Educational Tours: Monday, May 3, 2010
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Downtown Shawnee Tour
Enjoy the afternoon in downtown Shawnee! Your tour will begin at the legendary Aldridge Hotel. With its Chicago-style architecture and tales of famous guests, everyone will fall in love with this landmark which recently underwent a 10 million dollar renovation. Enjoy the beautiful stained glass at Emmanuel Episcopal Church. The large nativity window is a famous sight, measuring 12 feet wide and 26 feet tall. You’ll want to bring to capture the Romanesque Revival style architecture of the Santa Fe Depot & Museum. The 19th-century depot, which houses the county’s historic memorabilia, is one of the most photographed landmarks in Oklahoma. Also on the grounds is Shawnee’s first homestead, the Beard Cabin, which was built following the land run of 1891. Your visit to Shawnee will conclude with a tour of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Cultural Heritage Center, which tells the story of the tribe throughout the years. The Cultural Heritage Center proudly displays every treaty signed between the tribe and government and also features one of the most interactive Veterans’ displays in Oklahoma.
Bus and walking; C01: Downtown Shawnee on the registration form; $25
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Art Deco Delights and the Underground
Experience three rounds of downtown revitalization. Tour the Art Deco delights of the Oklahoma County Courthouse, the Oklahoma City Municipal Building, and the Civic Center Music Hall, all constructed by the Public Works Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. On the way back, explore the 1960s “Concourse” system of tunnels linking major buildings. Finally, you’ll tour the 1993 Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS) downtown revitalization efforts that inspired the Art Deco restorations and the refurbishment of what is now called “The Underground.” You’ll also make a special stop at the Art Deco great banking hall of the First National Center.
Walking; C04: Art Deco on the registration form; $20
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.: The Paseo Artists Colony Tour
Developed in the late 1920s as one of the first “suburban” commercial districts, this two-block, curvilinear stretch of Spanish Revival buildings has many stories to tell. As the 1950s “Lawn Chair Society” of the surrounding neighborhoods took part in the “white flight” in the 1960s, Paseo became known as the “Haight-Ashbury” of Oklahoma City. Though a successful art festival was started in the 1970s, the neighborhood continued to decline. By the 1980s, it had the city’s highest crime and arson rates, a 50 percent vacancy rate, and an 81 percent absentee landlord ownership. Yet, today Paseo has some of the fastest-rising home values in Oklahoma City and a dramatically decreased vacancy rate. The Paseo Arts Festival draws more than 50,000 people in three days…and the diversity of residents and artists is greater than ever.
Bus and walking; C02: Paseo Artists Colony on the registration form; $25
1:00 - 5:00 p.m.: Historic Stockyards City: 100 Years of Western Culture and Heritage
As we celebrate our centennial anniversary, come visit Historic Stockyards City where you’ll be transported back in time and enjoy an Old West experience, coupled with our world-famous Oklahoma hospitality. As the state's very first urban Main Street program, we are excited to show you our thriving and active community. On the tour, you’ll see the world's largest stocker and feeder cattle auction, enjoy the musical talents of the Rodeo Opry, and have time to visit our shops.
Bus and walking; C03: Historic Stockyards on the registration form; $35
1:00 - 5:30 p.m.: Plaza District Urban Main Street Tour
The Plaza District is an early 1920s neighborhood commercial district developed to serve surrounding streetcar suburbs. See how this emerging arts district has capitalized on young, creative entrepreneurs to spur the energetic redevelopment of a district once plagued by urban decay. Tour a number of creative work/live spaces and the landmark Plaza Theatre, as well as hip commercial projects focusing on local art, handmade goods, vintage retail, and creative services. Before touring the Plaza District, you’ll visit Artspace at Untitled, a dilapidated industrial warehouse that has been transformed into a contemporary art center for experimental, conceptual, and installation art in Oklahoma. You’ll also explore the historic Gatewood Neighborhood; the IAO Gallery; and Urban Art, a collective of creative businesses promoting local art and spurring positive redevelopment. For more information please visit the website www.plazadistrict.org.
Bus and walking; C05: Plaza District on the registration form; $25
