Explore Nearby Museums
 Updated: 11/16/2017 
Harn Homestead Museum
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Description

Visitors share in the abundance of a territorial farm, the brilliance of a one-room school house, the grace of a Victorian home, and the waste-not want-not ethic of a territorial farm family. There is no place else in Oklahoma that can offer this experience which captures the spirit of the brave men, women, and children who settled this state.

Mission

When the Harn's niece, Florence Wilson, deeded the property to the City, she did so with the expectation that this homestead would offer educational programming to children and become a children’s museum. Continuing with Miss Wilson’s wishes, it is our mission to teach about Oklahoma’s pioneers and what life was like for them over 100 years ago.

Our mission is to preserve the historic homestead of Mr. William Fremont Harn and to educate the public about the territorial years of Oklahoma.

History

The History of the Harn Homestead spans over 100 years. After the Land Run of April 22, 1889 in the Oklahoma Territory, there were many disputes over land claims so President Benjamin Harrison appointed Mr. William Fremont Harn to be a special land commissioner in Oklahoma Territory to settle these disputes.

Mr. Harn and his wife, Alice, moved to Oklahoma Territory and bought 160 acres on which the William Fremont Harn Gardens, Inc., known as the Harn Homestead, exists today. Through his experience as a claims adjuster, Mr. Harn knew the value of land and became one of the early developers of Oklahoma City. Mr. Harn purchased land near downtown Oklahoma City and developed several neighborhoods. Most notable is Harndale, now known as Heritage Hills and features some of Oklahoma City’s oldest homes. Many are currently on the National Register of Historic Places.

Programs
EDUCATION PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES

Two Hour Program $5 Per Child, $3 Per Adult Sponsor 10:00-12:00 (Choose Two Programs)

Three Hour Program $8 Per Child, $5 Per Adult Sponsor 10:00-1:30 (Choose Three Programs)

(Teachers are admitted free. A guided tour of the Harn House is an additional $2 per person.)

FARMHOUSE PROGRAM: Students spend time in a turn-of-the-19th century farmhouse experiencing and learning about early Pioneer life. Activities include old fashioned hard work, such as washing clothes and cooking in the kitchen.
BARN PROGRAM: Students are given an opportunity to work in both the barn and the garden areas. They will experience life on the farm, as did children 120 years ago. Students will grind corn, muck the stalls, make rope, and when the weather is good, work in the garden.
SCHOOLHOUSE PROGRAM: This program allows students to experience a day in a territorial schoolhouse. A teacher prepares and presents lessons from the Stoney Point school curriculum guide, while students participate by using slates and reading from the McGuffey Reader. Playground games from the late 1800’s are an option for good weather days.
LAND RUN DAYS: Between 200 - 300 students come to the Harn Homestead Museum each day to participate in a variety of hands-on activities. The highlight of the day is the children’s re-enactment of the Oklahoma Land Run of 1889. The events will be held each day from 9:45 am to 1:30 pm. You must make a reservation to attend.
Services
GUIDED TOURS OF THE HARN HOUSE

Guided tours of the Harn House take about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Feel free to pack a picnic and eat in the beautiful outdoor setting.

FACILITY RENTAL PACKAGES

The Event Barn is a great place to host your event. Our two-story 3,000 square foot rock and cedar barn holds 200-250 guests for a sit-down event or up to 500 guests for a reception. The Barn is heated for those chilly winter months and three stories of Barn doors open out on the North and South ends to provide air during the warmer months. .

You may also use the lawn in front of the Event Barn to set up tables and chairs, put up a tent, or use for children’s activities such as our historic lawn games

Celebration, Wedding or Photo Shoot

Plan your party, wedding or photo shoot at the beautiful and historic Harn Homestead Museum. We offer 10 acres of beautifully landscaped museum grounds. Our Event Barn, Jane Van Cleef Memorial Gazebo, Shinn Barn, Schoolhouse, Farmhouse, Neal Cabin, and property are the perfect backdrops for your special day.

Event Rental
Group Tours
Address
1721 N. Lincoln Blvd
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
phone: 405-235-4058
e-mail: info@harnhomestead.com
home page: www.harnhomestead.com/
Report Incorrect Data
Submit Events
Hours of Operation
REGULAR HOURS
Monday - Friday10 AM - 4 PM

Guided Tours of the Harn House are at: 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

SUMMER HOURS

Summer Hours start the first business day after July 4th and run through Labor Day.

Monday - Friday9 AM - 2 PM

Guided Tours of the Harn House are at: 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 1:00 p.m.

Museum Type(s)
Culture
History
Historic House
Library
Park
Staff
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

March 29 - 31, 2025

Athens, Ohio

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Athens, Ohio

Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

Museums across Ohio are not just adapting, but innovating to reach their full potential and better serve their communities. No matter their role, museum professionals are introducing forward-thinking perspectives and initiating creative solutions to launch the field into a future where museums can remain trusted and relevant community cornerstones

How can your museum stay true to mission and serve your community in new and meaningful ways? How can we as museum professionals meet the challenges of the future with reinvigorated enthusiasm

Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

For more information, please email oma@ohiohistory.org.

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

March 30 - 31, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina

North Carolina Museums Council 2025 Annual Conference

Sunday, March 30 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

Raleigh, North Carolina

Hosted by: North Carolina Museums Council

Museums Unwalled: Expanding Horizon

This theme highlights the importance of museums as dynamic entities that engage with communities, foster education, drive cultural change and often go beyond the building itself. By focusing on areas such as community engagement, digital and virtual presence, interdisciplinary collaborations, sustainability, accessibility, and cultural diversity, we aim to provide a comprehensive and enriching experience for all attendees

The primary objective is to provide a platform for museum professionals and others working in the industry to share ideas, best practices, resources and innovative approaches that demonstrate how museums can reach audiences in and beyond our physical spaces. We aim to inspire attendees to think broadly about the potential of their institutions and to foster a spirit of innovation and community engagement.

By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

Historic Washington State Park

Washington, Arkansas

Hosted by: Arkansas Museums Association

"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

This year, the AMA conference theme is "From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums" As museum professionals we learn and use a wide variety of tools and skills every day

The Arkansas Museums Association is planning its 2025 Annual Conference, which will be hosted by Historic Washington State Park on March 31-April 3, 2025.

The goal of the conference is to support and foster the museum community through a mix of speakers as well as workshops, practical and informative presentations, in-depth discussions, and examples of projects and initiatives that are relevant to museums in Arkansas. Arkansas Museum Association members take ownership in the conference experience as presenters, speakers, panelists, facilitators, and workshop leaders.

For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

April 5 - 8, 2025

Ithaca, New York

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

Saturday, April 5 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Ithaca Downtown Conference Center

Ithaca, New York

Hosted by: Museum Association of New York

Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Ou

Who are the members of our communities? How can we evaluate our internal structures to help us better understand our organization, define our audiences, and serve our communities? How do we bring all communities together to support our field? How can we support and develop our internal community of staff, volunteers, and board members? How can we advocate for funding that meets operational capacity needs and includes equitable staff support? What changes do we need to make to prioritize the health and well-being of our museum workforce that will support the longevity and sustainability of our institutions and strengthen our ability to build meaningful community relationships

MANY presents conference sessions, workshops, panel discussions, facilitated discussions, and peer-to-peer learning experiences focusing on our 2025 conference theme, Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Out. We will be gathering in Ithaca, in the Southern Tier Region of our state, located on the traditional homelands of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫɁ (the Cayuga Nation)

MANY’s annual conference helps museum professionals build a network to share perspectives, tools, and skills that develop excellence across the field. Our goal is to nurture a community of practice, advance institutional change, and create an inclusive and expansive New York team of collaborators who learn together.

Nebraska Museum Association 2025 Conference

April 6 - 8, 2025

United States

Nebraska Museum Association 2025 Conference

Sunday, April 6 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Hosted by the Knight Museum in Alliance, Nebraska

United States

Hosted by: Nebraska Museums Association

Remembering Yesterday, Planning for Tomorrow

Hosted by the Knight Museum in Alliance, Nebrask

Museums inspire learning with family and friends and open the mind to new worlds, concepts, and ideas. The Nebraska Museums Association encourages you to visit the museums in Nebraska and experience the wonder that only museums can create.

Join us for our annual learning and sharing time together.

For more information, please email communications@nebraskamuseums.org.

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