The Paseo Arts District, originally referred to as the Spanish Village, was built in 1929 as the first commercial shopping district north of

Downtown Oklahoma City Downtown Oklahoma City is located at the geographic center of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and contains the principal, central business district of the region. The CBD has over 51,000 workers and over of leasable office space to-date. Dow ...

by Oklahoman G.A. Nichols. Early business in the area included a swimming pool called the Paseo Plunge, a dry cleaner, drug store, shoe repair store, and restaurants. The Spanish Village era is said to have ended in the mid-1950s.

Renewal

Paseo has undergone transformations; currently, the Paseo is enjoying a renaissance since the 1980s. Today, a vibrant group of artists and other interested people are transforming this community through creative thinking and arts activities. Located along Paseo Drive at roughly N. Walker Ave and NW 28th Street, the faux Spanish village with its stucco buildings and clay tile roofs is the home to many of

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...

's Artists. It is also home to a number of chic bars, restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, art galleries, and avant-garde businesses.

Events

Since 1975, Paseo hosts the annual Paseo Arts Festival each

Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monday ...

weekend, which showcases original works of visual and performing arts. Other events within the Paseo Arts district include its annual Fairy Ball, as well as the First Friday Gallery Walk. The First Friday Gallery Walk is an event in which Paseo art galleries and restaurants host Art Opening Receptions on the first Friday of every month to display new artist's work and invite people to visit the Paseo district.

Historic church

The district is also home to the oldest church in Oklahoma, Old Trinity of Paseo. The former Anglican church was built in

New Brunswick New Brunswick (french: Nouveau-Brunswick, , locally ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. It is the only province with both English and ...

, Canada in 1842 and was closed in 1990. Oklahoma City photographer Tom Lee purchased the church in 2000 and had it dismantled and moved to Oklahoma City to serve as his studio. Lee sold the church in 2007 to be rented as a venue for weddings and other events.

Recognition

The Paseo district is listed as a neighborhood ‘worthy of preservation’ on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

and in 2010, was named as one of the ’10 Great Neighborhoods for 2010’ by the American Planning Association. Among the galleries in the district is JRB Art at the Elms Gallery, housed in the former home of painter and museum director

Nan Sheets Nannine Jane "Nan" Quick Sheets (December 9, 1885 – September 1976) was an American painter, printmaker, and museum director. It has been said that she, along with Oscar Jacobsen, created the artistic community in central Oklahoma. Biography B ...

References

External links

OKCOnline Paseo Arts District

Paseo Arts District

OKC Special Zoning Districts
Neighborhoods in Oklahoma City Arts districts Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Oklahoma National Register of Historic Places in Oklahoma City {{OklahomaCity-stub