Plains Indians & Pioneers Museum

Description

Our original 4,000 square foot building was a gift of Dr. C.E. Williams and Anna. The museum was built on property owned by the City of Woodward after more than a decade of planning for a local history museum by various community citizens. Dr. Williams stipulated that there must never be an admission fee, he did not want the museum closed to children who could not afford to pay to get in. A volunteer board of directors operates the museum with a $1-a-year lease of the facility from the City of Woodward. We have a staff of three full time paid employees and one part-time employee (this part time is only for two years, from an IMLS grant). We have grown far beyond the original building, adding the 2400-square foot Foster Room exhibit and storage in 1978 and a 60 foot by 60 foot Agricultural Exhibit Building, with storage area, in 1989. In 1984 the 100 year old Lee/Ferguson picket building (originally at Fort Supply) was moved on to the museum campus. In 1985, the Stark House (a 1920's bungalow across the alley north of the museum) was bequeathed to us. In 1993, the museum was recognized by the Oklahoma Historical Society as the state's best local history museum.