of Oklahoma
City’s most desired locations for weddings,
receptions, and special events. The museum is
open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday
through Friday and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
on Saturday.
The organization sponsors Heritage Week
competitions for students in grades three
through twelve statewide and offers more
than $4,000,000 annually in tuition grants
and cash scholarships to high school students.
The association has published more than 160
books and is considered the leader in publishing
Oklahoma’s history. Its Teen Board
has raised more than $120,000 since its
conception with an annual fundraiser. At the
Gaylord-Pickens Museum, the Tulsa World
Gallery continues to highlight the artistic
talents of Oklahoma, families gather for story
time and crafts with Third Thursdays, and
people from across the state continue to make
their way each year to celebrate statehood
at the annual Statehood Day Festival.
Each November, the organization sponsors
the Oklahoma Hall of Fame Banquet &
Induction Ceremony. Induction into the
Oklahoma Hall of Fame is the highest honor
an Oklahoman can receive from our state.
This black-tie event, televised throughout
Oklahoma and surrounding states, is celebrated
with attendees from throughout
Oklahoma, the nation, and the world.
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame—telling
Oklahoma’s story through its people.
Above: Guests learning about jazz legend
Charlie Christian in the Chickasaw Nation
Oklahoma Through Its People Gallery at
the Gaylord-Pickens Museum. Christian is
one of many Oklahomans celebrated in
the museum.
Below: Opened during Oklahoma’s
Centennial in 2007, the Gaylord-Pickens
Museum features exhibits and activities for
guests of all ages.
O K L A H O M A P A R T N E R S
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