Oklahoma Historical Society

PROJECT PURPOSE

ARPA-CTM-2102 - Programing / IT - Seay Mansion / Horizon Hill built by Abraham Seay, the 3rd territorial governor, in 1892. The interior spaces of the home are small, and that became a problem with the start of the COVID pandemic. The large porch of this Victorian home can provide an outdoor programming space allowing visitors to be provided interpretive information about the home and the family while outside where social distancing is easier to achieve. This prevents groups from bunching up around the interpreter to hear while in the home making it safer for the public as well as the employees and volunteers. Before this space can be safely used extensive deferred maintenance must be completed. The porch roof needs to be repaired, the support columns stabilized, the floor repaired, the foundation needs to be reinforced, the railing repaired, and all needs painted.

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.

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 agriculture 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