The Kenesaw auditorium was originally a Civil Works Administration (CWA) project that eventually morphed into a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project with the termination of the CWA. The WPA portion of the project began in November 1935. The town of… read more
Keyworth Stadium was opened in 1936 and was dedicated by FDR himself. After many years of use by Hamtramck High School, in 2016 the newly-formed Detroit City Football Club secured funding to renovate the stadium for soccer matches. From the… read more
"This combination gymnasium-auditorium has permanent seating at the sides and will accommodate approximately 400 spectators for athletic and dramatic events. Its construction is of interest. The foundations, first-floor slab, and buttresses are concrete, exterior walls of painted brick and the… read more
Among the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects identified as completed in an El Paso Times article from June 7, 1936 was “Manufacture of Liberty Hall seat covers. $1528.” “The El Paso County Courthouse and its accompanying Liberty Hall was a… read more
Text of the state historical marker reads: “In 1934, the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) built an auditorium on the original Locke Hill school grounds. Federal workers constructed the limestone building out of stone from a nearby quarry. Built to… read more
Louisiana State University’s historic Parker Coliseum, also known as the Agricultural Center, was constructed by the federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1937. The building, which contains numerous artistic details created by artists of the period, is still in use… read more
“The Park Auditorium, completed in 1936 as a WPA project, is a domical building, the design of its facade carried out in the straight lines and angles of modern architecture. Constructed with laminated truss-type arches which support the entire roof… read more
Auditorium used for theatre, performances, concerts, and school and city activities. It is still used today. First referred to as “Junior College Auditorium”, then named “McNeese Main Auditorium”, and later “F. G. Bulber Auditorium.” The building was the first building… read more
Burlington Memorial Auditorium, located near the Mississippi River, was built by the Works Progress Administration and opened in May of 1939. It was first used as a U.S. Naval Reserve Training Center and by the supply company of the 136th… read more
The State of Texas allocated $50,000 for the construction of the Goliad Memorial Auditorium and the United States government allocated $20,000. The Works Progress Administration added $5,000 to build sidewalks, parking areas, and roads and to grade and fill the… read more
The Utah National Guard was funded by the New Deal to built several armories. One of those is in Mount Pleasant. The exact year of construction is unknown to us.. “During the 1930s, UTNG used federal money, often supplied through… read more
“In 1938 the Public Works Administration allocated more than $500,000 toward the final cost of $1,025,000 for an auditorium to accommodate the academic and cultural activities of the growing MSU student body. Designed by O.J. Munson, the Gothic-inspired pointed arches… read more
The Works Progress Administration built the Middleberg School in Middleberg OK. Contributor note: “This school was constructed by the WPA in 1938 with an appropriation of $9,000. It is located on Old Highway 62 in Middleberg on the public school… read more
“This building constitutes a cultural and recreational community center. It was constructed with a donation of site and of $40,000 by a citizen of Ashton and with the aid of the P.W.A. It provides a public library, a stack room,… read more
This is an excellent example of the clean, rounded lines of art deco architecture used in a large municipal auditorium that was recently restored and brought back to its original appearance. Ludwig Abt also designed the school in nearby Renick…. read more
“Built in 1908, It was originally the City Hall and fire station. It was remodeled in 1938 by the W. P. A. In Spanish Pueblo Revival Style. It has a recessed portico entry with vigas and ornate wood pillars with… read more
Barre Auditorium was constructed in 1938-9 as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The PWA provided a $105,882 grant toward the $239,668 total cost of the project. (PWA Docket No. VT [X]1122.) The facility is still in use today… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed Edinburg, North Dakota’s historic municipal auditorium in 1939. It is still in use today.
Harlingen, Texas’s historic Municipal Auditorium was constructed as a federal Public Works Administration (PWA) project during the Great Depression. The building, which has been extensively modified on multiple occasions, is still in use today. The PWA supplied a $60,000 loan… read more
The Works Progress Administration built the City Auditorium adjacent to Town Creek Park in Jasper. The structure is made of stone masonry with a concrete shingles roof.
The Kansas City Municipal Auditorium was built by the PWA in 1934-35. “Municipal Auditorium is a large, multi-purpose facility in Kansas City, Missouri with three halls: The Arena, Music Hall, and Little Theatre. It opened in 1936 and features Streamline… read more
Also known as the Civic Center Music Hall, this PWA Art Deco building was erected in 1937. A 1939 book on PWA buildings describes the site: “Before the erection of this auditorium, Oklahoma City had no place which could seat… read more
Sarasota’s architecturally striking Municipal Auditorium was constructed with the assistance of the federal Works Progress Auditorium (WPA). “Work on the auditorium commenced in July of 1937. The federal government granted the sum of $131,000.00 towards the project. Skilled labor was… read more
“This large brick auditorium with a seating capacity of 3000 was built with a WPA grant of $61,363 and the proceeds of a $75,000 municipal bond issue. It was constructed in 1936 and has been the meeting place for Shawnee… read more
In September 1935, the village of Primrose was notified that it had been given a grant of $7,363.00 from the Public Works Administration (PWA) for the purpose of building a municipal auditorium and gymnasium. The total project cost was estimated… read more
The Public Works Administration (PWA) funded half the cost of the handsome Municipal Building in Price UT, constructed in 1938-39. The building includes city offices, a large auditorium and an enormous mural cycle by native son Lynn Fausett in the foyer of… read more
WPA Bulletin, 1937: “Amesbury now has a secondary municipal auditorium, auxiliary town hall and community center with the completion of a WPA project which remodeled the old fire headquarters building for that purpose. The building on School Street was erected… read more
A WPA project involved “Improving the Exposition Building”, WPA Project No. 65-3-1779, Approval date 10-23-35, $5,673 The Oakland Exposition Building was a hall [across from] the Kaiser Convention Center. The California Garden Show was held there, as well as horse… read more
VisitNebraska.com: “A community landmark, Ohiowa Auditorium was completed in 1940 and preserved in near original condition. It is one of many Nebraska buildings constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression.” The auditorium is located at the… read more
Currently known as Levitt Shell, in recognition of funding that saved it from demolition, the Overton Park band shell was constructed by the WPA and City of Memphis in 1936 for $11,935. It has almost been demolished twice.
This building was originally part of the St. Louis Municipal Auditorium complex and was then known as the Kiel Opera House. The rest of the complex was later demolished, and this building became the Peabody Opera House. It was begun… read more
The Public Works Administration funded the construction an auditorium building at the Junior College (today Phoenix College) in Phoenix. The facade architecture features Art Deco elements and white plaster finish. The auditorium is still in service today at Phoenix College.
The historic Dock Street Theater, known as America’s First Theater, in Charleston, South Carolina, was the subject of a massive Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) and Works Project Administration (WPA) renovation project between 1935 and 1937. The structure was designed… read more
600 Works Progress Administration (WPA) workers undertook a $300,000 reconditioning project for the Public Auditorium in Cleveland, Ohio, in advance of the 1936 Republican National Convention. The WPA was concerned with “permanent improvements” to the facility.
The Works Progress Administration built the Recreation Center in Stephenville between 1936-1939. The two story white rock building has basketball courts and a stage. A metal plaque on the front notes the date 1938-1939, while a marble cornerstone has the… read more
“The Robinson High School Auditorium-Gymnasium, also known as the RHS Gym was a historic gymnasium located on the campus of Robinson High School in Robinson, Illinois. The gym was constructed in 1939 using funds granted by the Public Works Administration…. read more
The Public Works Administration contributed $1,329,508 toward the construction of the Sam Houston Coliseum and Music Hall. The architect of record was Alfred C. Finn. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on November 4, 1936 and dedication was held on November 26,… read more
“The building has an area of 50,000 square feet and consists of the auditorium which seats 3,500, a small theater seating 597, a meeting hall seating 499, 2 exhibition halls, 5 committee rooms, quarters for the chamber of commerce,… read more
Sometimes mis-attributed to the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the auditorium / gymnasium addition to the Sandstone School constructed in 1936 was accomplished as a Public Works Administration (PWA) project. The PWA provided a grant of $24,966 for the project, whose… read more
The federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) constructed Rogers, North Dakota’s historic school auditorium in 1938. There is no school in the community anymore; the exact location and current status of the facility is unknown to Living New Deal.