Ponca City Development Authority 102 S. Fifth, Suite 3 Ponca City, OK 74601 580-765-7070

$5 Million Museum Set for Centennial Opening in Ponca City      ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO Jim Mulva announced in a community meeting recently that the company is planning to build a $5 million Conoco museum in Ponca City.      Mulva said the museum is designed to preserve the rich history, traditions, and "can do spirit" of the company, which merged with Phillips Petroleum in 2002 to become ConocoPhillips. The company will build a similar museum in Bartlesville as well to commemorate the Phillips heritage in that community 60 miles east of Ponca City. The museums are a gift for Oklahoma's Centennial in 2007, since both firms began in Oklahoma.      The Conoco museum is to be built west of the American Legion on South Avenue and Elm on property the company already owns. The red Conoco Triangle is to be prominent in the museum's signage. The museum is to have about 7,000 square feet of exhibit space and will be designed by Harry Sharpe Design, a firm that is currently creating the Oklahoma History Center.      The vision for the museum began in October 2004. Most of the memorabilia has already been collected in the company's archives. A collections screening committee will be looking at items the museum might not have yet collected from those wishing to donate the items. The museum foundation is a 501-C3 and could accept materials.      The museum is to display permanent and rotating exhibits. The free museum is slated to start construction in 2006 and be ready for occupancy by 2007 to co-ordinate with the state's centennial.      ConocoPhillips plans to staff the museum and to take care of the maintenance. The museum is expected to be a first class facility for employees, retirees and guests to visit. Mulva said the plan is for the museum to be a "destination point" for visitors.      Mulva said that the Conoco museum will not infringe or interfere with the Petroleum Museum on the Marland Estate, or the Frank Phillips Museum in Bartlesville. He said the museum is to complement these already established oil-related facilities.      According to Mulva, from the beginning of the merger in 2002 the plans had been to do a project that would preserve the heritage of both Conoco and Phillips. Mulva said the time had not been right until now. Reprinted with permission from Louise Abercrombie, Ponca City News Posted on 5/16/05 Chamber of Commerce | Relocating | Education © www.goponca.com - Ponca City Development Authority - Ponca City, Oklahoma