Nancy Ferris, Director/Curator of the Three Valley Museum has announced that she will be retiring from that position on November 1.
Ferris, who began her career at the museum in March of 2011, has been instrumental in developing programs and events that have emphasized local history in a fun and informative way.
“When I came here 14 years ago, the Board’s main directive was to get people in to see our museum,” Ferris said. “Since that time, we greet approximately 3,200 guests per year, many of whom are out of state or another country.
“We have developed exhibits, hosted bus tours, student visits, business sem- inars, and opened our doors to the public as an event center, all of which has contributed to a fivestar rating by Trip Advisor.”
When asked what her greatest achievement has been, Ferris said, “Bringing the national Viet Nam war memorial, ‘The Wall that Heals’ to Durant. Working with the veterans, partnering with the city, Discover Durant, EMS, Choctaw EMS, and hundreds of volunteers over the fiveday period was amazing. There were thousands of visitors to the Wall. I’ve never been more proud of Durant and its people. It was life changing for me.”
Ferris said another achievement has been the development of the January Journey Story series which has been well received and has been recognized by the Oklahoma Museum Association. In 2024, she was honored by being asked to offer sessions at the OMA state conference to give a detailed account to others who might want to implement a story telling event.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my work at Three Valley Museum and feel grateful to have been the keeper of our memories,” Ferris said. “I look forward to seeing the museum soar to the next level.”