American Indian Cultural Center and Museum Reaches New Heights

By Darren Brown, News9.com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum made a strong statement this week, with new white columns that, along with the attached trusses, will reach 110 feet into the Oklahoma sky.

Gena Timberman, the AICCM's director, hopes that this new construction phase answers some of the public's questions.

"There's been some misperception about what we're building here on the site with this large earthwork," said Timberman. "What is it?  We're building something dramatic, something exciting, something unique."

The white columns are part of the Hall of the People, a dramatic architectural feature of the AICCM that complements the large Promontory Mound.

The new steel is also one of the project's greenest features.

W&W Steel Sr. Vice President Mike Hankins explained that the structural steel used is made from 98 percent recycled materials.

"It consists primarily of old bed springs,washers, dryers, refrigerators, automobiles, anything with metal in it," said Hankins. "It's all been recycled, re-melted, and reshaped and reformed to be used again."

Timberman, who's been at the project's helm since the beginning, realizes the pace may seem slow to outsiders, but that's really not the case.

"I recognize this is a journey," Timberman said. "There are days that are more rewarding than others, there are days that are more difficult than others.  But when I step back and look at the big picture it's meaningful, it's significant, and it's inspiring."