Oklahoma Historical Society

PROJECT PURPOSE

ARPA-CTM-2101 - Visitor Experience - An extensive new vision has been development for the Chisholm Trail Museum to transform the facility from one of many Chisholm Trail museums to The Chisholm: Oklahoma Museum of Innovation. This will relaunch the museum as the only facility to focus on the history of business and enterprise in Oklahoma. This will allow us to tell the story of businesses had their start in Oklahoma such as Walmart, Coleman, Cessna, T.G. & Y., Braniff, Sonic and many others as well as the story about innovations like the parking meter, aerosol spray, cattle drives, portable drilling rigs, and so much more. The transformation will make The Chisholm and must see stop in Oklahoma. The project includes extensive repairs and renovation to the existing facility to create a new exterior appearance, replace the failing roof, create all new exhibits and upgrade the collection care facilities. At present the building has over $400,000 in deferred maintenance needs which will be addressed with this project.

EVIDENCE

Our projects utilize local or regional contractors to perform the work and draw local, state and national visitation to the area thus boosting the local economy from construction activities and tourism for the area and state. Past projects rebranding projects like the transformation of the Western Trail Museum to the now Oklahoma Rt66 Museum in Clinton, OK grossing over $475,000 annually.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The communities and local businesses around this site were impacted by the state shutdown and the decline of tourism as a result of the COVID pandemic. The local communities, municipalities and businesses lost revenue from sales, lodging, taxes and other tourism related benefits. This project benefits everyone by employing local businesses to create or improve local attractions and facilities to improve local tourism and community programing. Kingfisher County has a population of 15,765. Kingfisher, the city where the museum is located, is the county seat and the largest community in the county with a population of 4,875. Kingfisher set right on the historic Chisholm Trail. The economy is anchored in argriculture and energy productions, but retail trade and tourism are growing sectors of the local economy. The median income in the community is $57,777. 9% of the population lives in poverty, but there is a low unemployment rate of 2%.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Project performance will be measured by visitation statistics with our current monthly statistical tracking system and tracking earned income at the site.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma