National Register Record for HOLY CITY OF THE WICHITAS HISTORIC DISTRICT

Historic Name: HOLY CITY OF THE WICHITAS HISTORIC DISTRICT
Current Name: SAME
Address: 262 HOLY CITY ROAD
City: MEDICINE PARK VICINITY (WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE)            County: COMANCHE
Section: None           Township: None           Range: None          
Description of significance: THE HOLY CITY OF THE WICHITAS HISTORIC DISTRICT IS ELIGIBLE FOR LISTING ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES UNDER CRITERION A FOR ITS ASSOCIATION WITH THE WORK RELIEF AND PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS OF THE NEW DEAL AND ITS IMPORTANCE AS A PUBLIC RECREATIONAL AREA. THE DISTRICT IS ALSO ELIGIBLE UNDER CRITERION C AS AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RUSTIC ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN AS APPLIED TO A FEDERAL WILDLIFE REFUGE IN COMANCHE COUNTY, OKLAHOMA. THE HOLY CITY HAS BEEN IN CONTINUOUS USE IN ITS PRESENT WICHITA MOUNTAINS WILDLIFE REFUGE SITE SINCE THE FIRST PHASE OF WPA CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED IN 1935. CRITERIA CONSIDERATION A IS ALSO APPLICABLE AS IT IS A SITE USED FOR A RELIGIOUS EVENT. THE HOLY CITY OF THE WICHITAS HISTORIC DISTRICT IS SIGNIFICANT ON A STATE LEVEL DUE TO THE GREAT IMPACT THAT NEW DEAL PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS HAD IN OKLAHOMA, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HOLY CITY AS A STATE-WIDE ATTRACTION WITHIN A PUBLIC RECREATION AREA, AND ITS INDIVIDUALISTIC EXPRESSION OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RUSTIC ARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE DESIGN. THE PERIOD OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE HOLY CITY OF THE WICHITAS HISTORIC DISTRICT SPAN THE YEARS OF ITS CONSTRUCTION, FROM 1934 TO 1936. IT WAS LISTED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 21 NOVEMBER 2019.

Type: DISTRICT
Historic Function: RELIGION: CEREMONIAL SITE; RECREATION: OUTDOOR RECREATION
Current Function: RELIGION: CEREMONIAL SITE; RECREATION: OUTDOOR RECREATION
Area of Significance 1: POLITICS/GOVERNMENT; RELIGION
Area of Significance 2: ARCHITECTURE
Architectural Style: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RUSTIC
Architect: DESIGNER: MYRON GROSECLOSE, DESIGNER: REV. A. MARK WALLOCK; BUILDER: WPA (WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION)
Year Built: 1934-1936            Original Site: YES
Condition: EXCELLENT
Restricted: None
Documentation Source: None
Date Prepared: AUGUST 2018