THE BEGINNING
1977
1964 - 1981
Work on the site officially begins November 17 with a ceremonial groundbreaking.
1970
On May 5, the name “Myriad Gardens” officially is adopted, named for the former Myriad, a 13,000-seat arena across the street from the Gardens. On August 11, the city council establishes the 19-member Myriad Development Task Force with the goal of planning, programming and implementing the gardens.
A scale model of a new downtown Oklahoma City, background, is explained by urban planning consultant I. M. Pei left. Model of Myriad Gardens is unveiled by (left to right) Governor David Boren, Mayor Patience Latting and Dean A. McGee.
1964
1975
Renowned architect I.M. Pei is commissioned by city leaders, including oil and gas pioneer Dean A. McGee, to create a revitalization plan for downtown Oklahoma City. Pei includes in his plan a garden area modeled after the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark.
On Sept. 16, the Myriad Gardens Authority, a public trust, is established to develop the 15-acre property. Dean A. McGee is appointed Trust Chairman.
Dean A. McGee, chairman of the Myriad Gardens Authority, and Bill Nerin Chairman of the Oklahoma City Park Board, help inaugurate construction of the Myriad Gardens recreational center on November 1977.
1977-1981
The Garden’s infrastructure is built, including the base of the cylindrical plant conservatory, tunnel and other core facilities. Oklahoma City-based RGDC, a structural engineering firm, heads the project.
Myriad Gardens Authority Chairman Dean McGee, left, and architect William Conklin discuss phase 1 of the downtown Oklahoma City renovation plan during a discussion of progress on the project.
1971 This photo of the scale model shows the original plan which called for two Crystal Bridges.
After a national competition, the task force chooses an architect: the New York firm of Conklin & Rossant.
James R. Tolbert III (pictured in 1979 at a City Council Meeting) has been active in the development of Myriad Botanical Gardens since its beginning.
