Oklahoma Sites

"State Center Middle School is located at 16011 N. E. Wilshire in Jones. This is a small brick school, with the east end being a gymnasium that was WPA-built. The gymnasium is a rectangular simple-styled building, with a barrel roof. The front of the building, facing south,has four bays, separated by wide brick columns...Several windows have been bricked in on the east and north sides. A single metal entrance with a wood ramp accesses the rear of the gymnasium. There is a large open gazebo at the front of the building which may post-date the building. There is no WPA marking...

State Highway 79 Bridge at the Red River which connects Jefferson County, OK with Clay County, TX. "State highway #79 bridge at the Red River is a camelback pony truss bridge built in 1939... This type of bridge is rare and this particular example maintains a high degree of integrity. It is also important for the role it played in facilitating major economic development in the region.  Listed in the National Register, 12/20/1996."   (https://www.ocgi.okstate.edu) The exact source of federal financing is unclear, but an application was made to the Bureau of Public Roads.

State Highway 78 Bridge at the Red River connects Bryan County, OK with Fannin County, TX. It was listed on The National Register of Historic Places on December 20, 1996. It was a National Recovery Secondary project. "Constructed during the years 1937 & 1938, State Highway #78 bridge is a rare example of a bridge with K-truss through and camelback pony spans. It is significant for its engineering design and as a significant federal relief project."   (https://www.ocgi.okstate.edu)

A waymarker in Oklahoma describes this municipal park, located within a block of the WPA built American Legion Hut and the WPA State Armory: "Stephenson Park contains several of the familiar WPA-constructed clues. Although I was unable to located any plaques or etchings in the concrete reading "WPA", the typical wall and bridge construction gave it away. The Edmond Historical Society website confirms that the park was a WPA Project. The park has a rolling landscape, with a small creek run-off which has two WPA-constructed pedestrian bridges. They are both arched across the waterway, with concrete platform and stone walls. At the...

The Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed this one-story classroom in 1939 for the town of Sterling in Oklahoma. A Waymarker in Oklahoma describes this building as "a one-story sandstone classroom building which is symmetrical, with two entrances flanking a center portion which is slightly projected. The entrances each have a single door and one sidelight and are recessed in a portico with an arched opening. A WPA shield is marked in concrete and set into the stone wall in the entrance way. Two steps lead to the entrance porch, with stone sidewalls. The window openings are large, and have been...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Stratford Grade School, High School, and Gym in Stratford OK, in 1936. Contributor note: "This is a one-story buff brick building with a flat roof (except for the arched roof over the gymnasium). In recent years, red metal siding now covers the roofs with a slight gable. The siding extends down the upper walls. Over the main entrance and in two other locations, the roof line has scrolled cornices, with the words STRATFORD and HIGH SCHOOL on concrete panels. The original casement windows still exist in the gymnasium, however, the triple window units in the...

Bartlesville, Oklahoma undertook multiple street improvement and paving projects during the Great Depression with the assistance of two federal Public Work Administration (PWA) grants. Construction occurred between 1938 and 1939. PWA Docket No. OK 1316, 1410.

Stillwater, Oklahoma undertook multiple substantial street paving projects during the Great Depression with the assistance of two federal Public Work Administration (PWA) grants. Construction occurred between 1937 and 1939. PWA Docket No. OK 1130, 1388.

Also known as the National Guard Armory, the Sulphur Armory stands vacant today at 500 W Wynnewood Ave, Sulphur, OK. Placed on the National Register in 1994, it is an outstanding example of the work of the Works Progress Administration.

Athletic field and stadium for the Sulphur Bulldogs and still use practice field for the High School team The stadium located on West Wynnewood Ave, Sulphur is a rectangular 139 x 38 foot building made of native stone and pre-formed concrete slab blocks. Considered Art Deco in design it provides stadium seating for approximately 500 people. The original press box with a concrete roof stands on top of the stadium and two small ticket booths were placed east and west of the stadium building. A rock fence runs east of the stadium. Of all the stadiums built by Works Progress Administration in...

The Oklahoma National Register of Historic Places lists this sandstone gymnasium as having been added to the Sumner School by the Federal Work Projects Administration (WPA) in 1940-1941. The gymnasium "features a hipped barrel roof." The Waymarking site for the gymnasium estimates that the small farming community of Sumner likely had little more than 50 residents when the gymnasium was constructed in 1940 and today the population has dwindled slightly. The Oklahoma Historical Society points out that the gymnasium's construction "...created jobs and some economic relief for unemployed agricultural workers. As a WPA building, the gymnasium is architecturally notable in terms of its...

According to the Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory, Swan Park "is comprised of a lake, with the dam and sides and small rock islands created by WPA labor out of cut native sandstone." As the name suggests, the park is designed to provide a habitat for swans and other birds.

The Waymarking site for this park celebrates Federal Works Progress Administration's (WPA) 1939 construction/ rock work in this city park. It says: "This park is located on rolling land, which shows off beautifully the WPA structures. An Historical Society write-up shows the park being built in 1936, however, a bronze shield on the bathhouse shows 1939...." According to the Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey, "WPA work within Wewoka Park includes a stone wall that completely encircles the park, a swimming pool and bathhouse, native stone footbridges, a stone bandstand, and a park office." It goes on to point out that Wewoka Park exemplifies...

“Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City was one of the largest high school football stadiums built as a WPA project in Oklahoma. In fact, it took several approved projects to complete the facility.”  (Barton) A waymarking submitter describes the stadium as follows: "Facing May Avenue, this is a native rock wall, approximately three stories high. It is immediately recognizable as a WPA project with its distinctive look. High above the center of the wall, in stone is a circular monogram reading TAFT and beneath that STADIUM. There are six large, arched entries, and six ticket windows. All are filled with wood. High on...

"Built at a cost of approximately $32,000, and designed by Bryan W. Nolan, this armory was completed in 1937 using WPA labor. It consists of a one-story administrative wing, and a large barrel-roofed drill hall. The armory is built of uncoursed, squared white and tan polychromatic sandstone in a castle-like style....   "The administrative wing has a flat roof, with a stepped roof line and entrance which is slightly projected. The main entrance has double aluminum and glass doors, with the entrance and flanking windows having black cloth awnings. Some of the tall, narrow windows have the original steel frames and 2-over-4...

Originally built as the Lincoln Negro School by the WPA in 1937-38. It is now the administration building for Tahlequah Public Schools. The Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory Nomination describes the structure: "The old segregated, negro school at Tahlequah is rectangular...and constructed of cut, rusticated and coursed native stone. Masonry is excellent... This structure is significant in that it was constructed for the black community of Tahlequah with black workers made destitute by the depression. It provided an economic salve for the laborers and a boost to their self-esteem. The building also enhanced the quality of education for the segregated youngsters it served, replacing...

The former Thackerville School in Thackerville, Oklahoma was constructed as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. Today, three buildings exist on the campus; however, none of them bear resemblance to other WPA school buildings in southern Oklahoma (although at least one source asserts otherwise). A modest 'memorial' to the old school building, which features its shield-shaped WPA plaque, can be found in front of the current high school on U.S. 77.

The Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory survey of 1985 describes this WPA school built in 1935-1936 as a "single-story, rectangular (31' x 74') structure constructed of coursed and rusticated native stone of buff color... Building this school provided job opportunities to laborers at a time when jobs were scarce in this rural area. Completion of the school improved educational possibilities within this rural area of McIntosh County." At the time of the report, the building was listed as being in private hands. Satellite images from google maps clearly show that the building is now in ruins and overgrown with trees and other vegetation.

“WPA projects both directly and indirectly affected fish and wildlife. More than 300 fish hatcheries were built or enlarged nationwide. Creating fish hatcheries was important economically, as well as for sport fisherman….Some of the fish hatcheries established or improved by WPA were located in or near Cherokee, Durant, Lawton, Tishomingo, Krebs, Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City, and Mohawk Park in Tulsa. A fish hatchery is on the city lake at Holdenville in Hughes County, where the WPA built a caretaker cottage and office building. With few details of location given, fish hatcheries have been hard to locate 70 years later. At...

In 1935 The Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), a predecessor to the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA), constructed a one-story building that houses the Tonkawa Public Library. Years later another building was added to the original one-story building. The addition was constructed in a similar style as the original FERA building. The Library is still in use today. The Waymarking webpage for this site describes the building as "constructed of rusticated and cut native sandstone set in a random ashlar pattern....The original entrance facing West is centered in a projected bay, and is currently a fixed window. Above this original entrance is a stone...

The WPA constructed a small stone town hall for the town of Porum in 1940. A 1985 Oklahoma Landmarks Survey described the building: "This town hall is a single-story, rectangular (47' x 34') structure constructed of uncut native stone of auburn and buff colors. Lighter colored stones serve as quoins at the corners. The roof is both gabled and hipped with intersecting valleys. The front and rear entrances are single door and have stoops; only the front entrance is protected with a small lean-to like covering..." In 1985, it was still being used by the local government. A sign visible on google...

This small stone obelisk marks the point where Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri meet. It was erected by the National Youth Administration in 1938. It is located at the coordinates marked here, south of the Route 166 round-about at the entrance to an Oklahoma Casino, just south of the main entrance on a dirt road.

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) created a site within the Tulsa Fairgrounds called the Tulsa Fairgrounds Cafeteria, which was finished during 1938. Currently, the cafeteria still remains standing. It has expanded many times since it was first built. Geographically, the Tulsa Fairgrounds Cafeteria spans just under less than one acre. The architecture of the cafeteria is unique. It was built upon an Art Deco style, and its foundation was brick. It’s a one-story rectangular shaped building that was surrounded by a running bond. The construction of this cafeteria was built to better serve the needs of those who attended the...

The refectory building at the Tulsa Zoological Garden was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1935. It was one of many New Deal projects undertaken in Oklahoma that “aimed to improve America’s public lands and parks” and “help lift the country out of the Great Depression.” The former refectory building has gone through many uses at the zoo and has recently been refurbished to serve as a public event space. “Originally designed as a refectory (gathering place to eat) this structure has served many purposes in its 86-year history. Once as a zoo entrance and concession area it also became...

Located on the east side of S 670 Rd., 0.3 north of E 240 Rd., the 23' x 30' "bus barn" at the former site of the Turkey Ford Elementary School was constructed by the Works Progress Administration ca. 1936. A building fitting the description given in the linked historical survey can be found using satellite imagery. Additional information is requested to confirm the identity of the building.

The historic U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Ada, Oklahoma was constructed between 1933 and 1934 with federal Treasury Department funds. The building is still in use today.

The historic U.S. Post Office & Courthouse in Enid, Oklahoma was constructed with federal Treasury Department funds. The building was completed in 1941 and is still in use today.

New Deal funds enabled an addition to the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse in Muskogee. "The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse is an excellent example of the Classical Revival style. Containing five floors plus a basement, the building gives the appearance of only four stories. In 1937-1938, an addition was constructed on the back of the building, and the former storage space on the fifth floor was converted to office space. The upper four floors are organized around a lightwell with corridors ringing the lightwell on the north, east, and south sides. Office space is off the corridor away from the...

"On February 11, 1936, the PWA approved a $1,700,000 grant to seven state teachers’ colleges for construction of dormitories. At Central State Teacher College, two dorms, one to house 300 women and one to house 150 men, were planned. The Architect Guy Reid promised comfortable buildings that were more serviceable and “superior in design.” Murdaugh Hall was the first to be built. It had two wings, a connecting terrace and a cafeteria open to all students. Accommodations in both dorms were the same. Dormitory rooms had two of everything: closets, beds, chest of drawers, desks, chairs and bookcases all made of high-grade maple as well as a lavatory and...

This auditorium/gymnasium, also called "Steiwig Hall," was constructed by the Federal Works Progress Administration between 1936 and 1937. To this day, it provides recreation and entertainment for the Valliant community.

OKState.edu: "The Administration Building, located at 831 Southeast 172 Road, is a one-story building, situated at the peak of a rise after entering the colony. Constructed in 1935, the building is the work of the Works Progress  Administration." "The method of construction, contribution of materials, and sources of labor were standard operating procedures for the WPA throughout the nation. WPA buildings are significant as  the program through which t hey were funded significantly reduced the economic and social distress of the national depression of the 1930s. T he Administration Building provides a legacy to the WPA through recognizable architecture by...

The WPA built a brick gymnasium for what was then the Will Rogers High School in 1940. 1985 Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory surveyed the site and gave the following description: " gymnasium is a two level, rectangular shaped (104' x 79') building constructed from buff colored brick. It has a high arched roof with stepped parapets... Brick quoins on the corners, and raised brickwork friezes add decorative relief to the structure... Along with two NYA constructed buildings on the campus of Will Rogers High School, a project of this size constituted a tremendous resource for the community of Vinita." The gymnasium is still standing...

The Works Progress Administration built a vocational education building in Elmore City, OK. Contributor note: "This is a rectangular one-story building constructed of rusticated native sandstone, which is painted a brick color. The roof is gabled. The south entrance is recessed under a wood porch. The window units which extend to the eaves have been partially filled with wood siding, leaving a fixed window pane. Windows on the north side of the building have been covered with wood siding. The building is currently occupied by the Billy Joan English Library"

"On July 12, 1938, the people voted to approve an increase in ad valorem taxation to 5 mills for the purpose of erecting a new County Courthouse with a new County Jail.  The Board of Commissioners subsequently entered into contract with an architect, Jos. I. Davis, to submit plans to the Federal Government through the Works Progress Administration of Oklahoma for the construction of the Courthouse.  By December of that year, all protesters to the building of the new Courthouse and Jail had been satisfied.  The Commissioners then began receiving bids for the various components of the Courthouse and Jail—from...

The Works Progress Administration built the Wainwright School in Wainwright. The north side of the school has the entry and three triangular-peaked gable ends which extend to the ground. The east side has three tall, narrow windows with rounded tops, the center is the main entrance which is flanked by glass. The stone is of the red native rock cut into irregular shaped rectangles. “The greatest legacy of the WPA in Oklahoma may be the hundreds of WPA-built buildings that are still in use. To most citizens, the public buildings are the most visible remains of a work relief program that...

The Works Progress Administration built the Wainwright School and Gymnasium in Wainwright. The structure is built of red native rock cut into irregular shaped rectangles. The gym to the southwest has tall windows, rounded at the top. The Historic Preservation Survey states that it was one of the last educational complexes constructed in Oklahoma.

The Works Progress Administration built the Walker School & Gymnasium in Pauls Valley OK. Contributor note: "The Walker School and Gymnasium is located on County Road 1570 (Longmeier Lake Road), east of Pauls Valley. This is an 8-room school which is in ruins and no longer in use. The school is L-shaped, with the gymnasium forming a U-shape. It is 169 feet across the front and 83 ft. down each side. The school was a WPA project in 1939. This school is one-story red brick with a flat roof, except for the higher barrel roof on the gymnasium. The main entrance is recessed...

"Warwick is a town of about 148 people, on historic Route 66. A post office was established here in 1892 and the agricultural town thrived through the years. In the early 1940s, the railroads abandoned their passenger service through Warwick, which struck the town a hard blow and began its decline. In 1964, the Warwick School closed, after consolidating with the nearby town of Wellston. The post office officially closed in 1972. Warwick school is a two-room schoolhouse constructed of native sandstone by the WPA in 1940 with an appropriation of $7910. A WPA shield is located to the right of...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) rebuilt the Washington School in Sapulpa OK. Contributor note: "Washington School was closed in 2012 and now serves as the district's Administrative Center. It is listed by the Oklahoma Historical Society as a WPA project. The two-sided cornerstone on the building shows it was originally built in 1903. A second side to the cornerstone shows it was re-built in 1937 by the WPA. We have been unable to determine the extent of the "re-build" and what features are fully WPA construction. Washington School is a three-story brick building with a flat roof. The ground floor is rusticated native...

A plaque on the corner of the vacant Washington school in Shawnee, Oklahoma says that the building was a project of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, which was the New Deal program that became known as the Public Works Administration (PWA). The Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey, however, lists the school as a WPA property. The construction project was completed in 1937. During the 1980s, the school housed all Shawnee fifth graders. In the late 1990s, the building was shut down and boarded up. The description for Washington School on Waymarking.com reads as follows: "This is a two-story brick building with a one-story wing on the...