Discover 6 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in McAlester (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: SOFA Art Gallery, Aldridge Hotel, and First Presbyterian Church. Also, be sure to include McAlester Scottish Rite Temple in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in McAlester (Oklahoma).
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SOFA Art Gallery
Art gallery, Shopping, Museum
Address: 30 E Choctaw Ave, 74501-5081 McAlester
Aldridge Hotel
Hotel in McAlester, Oklahoma. The Aldridge Hotel, an 11-story hotel on U.S. 270 in McAlester, Oklahoma completed in 1930. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and is today used as senior citizen housing.
It is an 11-story brick-veneered concrete building built during 1929–30, designed in a "generally Sullivanesque" style by architect Guy C. Reid. According to its NRHP nomination, "It is an excellent example of the large commercial hotel designed to play a prominent role in the economic and social life of southeastern Oklahoma."[1]
First Presbyterian Church
Church building in McAlester, Oklahoma. First Presbyterian Church is a historic church building at 101 E. Washington Avenue in McAlester, Oklahoma. It was built in 1895 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
It is a one-story 66 by 51 feet (20 m × 16 m), cream-colored, shingle-style Presbyterian church.[2]
McAlester Scottish Rite Temple
Museum in McAlester, Oklahoma. The McAlester Scottish Rite Temple, also known as Masonic Temple or the McAlestor Consistory, is a building in McAlester, Oklahoma that was built in 1907 and 1928–1930. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
It is the oldest Masonic building in Oklahoma.
The 1928–1930 construction yielded an "impressive" brick and stone building. It was built around a consistory that dated back to 1907.[3]
International Temple
Fraternal organization in McAlester, Oklahoma. The International Temple, Supreme Assembly, Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a building in McAlester, Oklahoma, United States that serves as the headquarters for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 2013.
The Order of the Rainbow for Girls was founded in McAlester on April 6, 1922 by Rev. W. Mark Sexson. From the initial installation class of 86 girls, the Order grew to 50,000 members in 1940. In 1941, the Order began plans for a larger office building that would serve as a memorial to those who had made the Order possible, and a shrine for members worldwide. The building was designed by the Tulsa firm Black and West, and the funds for the building were approved at the 1950 Supreme Assembly session. The contract for the construction was granted to the Dewey Loveall Construction Company in August 1950, and the cornerstone was Masonically laid on May 2, 1951.
The building was first opened to the public on November 18, 1951.[4]
Carl Albert Federal Building
Courthouse. The Carl Albert Federal Building is a historic courthouse located in McAlester, Oklahoma. Built in 1914, the facility was renamed in 1985 in honor of former Speaker of the House Carl Albert, a native of the town. It previously served the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.[5]