Community Connectors – Episode 9 – Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord Pickens Museum
In this episode of Community Connectors, we visit the Oklahoma Hall of Fame & Gaylord Pickens Museum in Oklahoma City and sit down with CEO Shannon Rich, who’s spent more than 20 years helping the museum evolve into a welcoming, flexible, mission-driven public space.
The first part of the episode is a walk-through the building. You’ll see how the museum blends storytelling with hands-on engagement: kid-friendly exhibits that invite photos, play, and curiosity, plus thoughtful features like sensory elements and quieter experiences for guests who need them. Shannon shares a simple but powerful idea many community spaces can relate to: removing barriers isn’t just about ramps and elevators. It’s also about cost, comfort, and creating an experience that works for real families.
Then the conversation turns to what it takes to run a successful community space today. Shannon talks candidly about the operational side that visitors rarely notice: staffing, training, maintaining a historic building, and planning for technology and renovation cycles. One takeaway that will resonate with library and community center leaders is her emphasis on consistency. Programs don’t always “take” right away. But when you create a predictable rhythm (like a recurring weekly event), community members learn the pattern and start building it into their lives.
She also shares how the museum and Hall of Fame stays financially healthy through a mix of mission-driven work, donors, and earned revenue: rentals, weddings, rotating art shows, and community partnerships that bring in new audiences.
If you’re working to keep your space relevant, welcoming, and sustainable, this episode is a practical reminder: listen closely, stay open-minded, support your team, and keep giving people a reason to come back.
Learn More about the Oklahoma Hall of Fame and Gaylord Pickens Museum: https://www.oklahomahof.com/
Watch the Full Interview: https://youtu.be/NYE2c7J2OsE
