Arts District in Oklahoma City in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
Hightower Building
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 9, 2025
1. Hightower Building Marker
is listed in the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1929.
Location. 35° 28.085′ N, 97° 31.179′ W. Marker is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in Oklahoma County. It is in the Arts District. It is at the intersection of North Hudson Avenue and West Main Street, on the right when traveling south on North Hudson Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 N Hudson Ave, Oklahoma City OK 73102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma Frontier Country. It is also in the American South, specifically on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Beale Defeats Overholser For Mayor (within shouting distance of this marker); The Oklahoma Territory Organic Act (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 420 W. Main Street (about 300 feet away); The Harbour-Longmire Building (about 300 feet away); Jim Couch (about 300 feet away); The New Framework of Government (about 400 feet away); Prominent Land Cases (about 400 feet away); The Resignation of Mayor William L. Couch (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oklahoma City.
Regarding Hightower Building. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:
Constructed anew in 1929 from an original three-story building that was built in 1920, the ten-story Hightower Building designed by Hawk and Parr was an anchor to the Main Street business district. Hawk and Parr were prominent Oklahoma City architects during the first half of the twentieth century and were responsible for designing many other Oklahoma City downtown buildings as well as commercial and institutional buildings across the state.
On July 6, 1929,the Daily Oklahoman stated in an article, "Hightower Building Offices Soon Ready," that the former Shops Building would be ready to occupy in early March. It also said that the "outside brick work to raise the building from three to ten stories (had) been completed and interior work (was) being rushed." The architect for the building was Hawk and Parr and the contractor for the seven-story 1929 addition was Campbell and Price. The seven-story addition consulting engineer was Hans von Unwerth. The cost was approximately $350,000.Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 10, 20252. Hightower Building MarkerFeatured marker is the bottom one on the right. The larger plaques flanking the entrance simply list the building's name.
The owner of the building was F.P. Johnson, president of the First National Bank and Trust Company of Oklahoma City. Johnson was a very successful and well-known Oklahoma City businessman. After his death in 1944, the building remained in the family. Johnson's only daughter died in 1931 and eventually his grandson, Frank Hightower, inherited the building.
Also see . . . Hightower Building (PDF). National Register nomination for the building, which was listed in 2002. (Prepared by Jo Meacham; via State Historic Preservation Office of Oklahoma) (Submitted on May 30, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Meyers Photo Shop; Oklahoma Historical Society via The Gateway to Oklahoma History (Public Domain), circa 1930/
3. Hightower Building
The original 1920 three-story building is easily discernable from the 1929 seven-story addition built on top of it. In 1954 the Hightower family bought the three-story building next door (seen on the left side of the photograph) and incorporated it into their building.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 195 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 30, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
