J.M. Davis Museum plans education push, rebranding and gallery upgrades to boost visitation

Randy Raymer, director of the J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum in Claremore, briefed the appropriation subcommittee on efforts to increase attendance and update exhibits.

Raymer said the museum has a world-class firearms collection and about 40,000 square feet of exhibition space, but that many displays have been static since the museum opened in 1969. He proposed adding a museum educator to expand outreach to regional schools and to lead curriculum-based tours that the museum says will return school visitation to historic levels.

"Our target has been around 12,000 (visitors), which is far below where we probably should be," Raymer said. He argued that a single education hire could help reverse the falloff in school groups and support a renewed fundraising push by the museum—riends organization.

Raymer also raised rebranding work to make the museum nd its Route 66 tie-in more accessible to modern audiences, and said the museum would apply for Route 66 Centennial grants and emphasize the upcoming U.S. 250th anniversary as an outreach opportunity.

On the collection, Raymer showed a Crossman Trap Master CO2 shotgun as an example of unique items in the holdings and said the museum will look for philanthropic partners to support a broader gallery modernization. He said fundraising will be run through a revived Friends of J.M. Davis nonprofit.

Lawmakers asked about name and logo changes, marketing to a broader tourist base, and timing for interpretive upgrades. Raymer said the museum was evaluating a rebrand and would seek community and donor input before final decisions.