OKC History On-Line Resources

This page lists quality websites that I know to contain good and interesting Oklahoma City history information other than my own, and others will be added as they become known to me. A permanent graphic link to this page appears in the left panel for quick access. A changing featured website is highlighted at the end — right now, it's AbandonedOK.com.

Steve Lackmeyer & Jack Moneys' OkcHistory.com Authors of OKC: 2nd Time Around    Bricktown	MLS Oklahoma Images Maintained by Larry (Buddy) Johnson Author of Historic Photos of Oklahoma City Also: Folklore Collection    Info Magazine
OK History Center Research Popular subgroups are below Clickable OKC Map    Star Archives	MLS Logon Page Use your MLS card to log on & search Oklahoman's archives & more Need Help?    Sanborn Maps Help
OHS Encyclopedia Mini-articles on OK history by OHS personnel	AbandonedOK A quirky, sometimes spooky, but always charming look at things abandoned in Oklahoma
The Archvist A fun look through the Oklahoman's archives by Mary Phillips

Featured Website: AbandonedOK.com

AbandonedOK.com is to abandoned properties what storm chasers are to tornadoes. These guys hunt down boarded up buildings, somehow get inside and put together videos in a way that is distinctly "AbandonedOK," a little jerky now and then for effect with unusual music playing as they take you into rooms, stairways, anywhere they can poke their cameras into. The one above is of the old Christian Science Church at the northwest corner of NW 11th & Robinson where (as I understand it) Perle Mesta attended when she was in town. About it, they write, Located in Oklahoma City’s “church row,” the Center for Design Arts began it’s life as the First Church of Christ Scientists. It was constructed in phases between 1914 and 1918.It has been abandoned for close to two decades. The building itself is constructed in a Classical Revival design featuring four greek columns facing Robinson, with anthemions on each corner of the facade. The lobby is 1,000 square feet and features all original mahogany paneling and wood work. The flooring is laid in mosaic tiling in a cris-crossed design featuring a Greek key design, also known as a swastika, which before Nazi Germany utilized it was a symbol of luck and good fortune not only to Greco romans but also to native Americans. Reached my a marble staircase, the main sanctuary is 5,000 square feet. It contains balconies, large windows that look over the downtown skyline. The central feature is an incredible stained glass dome. Below the sanctuary is a 4,000 square foot gathering space with a small raised area. Following the Murrah bombing in 1995 most of the buildings in the immediate area were damaged, but were repaired. This building however was not. It suffered the loss of most of its original stained glass windows. The upper balconies of the sanctuary were removed due to structural issues. Several attempts have been made to renovate the building by groups of local architects to no avail. The funds could never be fully raised and finally it was sold to a group from California with the hope to renovate the structure. Now it is for sale again. Who knows what will happen to this building of faded grandeur. Due to local covenants it cannot be razed for the next 35 years.