Indigenous Independence: American at 250

Be a witness to history! As the United States commemorates its 250th birthday, travel back in time by seeing the documents that were “in the room where it happened.” Indigenous Independence: America at 250 highlights the rare books, manuscripts and art from the Gilcrease collection that present the American Revolution as more than a sudden break with Great Britain. Instead, they illustrate the long history of struggle between American colonists and Native nations, bearing witness to the fact that the American Revolution was a battle over lands and independence for both Native peoples and American colonists.

Walk the gallery of the Helmerich Center for American Research to see copies of important treaties between Indigenous nations and Great Britain, peace medals that marked pivotal diplomatic events and historic maps that reference the Native peoples and places that defined these moments.

Visitors are welcome to view Indigenous Independence from June 15 through December 17 (excluding Sept. 7, Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 holidays). The Helmerich Center will be open on Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with guided tours at 2 p.m. on Thursdays.

For more information please contact Leslie Taylor, Guest Services Representative, leslie-taylor@utulsa.edu or 918-596-2700.

America 250 programming is made possible through the generous support from Donald J. and Chris Hoose, Donald M. and Patricia M. Hardin, and the Leuschen Endowment for Research and Education.