Commission unveils plans for Oklahoma centennial

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A dome for the state Capitol, an international fair and exposition and the world's biggest bronze monument are all being planned for Oklahoma's 100th birthday bash in 2007.

Wednesday, January 19th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A dome for the state Capitol, an international fair and exposition and the world's biggest bronze monument are all being planned for Oklahoma's 100th birthday bash in 2007. The Oklahoma Centennial Commission on Tuesday gave the public a sneak peek at some of the events and projects being planned to commemorate Oklahoma's first century of statehood. "By us starting now...I see that we're going to be able to do this," said Blake Wade, executive director of the Oklahoma Capitol Complex and Centennial Commemoration Commission.

Although the centennial event won't kick off for another seven years, Wade said it is important to plan early and get started on some of the more complex projects. "This is the time," Wade said. Work is already under way on the planned 300-foot-long Land Run monument, estimated to cost $5 million. "We have to start now to reach the deadlines," said artist Paul Moore of Norman.

Moore said it will take about eight years to produce all of the 44 individual elements of the sculpture, which will include characters that stand 9 feet tall and others on horseback that are 14 or 15 feet tall. "This would be quite a tourist draw," Moore said.

The commission agreed to consider two possible sites for the monument -- in a wide median along Lincoln Boulevard south of the Capitol or along a portion of the Bricktown Canal in downtown Oklahoma City. A total of 67 projects are planned for the centennial. Ten, including renovation of the Governor's Mansion, are already complete. Another 14 are ongoing. The centennial observance will be accompanied by an international fair and exposition in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. And more projects are possible, officials said.

The deadline for projects to be proposed is Sept. 30, with the final list to be published in 2001. The commission chose a centennial logo developed by Jordan Associates, an advertising and communications firm in Oklahoma City. It contains the words "Oklahoma" and "Centennial" with the year 2007 sandwiched in between in gold, purple, green and pastel blue numerals. "The logo embodies the old and the new," first lady Cathy Keating said. "It will be everything that is associated with our centennial."

The focus of the centennial celebration will be a limestone dome planned for the top of the State Capitol. A dome was originally planned for the Capitol but was never built due to lack of money. "We deserve to complete the Capitol once and for all," Wade said. Oklahoma's is the only state Capital originally intended to have a dome that does not have one, officials said. Estimated to cost about $18 million, the dome would be 80 feet in diameter and would rise 155 feet above the present roof line.