Come to the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center on Sunday, December 21, 2014, for guided walks to learn about the winter solstice and how American Indians dealt with the changes in the seasons. The pace of life today is so rushed and hectic that the natural rhythms of the sun, moon and stars are forgotten. American Indian farmers understood these rhythms. In the rhythm of the sun, the winter solstice is a period of rest, preparation and celebration.

Archaeologist and manager Dennis Peterson will lead guided tours starting at 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Each walk will take about two hours and require a mile of easy walking. Peterson will describe this unique, prehistoric American Indian mound site, the types of mounds, why they were created and why some of the mounds are lined up for the sunsets of the solstices and equinoxes. He will discuss the history of the excavations, American Indian ceremonies and stories of unusual happenings associated with the mounds. For those wishing to see the sunset, the 2 p.m. walk will end just before sunset, which is when the alignment will take place. Come out to experience one of the most unique historical sites in the United States as seen through the eyes of an archaeologist.

There is a small fee for this series of tours of $3 for adults and $2 for children, in addition to the daily admission fee. Reservations are required for large groups. Be certain to dress for the weather.

The Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center is the only prehistoric American Indian site open to the public in Oklahoma and is administered by the Oklahoma Historical Society. The center is regularly open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 5 p.m. The center does close for state holidays. Daily admission is $4 for adults, $3 for seniors and $1 for children older than six. The center is located three miles east of Spiro, Okla., on Highway 9/271 and four miles north on Lock and Dam Road. For more information or to schedule a group or school tour during the solstice walks or some other time, please call 918-962-2062 or email spiro@okhistory.org.

The Oklahoma History Center announces the closing of one its most popular exhibits. "Oklahoma @ the Movies," the exhibit that has celebrated the contributions of Oklahomans to the motion picture industry, will close December 31, 2014.

This exhibit has been open to the public since May 2012 in conjunction with the development of the Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture (OKPOP) in Tulsa. The Inasmuch Foundation awarded the Oklahoma History Center a grant for $250,000 to develop the exhibit focusing on a number of Oklahomans who either have worked in front of or behind the camera.

Thousands of patrons have viewed this exhibit that contains artifacts and stories about Oklahomans who have created movie magic such as Joan Crawford, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, Tom Mix, Tony Randall, James Garner and many more.

A recent addition to the exhibit is a section titled "Patti Page: Once Upon a Dream." The OKPOP teamed with the Patti Page estate to celebrate her life in an exhibit showcasing items from the estate, including her Grammy for the album Live at Carnegie Hall, music, memorabilia and personal photographs. An American icon and one of the most popular performers of the 1940s and 1950s, Patti and her music inspired many generations.

The Oklahoma Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is pleased to announce the Oklahoma Historic Preservation Review Committee's (HPRC) meeting schedule for calendar year 2015. The governor appoints the members of the HPRC to advise the SHPO about nominations to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and other preservation issues. Current HPRC members include William P. Corbett (historian, Tahlequah), Ron Frantz (architect, Oklahoma City), John D. Hartley (prehistoric archaeologist, Norman), Arn Henderson (architectural historian, Norman) and Charles S. Wallis (historical archaeologist, Norman). The HPRC's 2015 meetings will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, April 16, July 16 and October 15.

These public meetings will be held in the Oklahoma Historical Society's LeRoy H. Fischer Boardroom on the third floor of the Oklahoma History Center located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. The HPRC and the SHPO encourage all interested parties to attend, and meeting agendas and NRHP nominations under consideration will be available at  http://www.okhistory.org/shpo/spevents.htm.

The National Park Service regulations governing the SHPO's programs require that a qualified state review board participate in the NRHP and other SHPO programs. During each meeting, the HPRC hears presentations on NRHP nominations from SHPO staff and consultants; receives comments from owners of properties proposed for nomination; listens to public comments and concerns; and formulates recommendations to the SHPO about whether or not a property should be nominated. The HPRC and SHPO staff invite concerned citizens and preservation professionals to participate in this important component of Oklahoma's preservation program.

For information about any of the SHPO's programs, call 405-521-6249 or visit us on the website listed above.