Mayo Building (Tulsa, Oklahoma) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mayo Building
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | 420 S. Main St., Tulsa, Oklahoma |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | McDonald, Charles A. & G. Winkler; Koberling, Joseph and Brandborg, Lennart |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 08001152 |
| Added to NRHP | December 4, 2008 |
The Mayo Building stands tall at the corner of West Fifth Street and South Main Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was first built in 1910 with five stories. This important building grew over time, adding more sections and floors.
It was officially recognized as a historic place in 2008. This means it's a special building that helps tell the story of Tulsa's past. Many people consider it one of Tulsa's very first big office buildings for businesses. It's also known as the oldest building still standing that was used by the oil industry.
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The Mayo Building: A Tulsa Landmark
The Mayo Building has a long and interesting history. It was named after the Mayo Brothers, who started a successful furniture business in 1904. They needed more and more space as their business grew.
In 1909, they began building their own large building at 420 South Main. They used half of the space for their furniture store. The other half was rented out as offices, especially to the many oil companies that were starting up in Tulsa.
How the Mayo Building Grew
The demand for office space in Tulsa was huge! Because of this, the Mayo Brothers built another five-story building right next to the first one in 1914. This new section was at 418 South Main and looked exactly like the first part.
Just three years later, in 1917, they added five more stories to both parts of the building. This made them one large, impressive building. The money earned from the Mayo Building helped the Mayo Brothers build even more famous places in Tulsa. These included the Petroleum Building in 1921, the Mayo Hotel in 1925, and the Mayo Motor Inn in 1950.
A Difficult Day: The 1917 Fire
On October 24, 1917, a fire broke out at the Mayo Building. It was a very serious fire. Two brave firefighters from the Tulsa Fire Department, Ross Shepard and Ben Hanes, were injured while trying to put out the flames. Sadly, they lost their lives that day. They were the first firefighters in Tulsa to die while on duty in a building fire.
What is the Mayo Building Today?
Today, the Mayo Building has a new purpose. It has been changed into modern loft apartments where people live. It is also part of the Oil Capital Historic District. This district helps protect and celebrate the historic buildings that were important to Tulsa's oil industry.
