Doug Loudenback
“The principal focus of this blog is Oklahoma City history, past, present & future, including the city’s NBA teams, as well as anything else I decide to write about from time to time. – Doug Loudenback
From 2006 to 2014, Doug did just that. As a lawyer turned city historian and author, Doug meticulously researched city history and provided an important resource for those wanting to learn more about our community. Doug, a founding member of Retro Metro OKC, died on September 12, 2021 after an extensive illness. His writings are preserved for future generations.
The Dust Bowl
Even though Oklahoma City skirted the generally defined edge of the Dust Bowl and that the "event" is more an "Oklahoma" than an "Oklahoma City" topic, it would be wrong not to include it as part of Oklahoma City history. Even though its impact more directly hit...
Petroleum & Petroleum Club Buildings
2 Downtown Obscurities Now that the Skirvin is a done deal, what's next downtown? Doug Dawgz crystal balls don't work but this post explores a couple of obscure downtown buildings, one of which is pretty ancient (1926-27), one less so (1957), but both having similar...
Skirvin Hilton Grand Reopening
The events leading to this grand day have already been stated. Skirvin History, Skirvin Preview, and The Day Before. But, Monday, February 26, 2007, at Noon, is the day and time itself that downtown became itself, again! This post is largely eye candy and lots of it!...
Skirvin Hilton – The Day Before
By the time I finished working on this Skirvin "update", I decided that it needed a new post, all by itself. This is written on Sunday, February 25, the day before the Skirvin reopens its doors to the world. For related posts, see Grand Reopening, Skirvin History and...
Skirvin Hilton Preview
Related Files: Skirvin History, Skirvin Hilton: The Day Before, and Grand Reopening. Edited Note on 2/23/2007: I got a really nice 2nd pre-opening visit today (Friday), courtesy again of Dan Mahoney, 3 days before the Monday Grand Opening! Click here to go to the new...
Downtown Around Statehood
Note: For a printer-friendly version of this post, click here. My Flash file, Oklahoma Rising, gives a quick image of what Downtown Oklahoma City is like today. But, what was downtown like 100 years ago, plus or minus a few years before and after statehood? This post...