Oklahoma Sites

Located about nine miles east of downtown Miami, Oklahoma, the former Moccasin Bend school building was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1936. Built of ashlar masonry, the 76' x 30' building was located on the south side of E 100 St. A building with these dimensions can be found near given coordinates at the Eastside Assembly of God Miami; further confirmation is requested to determine whether this was the school building.

Both the CCC and the WPA developed Tulsa's Mohawk Park: "The National Park Service took over planning of structures in Mohawk Park from the City Park Department. The WPA workers built bridges, roads and shelters to blend in with the natural landscape. They also brought waterlines and restrooms into Mohawk for the first time."   (www.cityoftulsa.org) "Urban parks in Tulsa and Oklahoma also owed much to the CCC... One Tulsa camp turned miles of raw, often swampy land into Mohawk Park."   (Historical Atlas in Oklahoma)  

“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...

The Morrison School Gymnasium/Auditorium was constructed in 1939 by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). The Noble County Oklahoma Historic Preservation Survey of 1985 underscores the significance of this auditorium in that it demonstrates "...the involvement of the WPA in the development of educational and recreational facilities." It goes on to point out that "...the project created jobs for unemployed laborers in the area during the Depression as well as nurturing a sense of civic pride and providing space for community activities." The other notable feature of the WPA project, according to the Oklahoma Preservation Survey, is the scale and...

The Works Progress Administration built the Mountain View Grade School in Mountain View, OK. Contributor note: "This elementary school is part of the Mountain View-Gotebo School District. This is a stone, flat roofed school which has a large newer section added on the south. The entrance is located at the northeast corner, Above this entrance, a stone bell tower has been added which has a dedication panel. The school was a WPA project, and a bronze shield can be seen on Google Maps, attached to the east wall near the entrance (see gallery), however, that shield has been removed and the holes can...

Two identical dorm buildings: Muller Hall and North Hall, were constructed at the same time as part of a federal Public Works Administration (P.W.A.) project. The P.W.A. supplied a $65,454 grant for the project, whose total cost was $145,454. Muller Hall was originally constructed as a women's dormitory, and it is located at the intersection of Eagle Blvd. and Aggie Ave. Specifically, it is at the southeast corner of this intersection, facing along Aggie Ave., kitty corner from North Hall (which fronts the north side of Eagle Blvd.) "Because Muller Hall had fallen into disrepair, Panhandle State College (PSC) closed the building in 1973. In the 1990’s, Oklahoma...

The Bristow town website explains that the amphitheater was "built by the CCC and the NYA, one of the first youth projects completed. Eleanor Roosevelt came to Bristow to dedicate the project in March 1937." A 1985 National Register nomination form for Creek County explains that the amphitheater itself is a one-story, flat-roofed, wooden structure (later painted white). The foundation is stone, the seats are concrete, and the whole area was planted around with trees, which are still there today. The form further explains that: "Architecturally, the structure is unique to the park in terms of type, style, and workmanship. This project...

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 more than 2,000 people where public meetings could be held. The new municipal auditorium has remedied this condition. It contains an auditorium with a seating capacity of 6,000, a small theater seating 400, a convention hall seating 900, 22 small committee rooms, and an exhibition hall with a floor area of 38,000 square feet. The auditorium stage is sufficiently large and well...

"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 citizens for decades, at sporting events, concerts, movies, dances, conventions and the like. The high-ceiling, gymnasium-like auditorium has concrete bleachers along three sides and a full stage on the north end. The two building wings have offices and are the home of the Shawnee Senior Center and the Shawnee Economic Development organization (COEDD). A cornerstone to the left of the main entrance shows...

The Seminole city council make plans in 1935 for a new Municipal building to hold offices and a "civic center" due to the fact the old "civic center" exploded due to a gas leak on December 29, 1934. After selecting the architectural firm from Oklahoma City. The city council applied for a grant from the Public Works Administration in April 1935. The grant was approved September 26, 1935 with a total amount of the construction cost at $86,818 and the first federal check arrived January 27, 1936 but ground breaking did not occur until March 1936 and a grand opening...

This building was constructed by the WPA in 1940: "A rectangular...structure, the Skiatook Municipal Building looks very much like an armory. It is constructed of dressed and lightly rusticated native sandstone laid randomly...It appears to be a military armory, but it was planned and has always been utilized as a municipal facility."   (www.okhistory.org) The building is currently occupied by the town Police Department.

The historic post office building in Edmond, Oklahoma, now the Edmond Municipal Court and Courthouse, was constructed during the Great Depression with federal Treasury Department funds. The building was completed in 1938.

""Pre-Settlement Days" is a mural painted in 1939 by Ila Turner McAfee. It is an oil painting on canvas. It hung in the lobby of the Edmond Post Office for decades. It shows the open prairie before it was opened for settlement. Buffalo and antelope graze and roam on the plains, just like we sing about in the well-known song “Home on the Range”. When the post office closed and this building was remodeled to house the Edmond Municipal Courts, the new lobby did not have a location suitable for this mural. It was moved to the City Council Chambers...

Several substantial structures at the Miami Municipal Fairgrounds were built using native sandstone by the WPA (ca. 1940), including: an eight-foot-tall perimeter wall; a 78' x 205 fairground grandstand; a wall surrounding the racetrack; a 90' x 70' stable, and a 76' x 178' exhibit barn.

The Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory Nomination for WPA properties lists this city park as constructed by the WPA in 1935: "This city park was developed by the WPA. A small ditch was constructed and runs through the middle of the park. A small bridgeway, picnic tables, and playground equipment have been added to the park. The tennis courts are also located on the park grounds, and were also constructed by the WPA."  

There are quite a few picnic tables and other amenities which were built in the mid-1930's by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in this municipal park. They have brick support posts and concrete table tops and benches. Some are in poor condition, and some others have had their concrete tops replaced. The Oklahoma Historical Society database shows that this project had an appropriation of $6800 and was completed in November 1935. The park is a long, narrow grass area primarily serving as a picnic and playground area. There was once a WPA-constructed rock sign near the north of the...

The Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the Municipal Pool and Bathhouse in Alva, OKlahoma. The pool is constructed of poured concrete and the bathhouse has Art Deco elements. The bathhouse is now painted white. It has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Works Progress Administration built the Municipal Pool and Bathhouse in Cordell, OK Contributor note: "The municipal pool and bathhouse is located across the street south from the WPA park, at 504 E. 2nd Street. It was constructed by the WPA in 1937. The bathhouse is a one-story rock building with protruding mortar. The building is segmented into three parts with the center section projected to the west, and slightly recessed on the east poolside. The windows are large and multi-paned. The pool to the east of the bathhouse is large and was empty and dry at the time of our visit. A sign...

The municipal pool and bath house in El Reno was a FERA project completed in 1935. From the 1999 National Register of Historic Places application: The El Reno Municipal Pool Bath House, constructed in 1935 in Legion Park, the city's largest recreation area, represents an historical pattern within the context of Recreation/Entertainment for El Reno, Oklahoma. Legion Park was the second of six city park projects developed in the years 1901-1949. Legion Park, formerly Peach's Park, had initially been privately developed c. 1903 but was allowed to decline even after the city acquired the property in 1920. The area remained relatively...

"This native sandstone building located at the northwest corner of N. Second Street and Pennsylvania Avenue was constructed in 1940 by the WPA. The plaque has fallen off the building (see photo gallery), but the building was found listed as City Warehouse among the Grady County WPA construction. There is a stone plaque on the building, however, which shows it to be constructed in 1940. On the plaque are the names of the then Mayor, Treasurer, Clerk, Street Commissioner, Chief of Police and Council Members. The plaque also shows the architect to be Paul Harris."   (https://www.waymarking.com)

"In the 300 block of W. Harrison Avenue just west of the Honor Park war memorials stands a one-story stone warehouse building, constructed by the WPA. The building has a peaked roof with tin roofing, and has a garage bay door on the south side. On the southeast corner of the building, it appears that a plaque has been removed (see gallery) which most likely showed the year of construction. No information could be found on the details of this project."   (https://www.waymarking.com)

This WPA armory was constructed by the WPA in 1936-37: "The Muskogee armory is a huge two-story, essentially rectangular shaped (260' x 160) building of cut, coursed, and rusticated native stone of buff colors. The masonry is of exceptional quality... Architecturally, the armory is unique as a WPA structure for its massive size, quality of workmanship, and its vernacular style."   (wpa3muskogee.pdf) The building is now in use as the Muskogee Teen Center.

The WPA constructed a 4-H Club building for the Muskogee Fairgrounds in 1936. A 1985 Oklahoma Historical Landmarks survey of extant WPA properties describes the building: "The 4-H Club building on the Muskogee County Fairgrounds is a single story structure that is composed to two intersecting units... The structure is constructed of colorful uncut native stone laid randomly with beaded mortar... The 4-H Club building is an excellent example of the interpretation the WPA gave to 'useful.' The building was used by 4-H Club members during fair time as a dormitory and exhibit hall. Thus its educational and commercial purpose fit well...

At the intersection of N. 8th and Boston in a residential area, there are two WPA culverts which pass under 8th Street east to west. One culvert has the WPA shield stamped 1939 at either end; the other does not. The culverts are constructed of large cut stones, and have curbing that is quite tall vertically. The openings are approximately 3 ft. by 5 ft.

"Napier School is a one-story 8-room school that is T-shaped. Vertically it is 186' and horizontally 153'. The main entrance is located in a slightly projected bay, with fluted pillars flanking the doors. A wide 4-step staircase with low side walls leads to the entrance. The parapet is stepped and a concrete belt course runs around the building just below the roof line. Today, on the front elevation, the brick is painted white below this belt course, and red above. Many windows have been bricked in. The ribbon windows which remain have the upper pains painted. The brick on the...

"The Guthrie Armory was constructed between 1935 and 1937 by the Works Progress Administration. With sandstone quarried on-site, using local, unskilled labor, this building is typical of WPA construction in Oklahoma. This is a one-story building, 125 x 140 feet, located in a residential/recreational area known as Highland Park. The architect was Bryan W. Nolen. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. ...The building has an Art Deco appearance, with the placement of recessed stonework on the front, and the projected pilasters rising to a stepped parapet. The building has its original windows and overhead...

"The Marlow National Guard Armory is located at 702 W. Main, in a residential area. It was constructed by the WPA, beginning on November 7, 1935, carrying through 1936, being completed in January 1937. It was dedicated during a fierce snowstorm on April 1, 1937. This is a one-story red brick armory with cast concrete detailing... Near the front entrance is a stone block reading "State Armory/Built by Works Progress Administration/1936/W.S. Key/State Administrator." At the northwest and northeast corners of the building are concrete blocks reading "Built by WPA 1936." When constructed it was the home of the 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery,...

National Guard Armory in McAlester OK is a single story armory built by the Works Progress Administration and made of sandstone with arched roof. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. The building is still in use.

The armory was constructed by the WPA in 1935-1936. "A one unit facility, the Pawhuska Armory is rectangular...with offsets and is constructed of rusticated and generally coursed native sandstone... The Pawhuska Armory is particularly significant because it was one of the structures sponsored by the WPA shortly after the agency was established. Along with other armories across the state, it was to provide job opportunities for unemployed and destitute workers during the desperate winter of 1935-1936. That the building program helped to salvage broken and hopeless lives makes the armory a symbol of a government that cared for its citizens."   (www.okhistory.org) The armory...

In 1936, the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) completed construction of an armory in Perry, Oklahoma in order to support the equipment storage and training needs of the Perry Unit of the Oklahoma Army National Guard. In 2011 the Armory was transferred back to the community. The public release that announced the transfer of the Armory from the military to the community points out that "...during the Great Depression, local communities and the State of Oklahoma were unable to fund the construction of... armories....This armory was one of many proposed Oklahoma armories approved for construction by the WPA." It goes on to note...

From the National Park Service website: "Among the highlights of Chandler’s Route 66 landscape is the Chandler Armory, behind which stands the only brick outhouse in Oklahoma, thought to have been built between 1903 and 1912 and still containing its original French fixture.  The Chandler Armory is an excellent example of Works Progress Administration (WPA) architecture; it is rich with history. The armory is also significant as the home of Battery F, Second Battalion of the 160th Field Artillery of the Oklahoma National Guard, 45th Infantry division and for its role in helping the men of Battery F prepare for their...

This national guard armory was constructed by the WPA in 1934-36. It is no longer in use, though as of 2012, the building was still standing. The Armory is constructed of native stone cut into irregular size blocks. It is rectangular, 141x120 feet with a front facade with large columns of stone flanking the entrance in a deco modern style. A large portion of the roof has a round vaulting. It is currently being used for storage.

"The Pawnee Armory in Pawnee County, Oklahoma, United States, is a single story rectangular building measuring 149' x 237'. It was built of native stone by the Works Progress administration. According to the plaque...it was completed in 1936, though the application form for the National Historic Places Registration form indicates it was finished in 1937. It originally housed the Oklahoma National Guard."   (wikipedia)

This WPA armory was constructed in 1940-1941. "The significance of the Tulsa Armory stems from its date  of construction and its enormous size, among other things. Tulsa was not among those scheduled for an armory in 1936, in part because the WPA supported other projects and in part because Tulsa was strongly Republican in politics and armory selection was controlled by Democratic officials in Oklahoma City. The clear need for job opportunities for Tulsa's unemployed and the willingness of Tulsa County to lease land at no cost to the state as a site for the armory cleared the way for the...

"The Wagoner Armory, also known as National Guard Armory, was built in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration in order to make jobs for unemployed workers in the area. The Oklahoma National Guard used the building since it was built, until it was abandoned along with 58 other armories in the state of Oklahoma after they were ordered to be closed in 2006 by the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The Wagoner Armory, like many other armories, was contaminated with lead from bullets fired in their underground rifle ranges and from asbestos. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality cleaned the...

National Youth Administration constructed a vocational building that was used for youth education. The structure was completed in 1938.

Located about nine miles east of downtown Miami, Oklahoma, the former Moccasin Bend school building was built by the WPA ca. 1937-40. Built of red native stone, the 70' x 30' building was located three miles west of Commerce. A building fitting much of the description given in the linked historical survey can be found using satellite imagery near given coordinates at the southwest corner of E 60 Rd. and S 530 Rd. Additional information is requested to confirm the identity of the building.

The Works Progress Administration built the Neptune Park in Clinton, OK. Contributor note: "Neptune Park was constructed by the WPA in 1936. Route 66 was a going concern, and ran right through Clinton. This park is not elaborate, but it served the travelers along adjacent Route 66, with picnic tables and a place to pull off the road and rest. Today, most of the original Route 66 is now Interstate 40, bypassing the town, but in 1936, the park stood in the "Y" between Neptune Drive and Walton Road, right on the Mother Road. We found two WPA picnic tables with native sandstone bases...

"Nichols Park is a municipal park developed between 1938 and 1941 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and the National Park Service (NPS). The park is located two miles south of downtown Henryetta in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma... Beginning in October 1938, the CCC constructed a handful of buildings, as well as a number of smaller resources including culverts, picnic tables, water faucets and fire pits in the park. With the 1910 dam on the west side, the CCC concentrated their construction efforts on the long sides of the lake with development occurring on nearly opposite sides of the lake... The...

The Civil Works Administration (CWA) conducted a project "laying sewer pipe in the new storm sewer lines being installed on North Broadway" to preclude flooding along the street in Shawnee, Oklahoma.