Guthrie’s historic State Capital Publishing Museum is set to host a highly anticipated event, A Night for the Museum, on Thursday, October 24, 2024. This elegant evening, scheduled from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, aims to raise funds for the ongoing restoration of the museum while providing guests with an unforgettable experience. Located at 301 W. Harrison Ave, the museum stands as a significant historical landmark, deeply rooted in Oklahoma’s statehood and publishing history.
The event, subtitled “Bringing History to the Present,” promises an exciting blend of history, music, cuisine, and auctions. Guests will be treated to a live performance by jazz legend Justin Echols, whose soulful melodies are set to transport attendees to a different era. Alongside the music, the evening will feature exquisite hors d’oeuvres prepared by Ben Coffin, a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef and mastermind behind Granny Had One. To complement the culinary delights, cocktails and wine will be served by The Wander Inn, ensuring that everyone is well-refreshed throughout the evening.
The museum’s leadership holds out high hopes for the event in terms of proceeds to support the museum’s key ongoing needs. Kord Stockwell, Chairman of the Board for the museum, had this to say about the team’s goals for the event: “This is our one event of the year that drives our ability to work toward making this a building that’s open to the public and fully operational.” He continued, “We have our entire strategic plan built out, so we’ve got projects that are million-dollar projects like the external elevator, three floors of windows to redo, the AT&T parking lot to buy to provide more parking space. Those things don’t necessarily qualify for grants. The event two years ago paid for the window replacement on the first floor, and that shows what we get from this.”
One of the highlights of the evening is the live auction, led by renowned auctioneer Barrett Bray. Attendees will have the chance to bid on extraordinary items, including an African safari adventure, Caribbean getaways, and even a private concert with the aforementioned Justin Echols. In addition, a wide range of silent auction items, with something for every budget, will also be available. Online bidding for these items will open in advance of the event.
The event marks an important milestone for the State Capital Publishing Museum, which has undergone significant restoration efforts over the past several years. The museum, which originally opened in 1902 as the largest printing facility west of the Mississippi, has played a pivotal role in Oklahoma’s history. Frank Greer, owner of the “State Capital”, the first newspaper published in Oklahoma after the 1889 Land Run, built the current building on two lots he owned after the McKenna Building, first home of the newspaper, burned on Easter Morning of 1902.
It was from the museum’s second-floor balcony that Oklahoma statehood was announced on November 16, 1907. Today, the museum continues to preserve Oklahoma’s rich history, and this event aims to raise much-needed funds to restore the building’s original grandeur, including its floors and historic Linograph machine—the only operational one of its kind in the world.
A special tribute during the evening will honor Dr. A.J. Griffin, who played a crucial role in saving the museum from developers and continues to serve as a champion for preserving Oklahoma’s history. Her tireless advocacy, both in the Oklahoma Senate and as part of the museum’s advisory board, has been instrumental in ensuring that the museum remains a key cultural landmark.
Tickets for the event are $100 in advance or $125 at the door, and sponsorship opportunities are available. Proceeds will go directly to supporting the museum’s restoration efforts, ensuring that this historical treasure continues to thrive for future generations.
Don’t miss this chance to support Guthrie’s history and be part of an unforgettable evening that blends the past and present in one magical night. Said Stockwell: “This is the event that helps us bring awareness on what we’re doing, and what we still have to do, to the public that has supported us for all those years, and the new friends that have joined us to help along the way.”
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the State Capital Publishing Museum’s website.