Okla. Stat. tit. 53, § 53-1.4

A. In addition to other powers and duties specified by law, the

Oklahoma Historical Society shall have the power and duty to:

1. Acquire by gift, devise, purchase or otherwise, absolutely

or in trust, and to hold any real property or real estate or other

interest therein as may be necessary in carrying into effect the

purpose of the Oklahoma Historical Preservation Act.

2. Enter into contracts and to execute all instruments

necessary to fulfill its duties, respecting the protection,

preservation, maintenance and operation of such historic buildings,

sites and/or objects as it may select.

3. Correlate and preserve drawings, plans, photographs and

other data of historic and archaeologic sites, buildings and

objects.

4. Make surveys of historic and archaeologic sites, buildings

and objects for the purpose of determining which possesses

exceptional value as commemorating or relating to the history of

Oklahoma.

5. Make necessary investigations and research in Oklahoma

relating to particular sites, buildings or objects to obtain true

and accurate historical and archaeological facts and information

concerning such sites, buildings or objects.

6. Contract and make cooperative agreements with

municipalities, corporations, associations and individuals, with

proper bond where deemed advisable to protect, preserve, maintain or

operate any historic or archaeologic building, site, object or

property used in connection therewith for public use, regardless

whether the title thereto is in the State of Oklahoma. No contract

or cooperative agreement shall be made or entered into which will

obligate the General Revenue Fund of the State Treasury unless or

until the Legislature has appropriated sufficient monies for such

purpose.

7. Restore, reconstruct, rehabilitate, preserve and maintain

historic or prehistoric sites, buildings, objects and properties of

historical and archaeological significance and where deemed

desirable establish and maintain museums in connection therewith.

8. Operate and manage historic and archaeologic sites,

buildings and properties acquired under the provisions of the

Oklahoma Historical Preservation Act, together with lands and

subordinate buildings for the benefit of the public, such authority

to include the power to charge reasonable visitation fees and grant

concessions, leases or permits for the use of land, building space,

roads or trails when necessary or desirable either to accommodate

the public or to facilitate administration; provided, that such

concessions, leases or permits shall be granted only after

competitive bids to the person making the highest and best bid.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 53. Oklahoma Historical Societies and Associations Page 5

9. Organize a corporation under the laws of this state when it

would be administratively burdensome to restore, reconstruct,

operate or maintain any particular historic or archaeologic site,

building or property donated to the state.

B. The Oklahoma Historical Society is authorized to make

exchanges of duplicates held by it for matters of historical

importance which are of the same approximate value as determined by

professional appraisal.