Travel back in time to visit the Overholser Mansion, home of the Father of Oklahoma City. Walking through the halls of the family mansion is like stepping into a different era. It is fascinating to experience firsthand what life was like for the Overholser family over one hundred years ago. As you explore the mansion, you can discover how Mr. Overholser contributed to the development of Oklahoma City. He was a visionary leader who cared deeply about his community. You will leave The Overholser Mansion with a newfound appreciation for the history and heritage of Oklahoma City.
The Black Liberated Arts Center has grown and expanded its services. Initially created as a platform for music, literary works, and visual arts, it now includes a theater component. BLAC offers a variety of programs, including festivals, arts education, lectures, poetry readings, theater productions, presenting programs, traveling arts programs, and dance programs. Serving the community is their primary focus. Their mission to use the vehicle of fine arts to provide the total community of Oklahoma with exposure to the African, African-American/Black culture with a particular emphasis on educating Oklahoma's youth is truly commendable.
Explore the music and cultural significance of the banjo, America's beloved instrument, at the renowned American Banjo Museum, where they dedicate and safeguard the banjo's vibrant history, dynamic essence, and limitless musical possibilities. The museum has an impressive collection of banjos available for public viewing, boasting over 400 instruments, films, recordings, instructional materials, printed music, ephemera, and memorabilia worldwide. The galleries feature various types of banjos, including primitive ones made by enslaved Africans, minstrel-age instruments from the mid-19th century, Classic Era banjos from the late 1800s and early 1900s, and post-WWII banjos used in bluegrass, folk, and world music.