1101 - Federal Building

Founded in 1901, Lawton was the last of the Oklahoma boom towns fueled by the land openings. From its modest beginnings as a tent city, the town quickly evolved into a trading center for the large surrounding area and nearby army post of Fort Sill. In the first decade or so of the town's official existence, many government buildings were built along the dusty streets, including a city hall, county courthouse, and the Lawton Federal Building, a landmark, then and now, for downtown Lawton’s central business district.

Constructed in 1917, it was originally built as a Post Office and Courthouse and provided space for federal offices, including the region’s United States Indian Agent. Situated on a rusticated stone base, the building has arched windows set into the stacked stone, a nod to the Italian Renaissance style. The upper floors were clad with brick and adorned with columns, paying homage to Greek architecture. The combination of the two elements resulted in a beautiful example of neo-classical architecture. The regal building was said to be, by far, the finest and best-looking structure of which Lawton could boast.

In 1963, the Postal Service was relocated and portions of the building were reconfigured to provide more court-related and Federal offices such as the FBI, US Marshall Service, Probation Office, and the Department of Labor. The Federal Building is still used as a courthouse today. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in March of 2000 and has been a continued symbol of the Federal presence in Lawton since its construction in the early 1900s.