Vol. 37, No. 8 Published monthly by the Oklahoma Historical Society, serving since 1893 August 2006 Fort Gibson staff conducts archaeological remote sensing project Locating the original site of the Fort Gib- cord and from previous archaeological sur- son stockade has been the goal for histori- vey work. On February 17 the Oklahoma ans, among them the staff at the Fort Gib- Archaeological Survey’s Dr. Lee Bement son Historic Site, for decades. Sparse and brought an hydraulic coring device to sam- conflicting information from the past does ple various sites. The soil cores pulled from not provide clues for a definitive location. the ground yielded clues to subsurface Researchers could only speculate, and they strata and materials that helped narrow needed more clues. Traditional excavation the later geophysical search areas. In June is too intrusive and labor intensive. Enter the site’s staff laid out rope-defined grids The dredge barges are sitting on sand modern scientific methods of investigation. over which four different types of data col- dunes created by removing sand from the lection instruments were used. These in- wreck (Staff photo). cluded resistivity and conductivity meters, a magnetometer, and a Red River wreck update ground-penetrating radar unit. Each instrument electronically The 2006 season for the Red River Wreck probed the subsurface and pro- Archaeology Project began in June with a vided data that downloaded to a one-month field school session. The steam- computer program. This informa- boat Heroine had hit a snag and had sunk tion is combined to produce over- in the Red River in May 1838, while deliver- laying maps depicting what lies ing provisions to the garrison at Fort beneath the surface. Towson. The project to recover information DeVore will process the infor- about Oklahoma’s only nautical archaeo- mation and present his interpre- logical find is being conducted through a tations of the data in a report due collaboration between the Oklahoma His- this fall. Initial analysis indicates torical Society, the Institute of Nautical Ar- several locations that hold the chaeology, and Texas A&M University. Be- promise of providing information sides INA staff and students, OHS divers that may help locate the buried John Davis (OHS Field Manager) and remnants of the fort’s original Howard McKinnis were assisted topside at stockade. various times by staffers Jim Argo, Larry OHS staff member Gary Moore operates the Marcy, William Vandever, and Bob Rea. ground-penetrating radar equipment (Staff photo). Since 2003 a field school has been held for TAMU student archaeologists who have The Fort Gibson Historic Site, worked under demanding conditions while which is a designated National dredging, retrieving artifacts, and measur- Historic Landmark, received a Na- ing and recording the wreck. Heat, water tional Park Service Heritage Part- currents, and very limited visibility provide nerships Program grant to fund a everyday challenges. Much of the project’s geophysical survey of areas that success is attributed to their hard work. were suspected of holding poten- Kevin Crisman, INA project director, tial clues. During the week of deemed this June’s session a success. June 6–9 Steve DeVore, of the NPS Drought conditions in Oklahoma have con- Midwest Regional Archaeology tributed to lower water levels on the Red Center, conducted a thorough, River, thus providing for better diving opera- systematic search in and around tions. Information and artifacts from the the replica WPA–era stockade, us- wreck have shed light on early steamboat ing various electronic instru- technology and everyday life on the river. Ar- ments. Assisting him were OHS tifacts retrieved during the session are un- staff members Bob Rea, David dergoing conservation treatment at the Fowler, Gary Moore, and Rory TAMU/INA lab in Bryan, Texas. One find Montgomery. was the snag that punctured the hull. The log was 12 feet long by 2.5 feet in diameter. The lack of historic documenta- OHS staff member Gary Moore receiving instruction tion and much site disturbance in in equipment operation from Steve DeVore of the Another work session on the river will be the modern era presented prob- National Park Service Midwest Regional Archaeology held during September and early October lems for the search team. The ini- Center (Staff photo). to continue to study the steamboat and its tial planning consisted of informa- contents. A main goal of that session will be tion gleaned from the historical re- to remove the steamboat’s unique drive mechanism. vices. For example, every eighth-grader in OMH volunteers’ field trip! the Moore school system (1,600 of them), participated in the Civil War outreach The Oklahoma Museum of History Vol- programming. unteer Services Program is alive and thriv- For those who come to the Oklahoma ing in the Oklahoma History Center. Re- Director’s History Center, the difference between the cently 41 of the 120 OMH volunteers OHS’s home of a year ago and the one of to- boarded a bus to travel to three museums Column day is truly like the difference between in Oklahoma: the Chisholm Trail Museum night and day. The new building is bright, in Kingfisher, the Route 66 Museum in sunlit, and inviting. Its public areas really Clinton, and the Thomas P. Stafford Air please the people who enter the building. and Space Museum in Weatherford. When they go through the exhibits in the This volunteer “field trip” was the idea of Oklahoma Museum of History, they come OMH Volunteer Coordinator Robbin Davis. By Bob L. Blackburn out full of enthusiasm for Oklahoma. Davis, hired in July of 2005 to originate the Executive Director If you haven’t taken the opportunity to OMH Volunteer Services Program, de- visit the new History Center and see what signed the expedition as a way for the vol- your support has made possible, I encour- We’re approaching the height of the sum- unteers to not only get to know the muse- age you to come. I guarantee you won’t be ums, but also to get to know each other. mer season, and we’ve realized that the disappointed. Oklahoma Historical Society and its various “People volunteer for a variety of rea- All of the OHS’s museums, sites, and sons,” said Davis. “They are interested in sites and museums are becoming more and houses are going to see significant im- more important as tourist destinations. the subject matter, have a desire to ‘give provements in their programming and back’ to their community, to make personal It’s truly remarkable that thousands of maintenance during the coming year. Oklahomans and visitors from other states and professional connections, and also to As we now approach the Centennial Year socialize and meet new friends. The field are really hungry for the kinds of informa- of 2007, the OHS will begin offering a vari- tion that we can provide. And it’s very grati- trip was an excellent way to do that.” ety of commemorative activities. OMH volunteers give educational tours, fying for us to be constantly improving our As for the future, I predict that genera- means of educating the public. act as gallery hosts and greeters at the tions of Oklahomans are going to thank OHC, and provide support to the OMH col- From its grand opening in mid-November you for helping make all of this possible. and through the end of April, more than lections staff and administrative offices. 100,000 people have visited new Oklahoma There are currently 120 active volunteers, History Center—thousands more than had who have served a total of more than 6,000 visited our “old” headquarters building on hours since September of 2005, when the Lincoln Boulevard. program originated. By the end of the school year, more than The Volunteer Services Program began 41,000 Oklahoma youth had participated last fall as a way to provide support staff to in all aspects of the OHS’s educational ser- the educational programs of the Oklahoma Museum of History. Earlier this year the program received a $5,000 Capacity Build- ing Grant from the Oklahoma City Com- Development News munity Foundation. Through part of the grant funding, Davis recently attended the By Tim Zwink National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Seattle, Washington. Along with 2,000 other attendees, she participated in a I’m pleased to be able to announce a new variety of workshops on volunteer programs. fundraiser—the Centennial Coin. This collect- For more information about the OMH ible coin soon will be available for purchase. Volunteer Services Program, please call Scheduled for release in September, the coin Davis at 405/522-0754 or e-mail her at commemorates the 100th anniversary of Oklahoma statehood. <[email protected]>. The Centennial Coin features two major Oklahoma icons. One side portrays the impres- sive Osage war shield found on the state flag. The reverse side depicts the Great Seal of the Oklahoma Historical Society State of Oklahoma. Both images represent Oklahoma’s fascinating history. Publications Division The coin will be available in three finishes: Antique Bronze, 24K Gold Plated, and .999 Editorial Office: 405/522-4860 Fine Silver Proof-like. The retail price for each coin is $10, $25, and $75, respectively. Dianna Everett, Ph.D., Editor As a reminder, the first commemorative coin in the series featured the façade of the new Linda D. Wilson, Assistant Editor William E. Siemens, Graphic Artist Oklahoma History Center. The reverse side depicted the Oklahoma Capitol building. A lim- Membership Office: Alma Moore ited number of these coins are still available in bronze, gold, and silver finishes. 405/522-5242 These special coins can be ordered from the Oklahoma History Center Gift Shop at <[email protected]> Mistletoe Leaves (USPS 018–315) is published monthly by the Oklahoma 405/522-5214 or by online mail order with the Gift Shop, using the OHC web site at Historical Society, 2401 N.