National Register Record for WEWOKA SWITCH AND SIDE TRACKS

Historic Name: WEWOKA SWITCH AND SIDE TRACKS
Current Name: SAME
Address: OKLAHOMA STATE HIGHWAY 56
City: WEWOKA            County: SEMINOLE
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THE WEWOKA SWITCH AND SIDE TRACKS ARE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE: (1) DURING THE PRE-STATEHOOD RAILROAD ERA IN INDIAN TERRITORY, IT WAS THE ONLY SIDE TRACK BETWEEN OKLAHOMA CITY AND LITTLE ROCK; (2) FOLLOWING STATEHOOD AFTER THE OTHER SIDE TRACKS WERE CONSTRUCTED IN SHAWNEE, MCALESTER, AND FORT SMITH, IT WAS THE LONGEST SYSTEM OF SIDE TRACKS BETWEEN OKLAHOMA CITY AND LITTLE ROCK; AND (3) IT PROMPTED THE FOLKLORE TERMS, "CAUGHT IN THE WEWOKA SWITCH" AND "LOST IN THE WEWOKA SWITCH", WHICH BECAME POPULAR IN THE EARLY 1900S AND 1920S, RESPECTIVELY. LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER 09/26/1985.

Type: OBJECT
Historic Function: TRANSPORTATION: RAIL RELATED
Current Function: TRANSPORTATION: RAIL RELATED
Area of Significance 1: TRANSPORTATION: RAIL RELATED
Area of Significance 2: None
Architectural Style: None
Architect: CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND, AND PACIFIC RAILROAD
Year Built: 1902-1930            Original Site: YES
Condition: FAIR
Restricted: None
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: 1985