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The hometown of Oklahoma's most famous lawman will be the site of the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Museum and Hall of Fame, it was announced Tuesday.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Bill Tilghman homesteaded in Oklahoma in the late 1800s and was a longtime resident of Chandler, the future home of the museum and hall of fame.

Carl Reherman, president of the museum's board of directors, said temporary quarters in downtown Chandler could be open early next year. Grants have been received to renovate a two-story historical building, he said.

The nonprofit board, formed about six months ago, plans to construct a building in about four years on property off State Highway 66 about a mile away, next to the old armory, he said. The armory is about one mile from the Turner Turnpike.

Public Safety Commissioner Kevin Ward applauded the development, saying, "This has been a dream for a long time for many people.”

Oklahoma has a colorful law enforcement history, he said. More U.S. marshals, for example, were killed in Oklahoma than in any other state.

Tilghman was elected Lincoln County sheriff in 1900 and served as state senator for a year before taking a job as Oklahoma City's police chief in 1911.

He retired in 1914 and made a motion picture, "The Passing of Oklahoma City Outlaws.” He was appointed marshal of Cromwell in 1924 and on Nov. 1 of that year was shot and killed while escorting notorious federal prohibition agent Wiley Lynn to jail.

The Lincoln County Historical Society and the city of Chandler have donated space for the museum, Ward said.

The local historical society is leasing an old store next to its building for $1 a year for five years, Reherman said. The city is donating land for the long-term museum and hall of fame. Early cost estimates range from $6 million to $8 million.

Reherman said the board wants to develop the museum and hall of fame in its temporary spot and then go out and seek donations and grants.

"Then you can go to foundations, you can go to wealthy people and say to them, ‘Look what we've done and we need your help to move that next step,'” he said.

By being in Chandler, which is between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the museum should attract tourists, Reherman said.

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, who also is chairman of the state Tourism and Recreation Commission, said the development "will be a great destination point and certainly being on historical Route 66 gives an opportunity for those who travel that historical route to have an opportunity to stop and learn about Oklahoma.”

Reherman said the museum and hall of fame's board of directors will induct their first members this fall. About six law officers both living and historically recognized will be honored in what will be an annual event, he said.

The museum will reflect the development of Oklahoma by following the state's tribal, territorial and statehood periods and will house exhibits about hall of fame inductees, Reherman said.

The museum's board will work with the Oklahoma Historical Society this summer in accepting and evaluating historical items from the public.

The city of Midwest City is giving the museum its first major historical gift — a restored 1948 Ford police vehicle, Reherman said.

Rep. Lucky Lamons, D-Tulsa, a former Tulsa police officer, said the museum will allow visitors to see "where we've come in law enforcement and where we're going. This is just a nice step forward to honor those men and women in the early days that actually did the groundwork to develop the professional law enforcement that we have in the state of Oklahoma today.”