City of Blackwell invests in its history by restoring the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum

Blackwell, OK – During the spring of 2019, Blackwell City Manager Janet Smith assigned City Engineer Jim Willis the task of inspecting all aspects of the exterior of the historic Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum.  After gathering information needed for the refurbishing of the building’s dome, roof, parapet walls, and the exterior, the renovation specifications and cost were presented to the Blackwell City Council in December, at a cost of $325,000.  The agenda item was approved, and renovations began in January 2020. 

The renovation expenses will be provided by the Blackwell Public Trust Capital Improvement Fund and the Blackwell Public Trust private Project Fund.  The Private Project Fund holds money that is set aside to directly benefit projects that the city will partner with private entities to accomplish.

Housed in the 1912 Electric Park Pavilion, the Top of Oklahoma Historical Society Museum, founded in the 1970’s, contains items as far back as the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run to present day memorabilia. The museum is also an important part of Blackwell’s popular Barn Quilt and Geocache Trail.

With renovations underway, the expected completion date is March 2020.  This is the first large-scale renovation of the Museum since the early 90’s when a bond election was approved for approximately $300,000 to make repairs to the building.  

This renovation effort coincides with the 65th anniversary of the “Great Plains Tornado Outbreak,” which saw the city of Blackwell devastated by two F5 tornadoes in May 1955.  To commemorate the event, the museum will feature a ‘tornado room’ which will display artifacts, information, and photographs of the fateful night.

The museum is located at 303 S. Main Street.

(some information provided by Charles Gerian, Social Media Manager, City of Blackwell)

Oklahoma’s Electric Park Pavilion, Circa 1912