MUSEUM OF THE RED RIVER
Tucked in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, the Museum of the Red River in Idabel (about 4 hours from the metro) is a hidden treasure. The ethnographic cultural institution was built to preserve the history being uncovered during archaeological research in the 1970s. Since the area did not have a place to store and preserve the artifacts as they were unearthed, recovered materials were sent out of state. “The local people weren’t being given the opportunity to appreciate the early history of this region because all of the materials were being sent away,” shared Henry Moy, The Quintus H. Herron director for the museum. “The founders of our museum started the museum with their own collection.” Today the museum is home to art and archeology from around the world. With a
collection of about 35,000 pieces, visitors can explore Caddoan pottery, Amazonian featherwork, contemporary sculptures and art from all over the Americas, East Asia, West Africa, Europe and the Pacific Islands. The museum also displays a fossil cast of our state dinosaur. Acrocanthosaurus atokensis — or Acro — was first discovered in Atoka, but the most complete skeleton was discovered less than 20 miles from the museum. The cast is a copy of that skeleton and the museum’s dino exhibit was made possible by a group of third and fourth graders who raised $150,000 in a 2-year, county-wide effort. “It’s a pretty a spectacular skeleton and a highlight of our permanent collection,” said Moy. Moy adds the Museum of the Red River is a traditional museum that focuses on aesthetic quality while celebrating artistic heritage and emphasizing contributions made by Native groups. About half of the complex is dedicated to public spaces and offers families an interactive learning center that connects the arts, history and natural sciences. Some of the programming has been modified to incorporate safety precautions during the pandemic but museum staff still organizes monthly drop-in art activities and classes that dive deeper into varied artistic styles.
“Our facility is big enough that social distancing is fairly easy to do,” said Moy. “We have hand sanitizer stations throughout and masks are provided for free, if needed.” DON’T MISS Throughout December, local organizations and businesses will add a festive touch to the museum during the annual Festival of Trees . Decorated trees by community groups vie for coveted prizes like best school, best business and the People’s Choice Award. Enjoy workshops in January, including one on Jan. 16, where visitors learn to make their own dream catchers from household items while learning about traditional dream catchers and their place in Native American cultures. A local soap maker will lead a class on Jan. 30 exploring soap- making processes used by homesteaders for decades, creating soaps for a variety of household jobs. PLAN YOUR VISIT Admission is free and the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. Plan your visit at museumoftheredriver.org.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / DECEMBER 2020 41
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