Central High School - Oklahoma City, OK - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Central High School, originally known as Oklahoma High School, is located in the 700 block of N. Robinson, north of the downtown area. It was designed by the architectural firm of Solomon Layton, well known designer of the State Capitol building and other buildings of this era.

This is a four-story stone building in the Gothic style. At the center of each of the three sides facing a street is a tower with embattlements and notched parapets. The towers facing 7th and 8th streets are flat, but the tower facing Robinson to the east is a full four-cornered tower, with the look of a castle.

Each side of the building is divided into five ranks, with the center rank for the entry. On each floor of each rank the windows are set is groups of five six-over-six double hung windows. The entrances are surrounded by heavy stone arches with two sets of seven-step stairways. At the north and south entrances, two metal lights mounted on the surround flank the opening. At the main entrance on the east, two free standing lights flank the stairway.

The class of 1910 who worked hard to encourage the building of this high school wanted to hold their graduation exercises in the new building. The School Board cooperated, ordering the building contractor to complete the auditorium first, so the class could graduate in May of 1910. In September, classes began while the building continued to be completed. It was finished in the Spring of 1911.

A plaque mounted at the east entrance reads: "Central High School / Erected in 1910 as Oklahoma High School, at that time the city's only high school, this Gothic style building was a source of great civic pride. Many future leaders were educated here." The plaque was placed by Oklahoma City Historic Preservation Commission in 1973.

In 1926, as other high schools were built in the ever-growing Oklahoma City area, Oklahoma High School became Central High School. In 1968, it became a Middle School, and in 1976, Central Innovative High School, a specially organized school for 222 students who were chosen through a lottery.

In 1981, the building was purchased by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and housed their regional offices. Then, in 2005, the building was bought by Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Company. It is currently vacant and for sale. Originally built at a cost of $300,000, it is on the market for $12 million.

Street address: 815 N. Robinson Oklahoma City, OK US 73102 County / Borough / Parish: Oklahoma County Year listed: 1976 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1900-1924 Historic function: Education Current function: Vacant, Not in Use Privately owned?: yes Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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