1940s Oklahoma City Skyline Ramsey Tower Vintage Postcard

Historical Context & Overview

During the early 1930s, amidst the economic uncertainty of the Great Depression, Oklahoma City experienced an extraordinary architectural revolution fueled by the discovery of the massive Oklahoma City Oil Field. As petroleum capital poured into the region, ambitious developers transformed the prairie skyline into a sprawling monument to Art Deco and modern steel skyscraper design. This vivid 1940s vintage linen postcard captures three of the city’s most celebrated downtown landmarks during their mid-century prime: the Petroleum Building, the soaring Ramsey Tower, and the towering First National Bank Building.

The Great Oklahoma City Skyscraper Race

The skyline featured on this print represents a famous rivalry between local oil tycoons and financial institutions. In 1930, construction began almost simultaneously on the Ramsey Tower and the First National Bank Building, sparking a high-stakes race to claim the title of the state's tallest building. Designed by architect Walter W. Ahlschlager, the Ramsey Tower rose 33 stories high at 384 feet, featuring dramatic setback styling typical of the late Art Deco era. It held the title of Oklahoma City's tallest structure briefly before being tied and ultimately complemented by its neighboring high-rises.

Flanking the Ramsey Tower in this illustration is the Petroleum Building—anchored by an iconic miniature oil derrick mounted atop its roof—and the magnificent First National Bank Building with its distinctive light-colored stone and spire. Together, these high-rise hubs housed the headquarters of independent oil wildcatters, corporate geologists, legal firms, and banking executives who directed the Southwest’s burgeoning petroleum industry.

Curt Teich Art-Colortone Craftsmanship

Produced by the premier postcard publisher Curt Teich & Company of Chicago and distributed locally by the Mid-Continent News Company, this postcard is a prime example of the "C.T. Art-Colortone" linen process. Based on the publisher's internal production code printed in the lower right corner (2A-H1017), this specific postcard design was manufactured in 1942.

Linen postcards were celebrated for their rich, textured rag-content paper surface and high-saturation lithographic inks. The vivid crimson, warm terracottas, and striking pastel blues brought the steel-and-stone landscape to life, offering travelers and residents an ideal souvenir of Oklahoma City's rapid modernization. Because this example remains unposted, the vivid coloring and sharp details remain exceptionally preserved for collectors of urban architectural history and Oklahoma state heritage.