Hey, Friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to show you the historic Braniff Building in Oklahoma City. Let’s get started!
Who was Thomas E. Braniff?
Thomas E. Braniff was a prominent Oklahoma City businessman. He was born in Salina, Kansas in 1883, and his family moved to Oklahoma City in 1901.
In 1902, he began working in the insurance business. He was patient and persistent learning the market which would pay off. In 1917, he opened a loan company to compliment his insurance business. Soon his loan business was dealing millions of dollars of loans across Oklahoma City. He became one of the city’s lead financiers.
By 1922, Braniff was looking for a place to house all of his businesses under one roof. He hired Layton, Hicks, and Forsythe Architectural Firm because he wanted Andrew Solomon Layton to design the building.
In addition to his other businesses, Braniff also was involved in aviation. He heavily invested in aviation in Oklahoma City after his new building was completed. Let’s talk about that building!
History of the Braniff Building
The Braniff Building was designed by famed architect Andrew Solomon Layton. It is a ten-story building made of limestone and buff-brick and was completed in November 1923. It was designed in the neoclassical architecture style. The limestone ornamentation is not common in modern construction.
Thomas E. Braniff commissioned the building for a few of his businesses: Leonard & Braniff, T.E. Braniff Company, and real estate lenders.
Excavation of the site began in July 1922. Several smaller structures had to be removed at Third and Robinson for construction of the new ten-story building.
The following companies provided materials for the construction of the Braniff Building as noted in the newspaper clipping below the list:
- J.B. Klein Iron & Foundry Co.
- Tri-States Brick and Material Co.
- Chamberlin Metal Weather Strip Co.
- Hugh L. Turner Sheet Metal Co.
- McGraw, Baughman, Nearly Lumber Company
- Making Lumber Co.
- Bissell Builders Supply Co.
- Wetherbee Electric Co.
- The Oklahoma Sash and Door Company
- Arnold & Wetherbee, Inc.
- Layton, Smith and Forsyth
When the Braniff Building opened in November 1923, the following tenants occupied the building according the newspaper clipping below the list:
- T.E. Braniff
- Layton, Smith and Forsyth
- Petroleum Geologists Oil Investments
- Oklahoma Mutual Indemnity Corporation
- Edmund DeSzaak Fine Art School
- Oil Investments – Willis J. Sautbine & L.J. Milburn
- The Liberty National Bank
- Real Silk Service Office
- The Farmers and Bankers Life Insurance Company
- Stuart F. Brady & Joe Bailey Allen – Attorneys at Law
- Bill’s Cigar Stand
- Anakin Lock & Alarm Company
- M.S. Runyan – Special Agents
- National Bond and Investment Co.
- Spears-Blankenship & Co.
- Paul C. Craig – State Distributor
- Lloyd J. Mullen – Independent Insurance Adjuster
- Chamberlin Metal Weather Strip Company
- Everest Porter Mortgage Company
- Tri-States Brick and Materials Company
In 1980, the Braniff Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It then sat vacant for thirty years before being purchased by SandRidge Energy.
SandRidge Energy bought the building fully restoring the building and the historic facade that faces Robinson Avenue in 2014.
Black Hawk Mineral Services bought the Braniff Building in 2016 for $15.9 million.
Today, the Braniff Building houses some offices and there is a restaurant on the first floor. I’ve been to Kitchen No. 324 once and it is a cute little restaurant. I look forward to seeing how this building continues to evolve over time!
Visit
324 N. Robinson St.
Oklahoma City, OK
Sources
Primary Sources
Newspapers
“Braniff Building Delayed Short Time.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), February 2, 1922.
“Braniff Building Starts Soon.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), March 8, 1922.
“Work To Start In Week On New City Building.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), July 18, 1922.
“New Braniff Building.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), July 19, 1922.
“Work Is Under Way On Braniff Building.” The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), July 27, 1922.
“How Robinson Avenue is Dressing Up.” The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), August 13, 1922.
“City Building Steel Is Here.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), September 26, 1922.
“New Braniff Building.” The Oklahoma News (Oklahoma City, OK), June 30, 1923.
“New Braniff Building.” The Oklahoma News (Oklahoma City, OK), November 3, 1923.
“Leonard & Braniff.” The Oklahoma News (Oklahoma City, OK), February 23, 1924.
“The Latest Addition to Oklahoma City’s Skyline.” Oklahoma Daily Live Stock News (Oklahoma City, OK), February 29, 1924.
“Leonard & Braniff.” The Oklahoma News (Oklahoma City, OK), March 1, 1924.
Steve Lackmeyer. “Oklahoma City’s Braniff Building changes hands for $15.9 million.” The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, OK), January 24, 2016.
Photographs
“Braniff Building.” George Forsyth Collection. 22697.11. Gateway to Oklahoma History. Oklahoma Historical Society.
Secondary Sources
“Braniff Building.” National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form.
“Braniff Building Historical Tour and Dedication.” Crowe Dunlevy. March 20, 2017.
“Braniff Building.” Robinson Park.
The Active Historian 
Leave a comment