Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center Groundbreaking and Monument Dedication
Contact: Michael Dean
(405) 522-5241
Oklahoma City, OK
September 10, 2007
For Immediate Release
The first official event to transform the Museum of the Cherokee Strip in Enid, Oklahoma, into the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center will be held on September 16, 2007, at 1:20 p.m. The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is located at 507 South 4th Street in Enid.
The groundbreaking festivities will begin with a boxed lunch (available by reservation for $10) at 11 a.m. in the Humphrey Heritage Village adjacent to the museum. During lunch a variety of musical entertainment will be provided. The Gildewell House, a restored 1907 home, will be open for viewing, as will the Turkey Creek School.
At 1:20 p.m. the official ceremony will begin with two songs by western music performer R. W. Hampton and a flyover from Vance Air Force Base. Master of ceremonies for the event will be Burns Hargis. Dr. Blackburn, Oklahoma Historical Society, executive director, will explain the concept of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center and its importance to the state and nation. Lew Ward, chair of the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Inc., the local organization that has served as the prime mover in creating the Heritage Center, will speak about the center and those who have been involved in the process. Also attending will be Lt. Governor Jeri Askins
Local elementary school students will perform the actual groundbreaking. The select students are winners of a recent essay contest. Enid native and world-famous opera star Leona Mitchell will perform "America the Beautiful" after the invocation.
Following the groundbreaking, The Homesteaders will be unveiled. This monument by Enid sculptor H. Holden depicts a pioneer family. This life-and-a-half-sized monument will grace the southwest corner of the museum grounds. Delores and Larry McClure of Enid commissioned the statue. Larry and Dolores (Sarver) McClure are 3rd generation Oklahomans whose ancestors settled in Northwest Oklahoma during and immediately following the Cherokee Strip Land run of 1893. The McClure's granddaughter Chelsea Callant was used as the model for the little girl in the monument.
Leona Mitchell will close the ceremony by singing the official state song, "Oklahoma!" Following the ceremony the Greater Enid Arts and Humanities Alliance and the Sons & Daughters of the Cherokee Strip Pioneers will host a reception in the Humphrey Heritage Village.
The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center project comprises expanding the existing building by 12,000 square feet, and renovating the existing building. A full basement will be added as unfinished space during the project for later development. The fund-raising campaign's goal is $8 million ($7 million for construction and $1 million to establish an endowment). Thus far $6.9 million has been raised. The Heritage Center will feature all-new exhibits, a reading and research room, a large special exhibits gallery, increased collections storage, and an enlarged plaza area for events.
The architect for the project is Fritz Bailey of Tulsa. The exhibit design firm is Quatrefoil from Maryland. Construction manager for the project is D. C. Bass and Sons of Enid. Bass and Sons Construction started business in Enid shortly after the 1893 Land Run.
During construction, the museum will operate a space at Oakwood Mall where workshops, lectures, audio/video exhibits, and other activities will be available for the public. For more information on the mall exhibit call 580-237-1907.