My 2 Cents: American Indian Cultural Center Still Sits Unfinished

I was thinking today what a shame it is all those canoers and fans here from around the world can't float or stroll down the Oklahoma River less than a mile and visit a world class American Indian Museum, they can't because the Legislature won't pay to finish it.

Wednesday, September 24th 2014, 11:16 pm

By: News 9


I was thinking today what a shame it is all those canoers and fans here from around the world can't float or stroll down the Oklahoma River less than a mile and visit a world class American Indian Museum, they can't because the Legislature won't pay to finish it.

As I'm mulling this over, the Speaker of the House, Jeff Hickman, walks through the newsroom and he was happy to talk to me about the museum's future.

The agency created to oversee construction of the American Indian Cultural Center was signed into existence by Governor, are you ready for this, Governor Walter. That was back in 1994.

House Speaker Hickman told me he honestly doesn't know if, 20 years after this project was conceived, they can get the votes in the legislature to come up with another $40 million of tax money to finish it, even though it would be matched by $40 million private.

He mused about the riverside development many believe the museum would foster, mentioning a Great Wolf Lodge type hotel as a good match.

But he admitted if state lawmakers don't come up with the money this spring, Oklahoma City has the right to take the whole development back, to see if we can make something of it, whether it's an Indian museum or something else. It could be sooner than that.

I'm Kelly Ogle and that's My 2 Cents.

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