Buildings featured on this site

Oklahoma City has been, and continues to be, home to many wonderful historic buildings.  The architecture in our community has varied from Territorial to Plains Commercial, Sullivanesque, Art Deco, International, and even one of the United States' best examples of a geodesic dome, inspired by the design of renowned architect Buckminster Fuller.  The page features a very small sample of significant historic structures in Oklahoma City.  Many of these architecturally significant buildings still stand, but some of them are now relegated to history, victims of the wrecking ball.  Fortunately, some of them have seen quality historic preservation, or have at the very least have not been altered in a way that would preclude appropriate renovation.  Unfortunately, many of these pieces of Oklahoma City's architectural heritage remain threatened.

The historic buildings here are from districts throughout the community, but of course, many are or were located in the city's original center, downtown Oklahoma City.  Preservation of historic architecture has figured prominently in the urban renaissance currently being experienced by downtown Oklahoma City, and within other city historic districts.  You may also view larger photos of these buildings, along with comments on their architectural heritage and their histories, by clicking on the thumbnails located at the bottoms of pages throughout this site.

	Baum Building Built in 1910 and designed by Layton and Smith, Architects. Their inspiration for the building supposedly came from the Doge’s Palace in Venice. The structure was demolished in 1973 to make way for a small shopping center that still exists today, though largely vacant. Several of the building’s finials can be found scattered throughout the city as sculptures in parks or medians. The site is located at 131 West Grand Avenue (now Sheridan).
	Belle Isle Power Plant Built in 1930 by Oklahoma Gas and Electric and officially named the Arthur S. Huey Memorial Generating Station. This Art Deco plant replaced an older model and was in operation for more than 50 years. The building sat at the edge of Belle Isle Lake, once home to an Oklahoma City amusement park. The building was demolished in 1999 to make way for a strip retail development with Wal-Mart as the anchor. Photograph © 2000 - Merryweather Photography All rights reserved. Used with permission.
	Biltmore Hotel Built in 1932, designed by Hawk and Parr, the building was 33 stories and was considered the state’s tallest building. The doors closed in 1973 and the building was imploded on October 16, 1977. Located at 200 West Grand (now Sheridan), the site is now part of the Myriad Gardens.
	Calvary Baptist Church Built in 1922, this church was a landmark for the African American district that was to become known as Deep Deuce. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., once interviewed for a position as pastor of the church. The historic sign is gone but the building has undergone a restoration in recent years. It is located at 300 North Walnut Avenue.
	Capitol Hill Hospital Built in 1931 at 2400 S. Harvey, it has Indian Deco ornamentation. The building operated as a hospital for many years then served as an office building. The building is currently vacant but the nearby Capitol Hill Main Street District is experiencing a revitalization.
	Carnegie Library Built in 1900 with a donation from Andrew Carnegie of $25,000 and razed in 1953 for the construction of a new library. There is some discussion whether it was designed by William Wells of Oklahoma City or Marshall R. Sanguinot of Ft. Worth. The site is at 131 NW 3rd (now Dean A. McGee).
	Centre Theater Built in 1946-47 and designed to complement the adjacent County Courthouse, Municipal Building, and Civic Center, this theater was one of the grander assembly spaces in Oklahoma City. New materials such as plexiglass handrails and phosphorecent murals made the space unique. The facade and original lobby space have been retained as part of the new Oklahoma City Art Museum. Located at 415 Couch Drive. Photograph © 2000 - Merryweather Photography All rights reserved. Used with permission.
	Citizens' State Bank Built in 1958, this structure was designed by Bozalis, Bailey, and Roloff and was patterned after the geodesic dome made popular by Buckminster Fuller. One of the older gold anodized domes left in the nation, the bank has changed hands several times and is now threatened by demolition for a Walgreen’s. The structure is located at 1112 NW 23rd Street.
	Colcord Building Built in 1909 by Charles F. Colcord who wanted a building that could withstand a disaster like the San Francisco quake and fire of 1906. The building was constructed of steel and reinforced concrete. The original plans by architect William Wells show a potential west wing that was never constructed. The building is located at 15 North Robinson, and is still used as an office building.
	Federal Building/Post Office The original wing was built in 1910. In the 1930’s the building was expanded to fill the entire half block and a nine story tower was added. The courthouse on the ninth floor was the scene of a trial for Machine Gun Kelly. The post office moved out in 1958, but the building still houses many federal offices. Located at 215 NW 3rd (now Dean A. McGee).
	First National Bank Building Designed by Weary and Alford, Chicago and built in 1930-31. The building is located at 120 N. Robinson and has a stunning Great Banking Room. The Art Deco ornamentation on the building’s main entry is unrivaled in Oklahoma City. The building is still used as an office building today.
	Maywood Presbyterian Church Built in 1907 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, the building was originally surrounded by large homes and was immediately adjacent to the city’s first formal park, Stiles Park. Renovated in the 1980’s to serve as an architectural firm, the building now houses the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Remnants of Stiles Park remain, but all of the houses have been torn down. The structure is located at 900 N. Stiles.
	Mt. Saint Mary's Academy Completed in 1906 as Mount Saint Mary’s Academy, it became a private co-ed high school in 1950. The style has been called late Victorian, or Territorial (Oklahoma’s version of late Victorian). The building is located at 2801 South Shartel.
	Overholser Mansion This home was constructed in 1903 by Henry Overholser at a site that seemed far away from the city itself. The building was designed by W.S. Matthews in the Chateauesque style. The house is located at 405 NW 15th and is now a museum of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
	Pioneer Telephone Building Built in 1908 and located at 101 NW 3rd (now Dean A. McGee). The building was Oklahoma City’s first real skyscraper and was designed by William Wells for the Pioneer Telephone Company. The style is considered Sullivanesque.
	Skirvin Hotel Built in 1911 by William B. Skirvin, the building was originally ten floors and two towers. A third tower was added in the 1920’s and three additional floors were added in 1930. The building was designed by Layton, Hicks, and Forsyth and has been vacant for twenty years. Oklahoma City formed a Skirvin Solutions Committee to discuss options for the building, but to date no solutions have been carried out. The building is located at 1 Park Avenue.
	State Capitol Bank Designed in 1964 by Bozalis, Bailey, and Roloff, this futuristic pod structure has continued to serve as a banking facility. Some unfortunate modifications have occurred in recent years with a new tenant. The building is located at 3900 North Lincoln Boulevard.
	William Howard Taft School Built in 1930 as a Junior High School at 2901 NW 23rd Street. The building is an excellent example of an Art Deco school building. It has been expanded several times over the years.  There is an adjacent stadium constructed of red sandstone. Layton and Forsyth were the architects for this building which still serves as a school today.
	YMCA The Central YMCA was designed by Sorey, Hill, and Sorey in 1948. "The low budget for the eight-story facility precluded extensive use of mechanical cooling. Natural light and ventilation were a major design consideration.The design incorporated a system of window overhangs and louvers which gave the monolithic concrete structure its only ornamentation. Its asymmetrical composition, recalling elements of both the Dutch De Stijl movement and the International Style, was a startling departure from the Neoclassical, Italian Renaissance, and Art Deco style buildings in the area." Located at 125 NW 5th, the site is now a parking lot. Photograph © 2000 - Merryweather Photography All rights reserved. Used with permission.