Oklahoma Historical Society

PROJECT PURPOSE

ARPA-CTM-2105 - Programing / IT - On the grounds of the Chisholm Trail Museum is a village where several historical buildings have been relocated for their preservation and to enhance the educational programming opportunities of the facility. The buildings represent those typical to the new communities that sprang up in Oklahoma following the land openings: a school, a bank, a church, and two log cabins?one associated with the infamous Dalton Gang. The buildings all have extensive deferred maintenance needs that must be addressed to save the buildings from being lost to history and to bring them up to a condition to be used for programming.

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