Bricktown, Oklahoma City facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bricktown
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District
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The Bricktown Canal
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| City | Oklahoma City |
| Website | Bricktown Official Website: http://www.welcometobricktown.com/ |
Bricktown is a super fun area in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States. It's packed with entertainment and is just east of the city center. Long ago, it was a busy place full of warehouses. Today, some of its coolest spots include the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, the Bricktown Canal where you can ride boats, and a huge movie theater.
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What is Bricktown?
Bricktown is a lively entertainment district covering about 50 city blocks. It's located near the Oklahoma River to the south and close to downtown Oklahoma City. This area is looked after by a special committee. Their job is to make sure Bricktown keeps its cool, old-fashioned warehouse look. At the same time, they help new shops, restaurants, and homes grow there.
A Look Back: Bricktown's History
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Bricktown was a busy place for trains. Four different railroad companies used to move goods here. The first brick buildings, usually one or two stories tall, popped up around 1898. Taller buildings were added over the next few years.
During this time, Bricktown was also important for the African American community. Oklahoma City's first black newspaper, the Black Dispatch, was located here. It shared news about the fight to end unfair housing rules. The first local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) also started here. They worked for equal rights for African Americans.
Over time, Bricktown became less busy. After World War II, many people moved to new homes outside the city. Also, trucks started carrying more goods instead of trains. By 1980, many buildings in Bricktown were empty.
How Bricktown Became Fun Again
In the 1990s, the mayor, Ron Norick, had a big idea. He wanted to make downtown Oklahoma City exciting again. He saw that other cities had lively downtowns with lots of things to do. So, he helped create a plan called MAPS.
This plan led to some amazing changes in Bricktown:
- The Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark opened in 1998. It's a great place to watch baseball games.
- The Bricktown Canal opened in 1999. It's a mile-long canal with trees along its banks. You can even ride Water taxis on the canal! These boats take visitors to many restaurants, shops, and fun places.
Art and Fun in Bricktown
Bricktown is full of cool art! You can see many sculptures and murals. One of the most famous is the Centennial Land Run Monument. This huge bronze sculpture shows the Land Rush of 1889. That's when a large area of land was opened for people to settle. This monument is in a city park that's always open, and it's free to visit!
Every year in July, Bricktown also hosts an Art Festival. It's a great chance to see local artists and their work.
Getting Around Bricktown
If you want to travel from Bricktown, you can catch a train! Amtrak's Heartland Flyer train leaves every morning from the old Santa Fe Depot. It can take you all the way to Fort Worth, Texas.
