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  • Exhibit cases are seen in the Phillips University gallery at Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center. The recently delivered cases have been the source of delays for the opening of the museum. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)

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January 24, 2011

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center now is expected to open in early April

By Kevin Hassler, Associate Editor Enid News and Eagle

ENID — The long-awaited opening of Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is targeted for the first part of April.

The delayed arrival of displays cases forced museum officials to postpone the original opening last November. Those cases arrived last week, and installation was completed Saturday, said Andi Holland, executive director of the center.

There still is a lot of work to do before the center opens, but Holland is happy progress is being made.

“At least we’re not at a standstill anymore,” she said Monday. “That’s the thrilling part.”

This week, vendors will be at the center working on the final third of the gallery, she said. That work will take two to three weeks to complete. Some murals need to be installed, lighting needs to be corrected and carpet must be laid.

All of that work had to be put on hold pending arrival of the display cases, components of which came from Chicago and China.

The week of Feb. 14, staff members from Oklahoma Historical Society will be at the center to help put artifacts in the display cases, Holland said. That will take into March to complete.

Then, test groups will be shown the exhibits to make sure things are satisfactory, Holland said.

The exact opening date could be decided Friday at a board meeting, she said.

Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center was created in 2005 through a partnership with Oklahoma Historical Society, Sons & Daughters of the Cherokee Strip Pioneers Association and Phillips University Legacy Found-ation. The purpose was to transform the small Museum of the Cherokee Strip into a Smithsonian-quality regional heritage center for the state.

Large amounts of materials were in danger of being lost or destroyed in part because there was not enough room to properly store and exhibit them. Community leaders, led by Lew and Myra Ward, formed a task force and led an $8 million capital and endowment campaign. Ground was broken Sept. 17, 2007, on the project.

The museum was renovated, redesigned and doubled in size to a 24,000-square-foot facility.

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