Oklahoma City has marked a significant milestone with the opening of the FAMily Discovery Center at the First Americans Museum. This new facility, part of the $600 million investment in the Horizons District, aims to position the city as a leading destination for Native American culture and history.
The 5,000-square-foot center is designed to immerse visitors in Indigenous culture through an innovative approach. According to city officials, it represents the final piece of the museum’s vision. David Holt, the mayor of Oklahoma City and a member of the Osage Nation, expressed pride in the achievement. He stated, “This journey over the last five years has really created one of the most special and unique places in the United States of America.”
The center features a dynamic experience where visitors become characters in a “living pop-up book” adventure. Six animal guides, inspired by traditional clan systems, lead families through a forest environment that changes from day to night and across seasons within just an hour. William Smith, principal of the design firm Storyline Studio, noted the project’s technical innovation, stating, “To our knowledge, no other museum has attempted a vector-based environment at this scale.” The design process utilized vector-based Adobe Illustrator software to ensure high-quality visuals.
The artwork within the center was created by Mark Oliver, a UK-based illustrator who spent six years developing the visual elements. He described how immersing himself in First American culture and the natural landscape of Oklahoma profoundly influenced his artistic perspective. “I really wanted to capture how they find geometry in nature,” Oliver remarked, emphasizing the cultural significance of his work.
The opening ceremony took place on a Thursday, coinciding with a series of enhancements in the Horizons District. Earlier this year, the $400 million Okana resort opened nearby, enhancing foot traffic to the area. Additionally, a new pedestrian bridge funded through the MAPS 4 initiative was dedicated last week, providing improved access to the district.
Kelli Mosteller, executive director of the First Americans Museum and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, highlighted the center’s role in cultural education. The space aims to celebrate the 39 First American Nations in Oklahoma, emphasizing Indigenous values of respect, resilience, stewardship, and community. “There is nowhere else like the FAMily Discovery Center,” Mosteller stated, underscoring its unique offerings.
The center’s development involved collaboration between museum officials, including Shoshana Wasserman and Kimberly Rodriguez, who have been involved since the project’s inception in 2018. The experience also features contributions from notable figures, including Joy Harjo, the first Native American U.S. Poet Laureate, and NASA astronaut John Herrington.
As Oklahoma City positions itself as a national hub for Native American culture, the museum anticipates an increase in conferences and cultural events that will draw attention to the area. “We’re already seeing people from across the country come here as one of the primary destinations for Native American culture,” Holt noted.
Officials emphasized that the FAMily Discovery Center is more than just an entertainment venue. The design incorporates traditional motifs and cultural values to ensure Indigenous families see their stories reflected, while also educating non-Native visitors about the connections between cultures and the natural world. Wasserman described the initiative as “more than an exhibit; it’s a pop-up-book love letter,” aiming to spark curiosity and strengthen intergenerational connections.
The center’s completion solidifies the First Americans Museum’s role as an anchor institution within the Horizons District, enabling it to compete nationally for cultural tourism dollars and fulfill its educational mission for Oklahoma’s tribal communities and the broader public.
