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Mid-Continent Tower

Oklahoma · United States

9 story sections

Learn about the fascinating history of Tulsa's first skyscraper built by a colorful oil baron forgotten by history.

History & cultureBY TELLBY

Contents

9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines
  1. 1Mid-Continent Tower

    Welcome to Tulsa, Oklahoma, a city that proudly once wore the crown as the undisputed oil capital of the entire world. The wealth that surged from beneath the earth in the early twentieth century did not merely fill bank…

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  2. 2The Exterior Vantage Point — Beholding the Unified Facade

    Position yourself across Boston Avenue, ensuring you have a clear, unobstructed view of the Mid-Continent Tower in its entirety. Look up at the soaring thirty-six stories stretching into the Oklahoma sky. …

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  3. 3The Historic Foundations — Tracing the Josh Cosden Era

    Now, let us cross the avenue and stand directly at the base of the tower, focusing our attention on the lowest section of the structure. Imagine drawing a boundary around the bottom sixteen floors. …

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  4. 4The 1978 Expansion — The Reading and Bates Vision

    Let us walk slightly down the block, moving along the perimeter of the building to observe the spatial relationship between the tower and its immediate urban surroundings. We are now advancing our historical narrative forward by…

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  5. 5The Engineering Marvel — The Cantilever System

    Please step back slightly from the base, craning your neck to look up toward the middle section of the tower, approximately where the sixteenth floor meets the seventeenth floor. We have arrived at the crux of the Mid-Continent…

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  6. 6The Grand Entrance — Stepping into the Art Deco Lobby

    Let us now move from the awe-inspiring exterior into the heart of the building. Walk through the main entrance doors and allow your eyes a moment to adjust from the bright Oklahoma sunlight to the warm, glowing interior. …

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  7. 7The Subterranean Context — Reflections on the Tulsa Tunnels

    While we are gathered here on the ground floor, near the access points to the lower levels, we must expand our narrative to include a fascinating and often overlooked dimension of downtown Tulsa. As magnificent as the buildings…

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  8. 8The Skyline Legacy — Looking Up at the Thirty-Six Stories

    Let us exit the lobby and step back outside, moving slightly south along Boston Avenue to gain a final, comprehensive perspective of the Mid-Continent Tower in its broader urban context. Tilt your head back and let your gaze…

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  9. 9Closing

    We have reached the conclusion of our scholarly exploration of the Mid-Continent Tower. This journey through time, engineering, and architectural theory has illuminated one of the most remarkable structures in the American…

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What is Mid-Continent Tower?

Mid-Continent Tower is a place in Oklahoma · United States with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.

Key facts
LocationOklahoma · United States
TypeHeritage
Story sections9
Text languageEnglish
Coordinates36.1528, -95.9890
Last updated

Nearby places

within a 5-minute walk
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