Carl Albert Federal Building facts for kids
The Carl Albert Federal Building is a historic and important building located in McAlester, Oklahoma. It was built in 1914. In 1985, the building was renamed to honor Carl Albert, who was a very important person from McAlester. He served as the Speaker of the House for the U.S. government. This building used to be a courthouse for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 because of its historical value.
Why This Building Is Important
The city of McAlester started in 1870. It was named after an early settler, James McAlester. He opened a small store where two busy trails met. When the railroad came through, the town grew quickly. As more people moved to McAlester, there was a need for a main post office.
This building was finished in 1914. It served as the main Post Office for the area for many years. It was used as a post office until the late 1960s. That's when the Postal Service moved to a new location.
On November 27, 1985, the building was officially named the "Carl Albert Federal Building and Courthouse." This was to honor Carl Albert. He was the 46th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a very powerful leader in the government. In 2013, the federal government stopped using the building for court activities. Then, in 2016, the building was given to the city of McAlester.
What the Building Looks Like
The Carl Albert Federal Building is built in a style called Neo-Classical Revival. This means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. It has three stories and is made of brick. The bottom part of the building looks strong and solid.
There are special stone bands that separate the floors. The first floor has arched windows. These windows have decorative stones above them. The upper floors have columns and a triangular shape at the top. This mix of styles was very popular for government buildings in the early 1900s.
The main entrance is on the south side of the building. It has a grand look. There are five large arched openings. Inside these arches, there are columns that look like the Doric style from ancient Greece. On the second floor, there are four tall columns. These columns are in the Corinthian style, which is more fancy. They support a decorative top part.
From the second floor, there are five French doors. These doors open onto a balcony area. The doors have fancy stone frames around them. Above each door, there is a round, green marble decoration.
The windows in the building have been replaced over time. They are now aluminum windows. The main entry doors have also been replaced. They are now aluminum doors. There are also steps made of granite leading to the entrances. You can still see some original old light fixtures outside the building.
The back of the building, on the north side, used to be where mail trucks would load and unload. This area has been changed and is now enclosed with bricks. Inside the building, some parts are still very original. The courtroom on the second floor still has its cork tile floors. The main hallways on the second and third floors also look much like they did originally.
