Clara Luper Civil Rights Museum Project Secures Funding from Oklahoma City Council

Clara Luper

OKLAHOMA CITY — Plans to honor legendary civil rights leader Clara Luper with a new museum in northeast Oklahoma City are moving forward, thanks in part to funding from the Oklahoma City Council. The $27 million project will be built in phases, with the first stage estimated to cost over $12 million.

The Council recently approved creating a tax increment financing district to help fund the museum, alongside private donations and a proposed bond issue. The project will be located at the historic site of the Freedom Center, a hub of civil rights activism in Oklahoma.

Christina Beatty, Director of the Freedom Center, says the museum will not only preserve artifacts but will bring Luper’s story to life through immersive storytelling equipment, interactive exhibits, and archival collections.

“This project will tell the story of the Oklahoma City Sit-ins, the movement that Clara Luper led, and its impact on our nation’s history,” Beatty said.

Clara Luper, often called the “Mother of the Oklahoma Civil Rights Movement,” was a high school teacher who, along with her students, led a series of nonviolent protests in 1958 that helped desegregate restaurants in the city.

City officials say the $500,000 approved by the council will be used for exhibit technology and artifact preservation. Supporters believe the museum will be a cultural landmark, drawing tourists and inspiring future generations to continue Luper’s legacy.