The Osage Nation on Feb. 24 in Fairfax held a groundbreaking for a tribal visitors center that is anticipated to help draw tourists to the town of a little over a thousand people.

One of the elements to be included in the construction of the center is a set from the movie "Killers of the Flower Moon." The movie related the history of murders of Osage citizens about a century ago in the Fairfax area by whites intent on getting their hands on the tribe's oil-generated wealth.

Martin Scorsese directed the award-winning movie, which came out in October of 2023. Filming took place in both Fairfax and Pawhuska. A set used in Pawhuska represented a rail depot bearing the name "Fairfax" and that set is to become part of the new visitors center.

The Osage Nation already has a recently completed visitors center in Pawhuska. The ribbon cutting for the renovated building at the intersection of Main Street and Lynn Avenue took place April 17, 2024.

Osage Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear on Feb. 24 in Fairfax reiterated what has become an important theme for the tribe -- gaining control of the public narrative of its history.

“We will tell our own story and leave this legacy for our children and grandchildren, so it is appropriate that these young children from WELA are here today.” Standing Bear said, making reference to pupils from the Wahzhazhe Early Learning Academy who attended the groundbreaking and took part in it.

Osage Nation officials spoke Feb. 24 of both the development of the train depot replica and the remodeling of an existing house on the property, the Buxton House. The ON hopes to use the Fairfax visitors center to market Osage products and to encourage the study of the tribe's history and culture.

The Osage Nation's plans for its Fairfax visitors center will add momentum to efforts already underway by other groups to revitalize the town. Projects that local groups have been pursuing include the development of a walking trail and the development of studio space for artists. A community group called Friends of Fairfax also recently received the donation of a former Methodist church building for repurposing.