1. In 1903, the United States Department of the Interior approved a proposal to establish the Wichita National Forest Reserve in Oklahoma. The reserve, later renamed the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, is home to a diverse array of wildlife and flora, including bison, elk, mountain lions, and 500 species of plants.

2. On December 17, 1917, Oklahoma native and World War I pilot Frank Luke Jr. earned his first victory in the skies over France. He would go on to become one of the most celebrated American pilots of the war, earning 18 confirmed kills before being killed in action in September 1918.

3. In 1935, the Oklahoma City Zoo opened its doors for the first time. The zoo is home to over 1,900 animals, including elephants, giraffes, tigers, and bears, and attracts over a million visitors annually.

4. On December 17, 1943, the USS Oklahoma City was commissioned into service in the United States Navy. The cruiser served in several conflicts, including the Korean and Vietnam Wars, before being decommissioned in 1979.

5. In 1980, the state of Oklahoma established the Native American Cultural and Educational Authority, which oversees the operation of the Cherokee Nation's Will Rogers Memorial Museum and the Chickasaw Cultural Center, among other institutions. The authority is dedicated to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Oklahoma's native communities.