Ancestry Day in Oklahoma
800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr
Ancestry Day in Oklahoma
Celebrate your Oklahoma roots with two days of genealogy and Native American culture during Ancestry Day in Oklahoma presented by Ancestry.com, the Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Genealogical Society. Both novice and experienced genealogists are welcome to learn what tracing family history is all about. The weekend includes classes presented by Ancestry.com as well as optional activities like additional Friday educational sessions, bus tours, a reception and a lunch and learn program on Saturday. Experts will be on site to answer your questions regarding genealogy and help you on your journey to learn more about your family.
It all begins on Friday with various Activities Bus Tours. The tour through Oklahoma City visits the Centennial Land Run Monument, SkyDance Bridge, Bricktown, Stockyards City, the Boat House District and the Oklahoma City National Memorial with lunch at Nonna's Euro-American Ristorante. The second tour to Guthrie includes stops at the Oklahoma Territorial Museum and the Drugstore Museum with time for shopping and lunch in the beautiful Victorian downtown area. A third bus tour heads to Chickasaw Country and includes time at the Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur, Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Bedre Chocolate Factory and the Rusty Nail Winery. All tours leave from the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.
Educational classes at the Metro Technology Center with the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Center take place on Friday afternoon. Explore researching with historic newspapers, the history of Indian Territory, Oklahoma land runs, homestead records, Indian allotments and how all of these aspects of genealogy can help you trace your American Indian ancestors. Another session of Friday classes as the Oklahoma History Center covers the Five Civilized Tribes and heritage culture with William D. Welge, Gene Norris, Kenneth Sivard and Mary Jane Warde, PhD. Attendees are given free admission to the museum exhibits. The Oklahoma History Center also hosts the Native Reflections: Experience Trial Traditions Reception on Friday evening complete with hors d'oeurves, traditional Chickasaw dancing and craft demonstrations.
The educational opportunities continue on Saturday with classes offered from Ancestry.com. They include Ancestry 101: New & Review, Getting the Most from Ancestry.com, Using AncestryDNA to Further Your Family History Research, American Indian Collection on Ancestry.com, Q&A with the Experts and Sharing Your Family Story. These sessions take place at the Renaissance Ballroom at the Cox Convention Center throughout the day. Special speaker, story teller and Choctaw author Tim Tingle gives a lunch presentation. It will include music, history, and traditional Choctaw hymns making it a one-of-a-kind way to learn about family history, oral tradition and story telling. This session has limited seating, so be sure to sign up early.