"FORT CIMARRON HISTORICAL PRESERVATION SOCIETY & FOUNDATION"
FORT CIMARRON and SOUTHERN PLAINS LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM
Frontier Army Forts, in the area of the Indian Territory
FORT CIMARRON HISTORICAL PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
Description of Fort Cimarron:
Our museum will be a representation of the frontier forts of the Indian Territory period. Behind the fort, will be an old western town typical of north central Oklahoma of the early 1880's. Meandering out of the back of the town and over the old wooden bridge, will be a rural country road of early Oklahoma with small farmsteads and ranchs that were typical of the period.
Mission
The Fort Cimarron Historical Preservation Society & Foundation is a two fold Foundation with a single mission. Both the Society and the Foundation is dedicated to the historical preservation of the Old West. With a specific focus on the time period of pre-1840 through the Old West and the Cattle drives, the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Victorian and post-victorian era. The Foundation is not a "not-for-profit" foundation. We of the Fort Cimarron Historical Preservation Society & Foundation do not believe in the "non-profit corporation" concept.
Goal
The Foundation is a single direction foundation whose goal is to research the history of Oklahoma and to build Fort Cimarron and the Sounthern Plains Living History Museum. the construction of Fort Cimarron and the Sounthern Plains Living History Museum, will be financed as a economic development project. The dream is to present to our young people the historical truth of the Old West. The goal is a spin off of over forty years of archeological research and museum evaluation and construction. Our Foundation Archeaologist and Curator has trek the world over in over thirty-eight different countries.
Typical enlisted barracks of the early Frontier Army Forts of the Indian Territory
Building construction will be of the style and type of the 1880's Indian Territory. Inside the fort wall will be spaced "shotgun" houses and "dog-trots" which will be leased to private entrepreneurs. Who will sign a lease agrement to maintain their facility in a period correct fashion, as well as maintain a good positive charactor/persona.
Outside wall of the Army Fort
Location
We are working on an agreement with the State of Oklahoma, Department of Education to lease 160 acres of land. Specifically for the construction of the museum.
Business Plan
The business plan is composed of short, mid-range and long range plans which calls for construction of a very active and aggressive Living History Museum. The lease/tenant interpretor plan will allow for the "Fort" to be self supporting. Unlike public supported museums, we have a business plan that focuses on a very intense advertising program. The combination of advertising and good quality entertainment with both guest performers and our own staff performers.
The "short range" plan is to complete the Fort and it's interior with "Red Wolf Trading Post," corrals, lease/tenant interpretors and area for porforming arts; gunfights, etc. As funding becomes available the construction will go forward. The project should realize a return on investment within the first year. The greater the intial investment and the more rapidly the project is completed the sonner it Will realize a return on the investment.
All to often Frontier Forts found themselves short of wood to build barracks. Tents were often used until permanent buildings could be built.
Fort Cimarron Historical Preservation Society & Foundation Rules & By-laws