Buckets of rainwater are good news for Kingfisher County…unless they’re scattered throughout the Chisholm Trail Museum.

A recent visit to the museum revealed one of the many reasons major renovation is needed.

If everything goes as planned, Chisholm Trail Museum Director Jason Harris said in a few years not only will the leaks be gone, but an entirely new experience will await visitors to the museum, beginning with a new name over the entryway – “The Chisholm.”

The Oklahoma Historical Society and museum board members approved an approximate $4.5 million multi-phase renovation of the museum, Seay Mansion, historic buildings and collection storage area, which will not only address deferred maintenance issues, but “bring everything up to 21st century museum standards,” Harris said.

The project’s magnitude and scope will require the facility to be closed for at least two years beginning as early as fall 2023 if funding is secured, although staff members will continue community outreach projects during the construction process, Harris said.

The proposal entails plans to “basically rebuild the museum from the inside out,” he said, including installation of a new roof, mechanical systems, lighting, fire suppression and various other components.

The community room will be upgraded to expand its capacity to seat up to 80 people for special events and presentations.

Extensive upgrades also are planned for the Seay Mansion, including structural restoration, landscaping and installation of a catering kitchen which will allow the first floor to serve as a small venue for up to 50 people, Harris said.

First floor furnishings of the mansion will include era-appropriate antiques or replicas, while the second floor will remain available for historical interpretation, Harris said.

Additionally, work will be performed on some of the pioneer buildings behind the museum, including the church, bank and school and more parking will be added.

“The renovation will include necessary upgrades to the facility, but it will also provide spaces for exhibits that will tell our stories and incorporate our history,” CTM board president Kathy Kadavy said.

“I think the museum will become an even more important resource for our community and economy, attracting more visitors to the area,” she added.

Funding to the museum is provided through various means, including an operations contract through state historical society and a portion of the half-cent county sales tax, admission fees and private donations.

Harris said major changes are needed in order for the museum to be financially sustainable, and that’s the goal of the proposed plan.

With the dedication of approximately $1.65 million by OHS toward renovations, Harris said the remaining $3 million will need to be raised through a capital campaign set to kick into full gear in January.

An endowment fund has also been established through Communities Foundation of Oklahoma (CFO) to provide additional funding and has already received seed grants which are assisting with the development of architectural and engineering plans for the renovation project, Harris said.

All donations to the endowment fund received between July 1 and Dec. 31 of this year will be met with a special CFO match of 10 percent, he added.

Along with the structural upgrades, the museum will feature a new name, mission and exhibits with the theme “The Chisholm: Where Industry meets the Frontier,” and will focus on innovation, industry, commerce and trade across the state.

With a lot of recognizable businesses and entities having local ties such as Walmart, TG&Y, Coleman Company and others, Harris said the new theme is a natural fit for the museum.

“There’s all these great stories,” Harris said, “and we can attract visitors from outside our local area and learn how Oklahoma has shaped and led in different types of industries.”

As the storylines are developed, the exhibits will tell about many of the innovators and unique companies and ideas that came out of Oklahoma and will also focus on industry and trade from pre-European contact until modern times, Harris said.

“We can still tell very local stories about Kingfi sher County and some of its residents, but put it into the context of a much bigger picture,” Harris added.

With the foreknowledge of planned renovations, Harris said the staff has primarily spent time developing outreach programs the last few years to take to classrooms or community events, but have many ideas for future programs when renovations are complete.

Purposely designed to fit into the museum’s new vision, Harris said the outreach programs will continue to operate during the construction phase and will easily be integrated into the museum once it reopens.

Serving as CTM director for the past four years, Harris holds a bachelor’s and master’s in museum studies and recently received his PhD from Oklahoma State University with an emphasis in public history and museum and curatorial studies.

Prior to that, Harris “worked at a handful of museums,” as director of education at the Oklahoma History Center as well as at the Texas State Historical Association and built education programs at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Taking an early interest in history, Harris said he knew he wanted to work in museums after educators from OHS presented a living history program at his school.

That led to his own involvement in living history and Civil War reenactments as well as volunteering at OHS, where he eventually took over the roles of two of his mentors when they left their positions.

“Museumsaremything,” Harris said, “and have been for the last 20 years.”

Harris and his wife, Marjorie, have four children, Jonathan (17), Maggie (16), Sophie (12) and Rebecca (9).

Sharing his love of history with his children, Harris involves his two oldest in chuck wagon events and other historical interpretations and reenactments.

Implemented under Harris’ direction, the Chuck Wagon Gathering has become a popular event for the museum, attracting a large number of visitors and was recently awarded the Best Chuck Wagon Event of 2022 by the American Chuck Wagon Association.

Additionally, Jonathan and Maggie also were awarded the association’s youth award.

With many ideas to connect with the community and attract visitors once the museum renovations are complete, Harris said: “Besides bringing visitors to the community, we’ll be able to share ideas and spaces with our community into the future.”

Echoing that sentiment, Kadavy added: “We are so fortunate to have such a valuable asset in our community.

“I think the renovation will help the museum continue to serve as a resource for students, for community members and for visitors to our community for years to come.”