Our Last Trip Into OKC To Cache 5/30/2010

This morning we drove into OKC again for our last day of caching and sightseeing. Our first cache brought us to Stage Center which is a multi-use facility for the arts. Consisting of three cement pods connected by steel tunnels, StageCenter houses two theatres: a 210-seat theatre in the round and a 580-seat thrust stage. It also includes a cabaret room, dance studio, rehearsal studios, art gallery space and offices. Stage Center is the home of Carpenter Square Theatre, Inner City Dance and the Oklahoma Visual Artists Coalition.

Next cache was at the U-Haul Rental headquarters. Next was a virtual cache across from the Bricktown Ballpark where we had to find a sculpture and its name and designer. Next was another virtual at the Air Force Monument where we had to just take a picture. OKC is the home of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center which performs sustainment and depot maintenance on a number of US Air Force weapon systems. Specifically it supports B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 Stratotanker, and E-3 Sentry systems. Additionally, the center is responsible for aircraft engines such as the Pratt & Whitney TF33 and General Electric F118. Furthermore, the center conducts repairs on automatic flight control, engine instruments, air driven accessories, hydraulics/pneudraulics/pneumatics, and oxygen and life support systems. The cente employs more than 16,000 people and covers 62 acres and plays a big part in OKC life.

Next was 4 NRV caches located close to the downtown area one at a kayak dealer, one in a drain pipe, one on a fire hydrant and the other on a fence behind an lawyers office. Then we drove around the downtown area looking at the old buildings in Bricktown, some of the fancy sculptures in front of the office buildings and the Heartland Chapel which was a small outdoor altar in front of a church dedicated to the children lost in the OKC Bombing.

Then we drove down to the OKC Stockyards. Oklahoma City businessmen met with the representative of the Nelson Morris Company of Chicago in May 1909 to propose building a packing house, if a $300,000.00 cash bonus and property concessions could be obtained. Led by Anton Classen and Charles Colcord, an Industrial District Company was formed. A tract of land west and across the river south from the downtown area was obtained and the company began selling lots to raise money, matching the gifts pledged by individuals. A second packing house followed suit and the beginnings of "Packingtown: became a reality. This began one of the most important building booms in Oklahoma City history.
The Oklahoma National Stockyards Company began operating as a public livestock market in October 1910. Morris and Company (now Armour) opened a large meat packing plant adjoining the stockyards at the same time. The following year, Schwartzchild & Sulzberger (now Wilson) opened a similar plant. Together they represented an investment of approximately $3.5 million. The entire operation generated 2,400 new jobs in the city with a population of only 60,000. The stockyards and meat packing plants were Oklahoma City's first major industrial installations and represented the heaviest concentration of labor in the capitol city.
In the first five years of operation, the volume of livestock handling increased by 130%. By 1966 the Oklahoma National Stockyards had become the sixth largest market in the nation on the basis of livestock handling, representing $125 million in annual business. When the number of saleable cattle soared to 919,280 head in 1973, the stockyards took the nation's lead. Today the stockyards remains the world's largest stocker and feeder cattle market.
From the beginning of this growing industry, a supporting community of goods and services was established. The streetcar was extended to this business district and it became known as "Packingtown". A post office was opened along with a bank, hotels, restaurants and a wide variety of businesses related to the cattle trade.
Much of the original business district remains intact, maintaining the rugged western flavor but broadening their marketing approach to serve the needs of the larger community. western wear attracts a wider scope of buyers today and the original home of western gear maintains stores in place where western activities are still a way of life.
The area wasn't quite as nice and historical as it was in Fort Worth but still nice to see.

Our last stop was the Paseo Arts District. The Paseo was developed by Oklahoman G.A. Nichols in 1929 as the first shopping district north of downtown. The curved, two-block street has maintained its Spanish revival architecture with original stucco buildings and clay tile roofs still intact. The Paseo is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The arts have always been a part of the Paseo. The Elm's, a resident art gallery and studio built in 1920, located at 27th and Walker, was the first Oklahoma City artist studio and gallery.
In the 1950s, Paseo was home to small businesses, student partying and jazz clubs. The 1960s brought the counter culture with its creativity, free spirit and problems. The Paseo began its transition into an arts district in the 1970s. The first annual Paseo Arts Festival was held Memorial Day weekend in 1977 and the Paseo Arts Association was formed in 1982 to organize and further energize its place as Oklahoma's arts district. Today a vibrant group of artists with substantial involvement and support from the larger community continues to build The Paseo Arts District into one of the most creative art venues in the country.
The Paseo is now home to 17 galleries and more than 60 artists, all within walking distance. Intermingled with the galleries are fabulous restaurants, a coffee house, clothing boutique, gift shop, yoga studio and other businesses.
We walked up and down the main street and that really was about all to it as it was a little overrated from what we had read about it. Then it was back to the coach to try and keep cool as the temperature was supposed to hit 95 today. Well that's about it for today so until tomorrow we love and miss you all. Mom & Dad Dori & Dick