I

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 5254

To authorize funds for the planning, design, and construction of the Oklahoma

Land Run Memorial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 21, 2000

Mr. ISTOOK introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee

on Resources

A BILL

To authorize funds for the planning, design, and construction

of the Oklahoma Land Run Memorial in Oklahoma City,

Oklahoma.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

4 Congress finds that:

5 (1) In March of 1889, President Benjamin

6 Harris established the Oklahoma Land Runs

7 through Presidential proclamations. These proclama8 tions opened up almost 3,000,000 acres in Okla9 homa territory for settlement via a series of land

10 runs conducted by the Department of the Interior
2

•HR 5254 IH

1 and supervised by the United States Army. The first

2 of the six runs was April 22, 1889, and the last was

3 in 1895.

4 (2) Preserving that historic event will be the

5 focal point of Oklahoma’s Centennial in 2007, mark6 ing 100 years of statehood. The Oklahoma Land

7 Runs are the focal point of State history. The races

8 literally began with a gunshot to signal the start, as

9 thousands who came from all across America and

10 the world rushed to be the first to claim their chosen

11 new homestead. The land runs rank with the most

12 vibrant of all events in settling the West, claiming

13 a unique place in American history.

14 (3) To enshrine vibrancy for future generations,

15 the Oklahoma State Centennial Commission has ap16 proved of the creation of 35 heroic-sized bronze stat17 ues of land run participants, frozen in motion as

18 they race to claim their new homesteads. The stat19 ues will include riders on horseback, covered wagons,

20 a buckboard, a carriage, figures on foot, super21 intending soldiers, individuals and families, even a

22 faithful dog, and a surprised and scared rabbit, rac23 ing literally to be the first to stake a claim on their

24 chosen spot to create their home.
3

•HR 5254 IH

1 (4) The bronze statues will be appropriately

2 spaced in an area about the size of a football field,

3 prominently located next to the interchange of Inter4 state 35 and Interstate 235, at the edge of down5 town Oklahoma City, the city that was created in

6 one day by the Land Run of 1889.

7 (5) Funding for this project will be divided

8 evenly between Federal, State, and private sources.

9 The total cost of the project is $5,100,000. The

10 Federal share will be $1,700,000.

11 (6) There would be no further nor continuing

12 Federal obligation. The property is being provided

13 through the city of Oklahoma City. With official cen14 tennial support, the city will handle all future obliga15 tions and maintenance.

16 SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior is

18 authorized to grant to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,

19 $1,700,000 for the Federal share of the total cost of plan20 ning, design, and construction of the Oklahoma Land Run

21 Memorial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

22 (b) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—The non-Federal share

23 of the total cost of planning, design, and construction of
4

•HR 5254 IH

1 the Oklahoma Land Run Memorial in Oklahoma City,

2 Oklahoma, shall be $3,400,000.

Æ