The Chickasaw Nation is building an exemplary, state-of-the-art Cultural Center. This special and unique center will be much more than a tourist Mecca.
“For Chickasaws, this will be a place that reminds us of who we are - of the culture and heritage that binds us together as people,” Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby said. “This world-class center will not only help preserve Chickasaw culture and heritage for future generations, but will also serve as an educational facility where we can share with others the true and complete story of the unconquered and unconquerable Chickasaw Nation.”
One recent project involved constructing a building resembling the “Council House” traditionally used as meeting places by Chickasaw people.
“Construction of the council house is one example of the effort to be faithful to the culture and heritage of the Chickasaw people in this facility,” said Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation. “Great pains are being taken to ensure this world-class center will help preserve Chickasaw history and traditions for generations to come.”
Construction of the building required using a crane to lower dozens of timbers, some more than 27 feet long, into the exhibit building at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.
ThemeWorks, Inc., whose portfolio includes work for Universal Studios and Sea World of Florida as well as the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, prepared the timbers for the cultural center project in their High Springs, Florida facility.
Once complete the “council house” will be more than 60 feet wide and will look similar to the buildings constructed in Chickasaw villages long before European contact in 1540.
Council houses were commonly used until the removal of Chickasaws from their homelands in the 1830s.
More than 620 feet of timbers with a combined weight of five tons will be used in the “council house” to be erected inside the large exhibit hall.
In the cultural center, the structure will be used as an orientation theater to provide visitors with basic information about Chickasaw history and culture.
Delivery of the timbers and construction of the council house mark a major milestone in the massive cultural center project.
Since the project began, more than 6,900 cubic yards of concrete, enough to build foundations and floor slabs for 100 mid size homes, have been poured.
More than 260 miles of reinforcing steel weighing more then 920,000 lbs. has also been used.
Buildings currently under construction total more than 62,000 square feet. They include the exhibit hall, education and resources facility, administrative offices and retail facility as well as the large format theater.
That theater will feature a 2,400 square foot screen, which is as large as the foundation of a mid size home.
Seating for approximately 300 brings viewers very close to the 40 foot by 60 foot screen for a dramatic visual effect.
Once complete, the cultural center will feature more than 96,000 square feet of indoor space and outdoor venues including an earthen terrace amphitheater. The concept also includes utilizing outdoor spaces featuring rich native vegetation, indigenous stone and trails which heighten attention to a spring-fed pond and Rock Creek.
Outdoor areas will include demonstration gardens and a traditional life ways educational village featuring a number of traditional Chickasaw houses similar to those at Kullihoma. Areas will also be set aside for stomp dance and other traditional ceremonies.
Indoors, an interconnected series of theaters, exhibits and galleries are designed to immerse visitors in tribal history and culture.
