J.E. & L.E Mabee Foundation Gallery
Special Exhibit Gallery
In the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Foundation Gallery, we host a variety of special exhibits throughout the year! From art shows, to traveling exhibits, you won’t want to miss any of these special exhibits. See our calendar of events for our special exhibit schedule.
Upcoming Special Exhibits
Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiney, Real and Imagined
On exhibit Jan. 29 – March 16
The exhibit, Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined is on exhibit at the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center from January 28, 2023 through March 16, 2023.
Westward expansion was one of the most transformational elements in American life throughout the nineteenth century. Printed imagery played an important role in the dissemination of knowledge and understanding about the West and those who inhabited it.
Imprinting the West: Manifest Destiny, Real and Imagined features 48 hand-colored engravings and lithographs that explore these depictions and the influence artists had on the perception of the wild west.
Frozen in Time: A Photographic History of Northwestern Oklahoma
On exhibit March 28 – April 29
Photographs can capture our imagination and transport us back in time. These images can unlock memories, remind us of our past, and also show us how our lives has changed as time marches on. Frozen in Time: a Photographic History of Northwestern Oklahoma is a special exhibit that focuses of a selection of photographs from northwestern Oklahoma, both past and present. The exhibit will feature selected photos from noted Enid photographers Mike Klemme and Wess Gray, with historic photographers William S. Prettyman, William Edson, and Richard J. “Dick” McConkay.
Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II
On exhibit May 9 – August 5
In the years leading up to World War II, racial segregation and discrimination were part of daily life for many in the United States. For most African Americans, even the most basic rights and services were fragmented or denied altogether. To be black was to know the limits of freedom—excluded from the very opportunity, equality, and justice on which the country was founded.
Yet, once World War II began, thousands of African Americans rushed to enlist, intent on serving the nation that treated them as second-class citizens. They were determined to fight to preserve the freedom that they themselves had been denied. This is their story.
Yet, once World War II began, thousands of African Americans rushed to enlist, intent on serving the nation that treated them as second-class citizens. They were determined to fight to preserve the freedom that they themselves had been denied. This is their story.
Cherokee Strip
Regional Heritage Center
Permanent Exhibit Gallery
Our permanent exhibit gallery explores the history of northwestern Oklahoma, from the settlement of the historical region known as the Cherokee Strip to modern day. The exhibits explore the historical origins of the Cherokee Outlet, the Cherokee Outlet land opening in 1893, the settlement of the region, and the culture and society that developed.
