1956 Map of Oklahoma City

About this map

The North Canadian River winds through the heart of the state capital, serving as a geographic anchor for a period of rapid mid-century expansion. This survey captures a dense grid of civic and religious institutions, ranging from the Oklahoma City University campus in the north to the St Anthony Hospital and Municipal Auditorium in the downtown core. The landscape is heavily influenced by the presence of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and St Louis San Francisco railroads, which once dictated the industrial and commercial flow of the city. While the core areas are established with landmarks like Fairlawn Cemetery, purple map revisions show the accelerating growth of suburban residential areas and the development of the Southwest Expressway and Stanley Draper Expressway. The map also details numerous neighborhood landmarks, including the State Fairground and a comprehensive network of local schools like Northwest Classen High Sch and Central High Sch.