Kilts in Oklahoma

**beloitpiper** · 16th April 09, 09:39 AM

I got offered an internship at a museum in Oklahoma over the summer. I'm wondering if Oklahoma is kilt friendly or not. The town is Idabel (yeah, tiny) in the Little Dixie part of the southeast corner of the state. It's fairly close to Texarkana, if that helps you get an idea of the area. Do you think the people there would accept the kilt?

**tennysonw** · 16th April 09, 10:06 AM

Sounds like a great opportunity to lead by example. There are plenty of kilts in Texas so Oklahoma/Arkansas should be no exception. Use the opportunity to educate.

**dfmacliam** · 16th April 09, 10:16 AM

It's in McCurtain county.. I bet you will be good.

**JolyStNicholas** · 16th April 09, 12:39 PM

As the ol'sayin goes"Lead-Follow-or get the hell ot the way!"

You my friend have the greatest chance here to "LEAD"

**macwilkin** · 16th April 09, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I got offered an internship at a museum in Oklahoma over the summer. I'm wondering if Oklahoma is kilt friendly or not. The town is Idabel (yeah, tiny) in the Little Dixie part of the southeast corner of the state. It's fairly close to Texarkana, if that helps you get an idea of the area. Do you think the people there would accept the kilt?

Whilst I'm not sure about Idabel per se, there are Scottish organizations and games in OKC and Tulsa, and quite a bit of Scottish blood among the Five Civilized Tribes, especially the Creek and Cherokee. Both Oklahoma and Tulsa have their own tartans.

There is also a fairly active Scottish Club across the border in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, which would be farther to the north.

Regards,

Todd

**haukehaien** · 16th April 09, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

I got offered an internship at a museum in Oklahoma over the summer. I'm wondering if Oklahoma is kilt friendly or not. The town is Idabel (yeah, tiny) in the Little Dixie part of the southeast corner of the state. It's fairly close to Texarkana, if that helps you get an idea of the area. Do you think the people there would accept the kilt?

Idabel is tiny and not particularly cosmopolitan; that being said, (as mentioned above) there is a lot of Scottish/Irish heritage in this state - which doesn't always translate into kilt acceptance. I had an acquaintance tell me that even though he was proud of his heritage, he "couldn't wear a skirt." OTOH, I've never had anything but compliments from people up here about the kilt.

Since you're a piper, people are likely to be a bit more accepting; but it's still small-town Oklahoma. And leave the heavyweight wool kilt up dere in da frozen Nort'; summer in SE Oklahoma is like a steam bath inside an industrial laundry inside a sauna, with a chance of tornadoes.

Mutant topic #1: Can you tell us which museum it is? Or at least tell us if it's the Muscle Car Legends museum?

Mutant topic #2: Umm, any chance you could find a museum closer to Stillwater? And would like to play with our pipe band over the summer? We could really use the help ...

Mutant topic #3: I had one but it slipped away. Or mutated into something I can't seem to find. So that will have to be all.

**beloitpiper** · 16th April 09, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by cajunscot

Whilst I'm not sure about Idabel per se, there are Scottish organizations and games in OKC and Tulsa, and quite a bit of Scottish blood among the Five Civilized Tribes, especially the Creek and Cherokee. Both Oklahoma and Tulsa have their own tartans.

There is also a fairly active Scottish Club across the border in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, which would be farther to the north.

Regards,

Todd

Unfortunately Tulsa and OKC are far. Both are 3 and a half hours from Idabel by car, so I don't know how often (or at all) I'll be visiting.

Originally Posted by haukehaien

Mutant topic #1: Can you tell us which museum it is? Or at least tell us if it's the Muscle Car Legends museum?

Museum of the Red River. The museum itself is great, I just don't know if I can spend my entire summer in a town like Idabel.

Originally Posted by haukehaien

Mutant topic #2: Umm, any chance you could find a museum closer to Stillwater? And would like to play with our pipe band over the summer? We could really use the help ...

Ha, I'd love to. Stillwater looks like there's at least a movie theater in the town. Man, I hadn't even thought of being away from a pipe band all summer...

Originally Posted by haukehaien

Mutant topic #3: I had one but it slipped away. Or mutated into something I can't seem to find. So that will have to be all.

Yes, sir!

**Colonel MacNeal** · 16th April 09, 09:24 PM

I haven't found that particular part of Oklahoma to be very tolerant ... of anything.

**dfmacliam** · 17th April 09, 02:44 AM

Texarkana has plenty to do and it's not that far, in Texas / Oklahoma travels... I travel through there occassionally going up to Mena, Arkansas

**Buckskin** · 17th April 09, 04:36 AM

Idabel is 30 miles straight from DeQueen, Arkansas with Broken Bow between them. You are about 1 1/2hrs north of Texarkana, another 45 min to Mena. Really isn't much to do in that area. You will probably be the first kilt most have seen. That's OK, make friends for a social life, otherwise you are going to have a boring summer.