The Oklahoma Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are pleased to announce the designation of Henryetta’s First Presbyterian Church to the National Register of Historic Places, the nation’s official list of properties significant in our past.

The First Presbyterian Church of Henryetta, located at 412 W. Division Street, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its Gothic Revival architecture as an excellent example of a small early 20th-century church designed with an auditorium plan. Originally built in 1916 and designed by Oklahoma City architect J.O. Parr, the auditorium plan was popular among Protestant denominations for its organization of pews designed to improve acoustics and sight lines for the congregants. Auditorium plans were a distinctive break from the centuries of church design based largely on basilica plans, in which congregants were often seated at great distances from priests and unable to hear mass.

Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is an honorific designation that provides recognition, limited protection and, in some cases, financial incentives for these important properties. The SHPO identifies, evaluates and nominates properties for this special designation.

The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve, and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites, and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.