Oklahoma City Approves $17.2M Clara Luper Civil Rights Center

New interpretive center and community space funded through MAPS 4 initiative.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 9:11pm

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A photorealistic painting of a solitary bronze statue standing in a sunlit urban plaza, conceptually representing a memorial to a local civil rights leader.A new monument to Oklahoma City's civil rights history will soon grace the city's downtown.Oklahoma City Today

The Oklahoma City Council has approved final plans for a new $17.2 million Clara Luper Civil Rights Center, a project that will create an interpretive center and community gathering space in the city.

Why it matters

The Clara Luper Civil Rights Center will honor the legacy of a pioneering local civil rights activist and serve as an important educational resource for the community, highlighting Oklahoma City's role in the broader civil rights movement.

The details

The new center will feature exhibits, programming, and community spaces to commemorate the life and work of Clara Luper, a local teacher and NAACP youth council leader who organized the city's historic 1958 sit-in protests that helped desegregate Oklahoma City's restaurants and businesses.

  • The Oklahoma City Council approved the final plans for the center on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • The $17.2 million project is being funded through the city's MAPS 4 initiative, a voter-approved sales tax program for civic improvements.

The players

Clara Luper

A pioneering civil rights activist in Oklahoma City who organized historic sit-in protests in 1958 that helped desegregate the city's restaurants and businesses.

Oklahoma City Council

The governing body of Oklahoma City that approved the final plans and funding for the new Clara Luper Civil Rights Center.

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What they’re saying

“This center will be an important place for our community to learn about and reflect on Oklahoma City's civil rights history.”

— David Holt, Mayor of Oklahoma City

What’s next

Construction on the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center is expected to begin later this year, with a target completion date in 2028.

The takeaway

The new Clara Luper Civil Rights Center will serve as a lasting monument to Oklahoma City's civil rights legacy, honoring the work of local activists and providing an educational resource for the community.