Oklahoma has come along since the early 1900s. Take a trip back in time to see what some of Oklahoma’s iconic landmarks and cities looked like in the early to mid-1900s:
- The State Capitol Building, Oklahoma City
okhistory/Facebook Ten young women on a car in front of the Oklahoma Capitol Building. Photo by Waterhouse, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.” 1930.
- The Will Rogers Archway, Vinita
TulsaHistory/Facebook The Will Rogers Archway in Vinita over I-44 re-opened recently after renovations. Here is a photo of the original being built in 1954.
- The Hotel Black and the Motor Hotel, Oklahoma City
okhistory/Facebook The Hotel Black and the Motor Hotel were both built in the 1930s, shown in this photograph from 1947.
- Tulsa University (Formerly Henry Kendall College), Tulsa
okhistory/Facebook Henry Kendall College and later The University of Tulsa. It was originally established in 1882, and later formed under a new name in 1921.
- Artesian Hotel, Sulphur
okhistory/Facebook This photo depicts the original Artesian Hotel, constructed in 1906. It was destroyed by a fire in 1962, then rebuilt on the original grounds, and opened to the public again in August 2013.
- Downtown Oklahoma City Skyline, Oklahoma City
Facebook/Oklahoma Historic Society Built at Tinker Air Force Base during World War II, these three aircrafts were test flown over downtown Oklahoma City.
- Downtown Stroud
okhistory/Facebook The town’s early economy was based on cotton farming in the surrounding area. Prior to 1907 statehood, it was one of Oklahoma Territory’s notorious “whiskey towns.” By 1907, the population was 1,312. Taken in 1906.
- University of Oklahoma, Norman
Pioneer Library System/Flickr University of Oklahoma Campus from roof of Whitehead Hall (1920).
- Downtwon Ardmore
okhistory/Facebook Taken in 1925.
- Swan Lake, Tulsa
tulsahistory/Facebook The developers, led by Sam Orcutt, turned the land into an amusement park and the pond into a small lake that provided boating, swimming, fishing and sometimes ice skating. The amusement park is gone and the lake is now called Swan Lake.
- State Fair Grounds, Oklahoma City
okhistory/Facebook Oklahoma held its first state fair in 1907. This was a chuck wagon race held at the fair.
- The Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester (Oklahoma Territory)
okhistory/Facebook The Oklahoma State Penitentiary in 1900 in McAlester.
- Downtown Tulsa
TulsaHistory/Facebook This photo of the Ritz Theater at 4th & Boulder is not just a great image of downtown Tulsa in 1954. It is 4:08 in the afternoon and the temperature is 112 degrees. People lined up to see the widescreen format re-release of Gone With The Wind.
- Downtown Ada
okhistory/Facebook Photo of a street scene in the early 1900s. This town was incorporated on April 1,1901, and the population reached 4,349 in 1910.
- Tulsa State Fair, Tulsa
TulsaHistory/Facebook A look at the Tulsa County Free Fair around 1917.
What picture did you enjoy the most? Do you have any memories of these photos shown above?
okhistory/Facebook
Ten young women on a car in front of the Oklahoma Capitol Building. Photo by Waterhouse, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.” 1930.
TulsaHistory/Facebook
The Will Rogers Archway in Vinita over I-44 re-opened recently after renovations. Here is a photo of the original being built in 1954.
The Hotel Black and the Motor Hotel were both built in the 1930s, shown in this photograph from 1947.
Henry Kendall College and later The University of Tulsa. It was originally established in 1882, and later formed under a new name in 1921.
This photo depicts the original Artesian Hotel, constructed in 1906. It was destroyed by a fire in 1962, then rebuilt on the original grounds, and opened to the public again in August 2013.
Facebook/Oklahoma Historic Society
Built at Tinker Air Force Base during World War II, these three aircrafts were test flown over downtown Oklahoma City.
The town’s early economy was based on cotton farming in the surrounding area. Prior to 1907 statehood, it was one of Oklahoma Territory’s notorious “whiskey towns.” By 1907, the population was 1,312. Taken in 1906.
Pioneer Library System/Flickr
University of Oklahoma Campus from roof of Whitehead Hall (1920).
Taken in 1925.
tulsahistory/Facebook
The developers, led by Sam Orcutt, turned the land into an amusement park and the pond into a small lake that provided boating, swimming, fishing and sometimes ice skating. The amusement park is gone and the lake is now called Swan Lake.
Oklahoma held its first state fair in 1907. This was a chuck wagon race held at the fair.
The Oklahoma State Penitentiary in 1900 in McAlester.
This photo of the Ritz Theater at 4th & Boulder is not just a great image of downtown Tulsa in 1954. It is 4:08 in the afternoon and the temperature is 112 degrees. People lined up to see the widescreen format re-release of Gone With The Wind.
Photo of a street scene in the early 1900s. This town was incorporated on April 1,1901, and the population reached 4,349 in 1910.
A look at the Tulsa County Free Fair around 1917.
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