Press Release
June 9, 2025
Contact: Michael Mayes
State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-4479
[email protected]
okhistory.org/shpo
Carverdale Historic District and Turkey Springs Battlefield Added to National Register of Historic Places
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are pleased to announce the National Register of Historic Places designation for the following properties in Oklahoma. The National Register of Historic Places is our nation’s official list of properties significant in our past.
Oklahoma County
Carverdale Historic District
Bound by East Park Place, Bellevidere Drive and Windemere Avenue
Platted in 1944 by developer John Burke Martin, the Carverdale Historic District is an exceptional example of residential development in northeast Oklahoma City during segregation and the development of affordable Minimal Traditional-style housing available for returning Black WWII vets using the G.I. Bill beginning in 1944. Carverdale was a significant Black neighborhood during the Civil Rights era. It was ground zero as a hub for the planning of sit-ins across Oklahoma City, with many of its residents participating in the protests. The Carverdale Historic District represents the development of Oklahoma City’s Black community and growth by converting their homes into places of business and safe havens during racial strife as a self-contained community within a community.
Woods County
Turkey Springs Battlefield
Vicinity of Freedom
Turkey Springs Battlefield is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its significance in military history. The battlefield is associated with the U.S. Army’s Cheyenne campaign of 1878-1879. It was the first of four engagements pitting the U.S. Cavalry against a band of Northern Cheyenne determined to flee their assigned reservation in Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma) to return to their homelands, which included the Powder River lands of Montana. This odyssey has since been recognized as “The Northern Cheyenne Homecoming Trail.” The Battle of Turkey Springs is the last known armed conflict fought between the U.S. Army and Native Americans in Oklahoma.
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.
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