The Surety Building in

Muskogee, Oklahoma Muskogee () is the thirteenth-largest city in Oklahoma and the county seat of Muskogee County. Home to Bacone College, it lies approximately southeast of Tulsa. The population of the city was 36,878 as of the 2020 census, a 6.0 percent decrease ...

is an eight-story skyscraper built for the Southern Surety Company in 1910. It is one of five skyscraper buildings, ranging from five to ten stories tall, built in 1910–1912 and included in the Pre-Depression Muskogee Skyscrapers Thematic Resources study. The others are: * Baltimore Hotel, * Manhattan Building, * Railroad Exchange Building, and * Severs Hotel. It was individually listed 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 v ...

in 1986.

General description

The Surety Building was constructed in 1910 in downtown Muskogee, at the corner of Broadway and Third Street by the Southern Surety Company. The approximate cost was $325,000. It was the first building in Eastern Oklahoma to be considered a skyscraper. It was used as offices by government officials, attorneys, petroleum companies, and land developers. Although the architect is not known, the building's style is classed as

Sullivanesque Louis Henry Sullivan (September 3, 1856 – April 14, 1924) was an American architect, and has been called a "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism". He was an influential architect of the Chicago School, a mentor to Frank Lloy ...

Chicago Style. It is a skeleton-framed rectangular structure with a flat roof. It has the characteristics employed by Louis Sullivan, such as elaborate projecting cornices, ornate two-story base and linteled windows with vertical bands.

Conversion to senior-living apartments

The building was converted into affordable apartments designed for senior living. It contains 18 one-bedroom units and 19 two-bedroom units, which went into service in 2006. Funding for the conversion was provided through the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program."The Surety Apartments." Affordable Housing Online.
Accessed December 28, 2016.

References

External links

{{NRHP in Muskogee County, Oklahoma Skyscrapers in Muskogee, Oklahoma Residential skyscrapers in Oklahoma Buildings and structures completed in 1910 Chicago school architecture in Oklahoma