Photograph of Old Central — Photograph by DBinfo at en.wikipedia, Public domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Old Central, Oklahoma State University

Built in 1893. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

From the record

“Old Central, historically known as the College Building, is the oldest building on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Originally built in 1894, it was the first permanent building on the Oklahoma A&M campus.”
Wikipedia article Old Central, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 33 National Register listings published here for Payne County · listed in 1971 · category: Building · built in 1893.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
Address. Oklahoma State University campus, Stillwater, 74077
When was it listed? July 1971
Category. building
Census division. Stillwater
When was it built? 1893
National Register reference number. 71000672 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

1 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 1 fire within 5 miles of Old Central, Oklahoma State University in 2006, burning about 250 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined	1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
5 January 2006	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	250 acres	Oklahoma Division of Forestry	STILLWATER 1

Every fire recorded in Payne County

Mines and quarries near this property

2 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Old Central, Oklahoma State University: 2 occurrences. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Copper. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where	Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
	Stillwater East-3	Copper	Occurrence	1975
	Stillwater East-4	Copper	Occurrence	1972

Every working recorded in Payne County

Storms near this property

60 of 215 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Stillwater, the town this property stands in, in 215 storm reports between 1993 and 2026: 101 hail, 88 thunderstorm wind, 12 flash flood, 5 tornado. The reports record 1 death and 4 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
May 1999	Tornado (F2)	Stillwater	1 killed, 3 hurt, $100,000	Tornado B20 (Payne County portion). On January 10,2001 tornadoes B20 and B21 were combined and will be identified as B20. Tornado B21 no longer exists. See summary at end of May 3rd storm reports for more information.
September 1998	Lightning	Stillwater	1 hurt	no account filed
June 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$75,000	Wind gusts caused minor damage to several dorms and the stadium at Oklahoma State University. An 18 by 24 foot roof structure that covers the boiler and water reservoir at a Best Western was also heavily damaged. Widespread tree damage was reported around town.
June 2007	Flash Flood	Stillwater	$50,000	Twenty-five to thirty roads were barricaded or closed. A few residences had to be evacuated by boat. Cars were stalled/flooded due to high water on a US-177 feeder road on the north side of town. Widespread street flooding was reported throughout Stillwater. The golf course was also reported under water. Monetary damages were estimated.
April 1994	Hail	Stillwater	$50,000	no account filed
July 1994	Hail	Stillwater	$50,000	no account filed
July 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$50,000	no account filed
January 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$25,000	Thunderstorm winds damaged the roof of a building on the campus of Oklahoma State University. The event location is approximate.
June 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$25,000	no account filed
April 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$15,000	A pole barn under construction, near the intersection of 6th Street and Country Club, was lifted and thrown over 8 city blocks.
June 2001	Flood	Stillwater	$15,000	Cars stalled in high water.
May 2019	Tornado (EF0)	Stillwater	$10,000	An outbuilding and detached garage were significantly damaged by a brief QLCS tornado.
September 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$10,000	Several tree limbs and whole trees blew down, with some of the limbs going through roofs.
June 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$10,000	Minor skylight damage at Walmart from wind gusts. Tree also blown down near this location. Time estimated.
August 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$10,000	Several 10-15 inch diameter tree limbs were downed, some of them falling on top of power lines. At least 6,200 people were without power for around an hour. Monetary damages were estimated.
July 2007	Flash Flood	Stillwater	$10,000	Major street flooding was reported by the emergency manager. Several vehicles stalled in the rapidly rising water. Monetary damages were estimated.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$10,000	A portion of the roof of a house on East 11th Avenue was removed exposing 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, and a stairwell.
March 1997	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$10,000	An unoccupied mobile home was overturned on HWY 177 north of Stillwater.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$8,000	A tree fell on a house and car near the Stillwater high school. Monetary damages were estimated.
August 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$7,000	A billboard and power pole were blown to the ground. Monetary damages were estimated.
August 2023	Flash Flood	Stillwater	$5,000	Report of flooded roadways in northern portions of the community of Stillwater. Vehicles reported stranded with water up to their bumpers. Time is estimated.
August 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$5,000	Tree limb down on a car. Time estimated from radar.
August 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$5,000	Tree down on a power line. Time estimated from radar.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$5,000	Significant tree damage occurred in Stillwater. Media relayed a viewer report via Twitter of a substantial tree down on fence. Time estimated via radar.
April 2008	Flash Flood	Stillwater	$5,000	Numerous streets in Stillwater were closed due to high water. Other roads around the county were also closed due to high water running over top of them. No damages were reported.
April 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$5,000	A small building used at the entrance of Tumbleweed Dance Hall and Concert Arena to check IDs, etc. was blown over into a chain-link fence.
August 2002	Lightning	Stillwater	$5,000	Lightning struck a transmission line, causing a power outage.
April 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$5,000	no account filed
October 1998	Tornado (F0)	Stillwater	$5,000	no account filed
May 2000	Lightning	Stillwater	$4,000	no account filed
July 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$3,000	A piece of the roof at Cowboy book was blown onto a vehicle. Monetary damages were estimated.
March 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$3,000	A roof was blown off a home, and billboard signs were downed on the west side of Stillwater. In addition, outbuildings were destroyed, and power lines were downed near the intersection of Highway 51 and Cottonwood Blvd.
August 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$2,000	Large trees were snapped by wind.
August 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$2,000	A tree was blown over and several large tree limbs were snapped on the campus of Oklahoma State University. Monetary damages were estimated.
August 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$2,000	Trees and power poles were downed at Stillwater Municipal Airport.
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$2,000	Numerous trees were uprooted.
August 1996	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$2,000	no account filed
September 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$1,000	Large tree limbs were blown down, including a 4-inch tree limb blown down onto a patio roof.
August 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$1,000	Power poles were downed.
July 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$500	Two oak trees and one maple tree were downed.
March 1999	Lightning	Stillwater	$500	Lightning struck near a substation knocking out power to portions of southwest Stillwater.
November 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$500	no account filed
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$250	Tree limbs, up to 12 inches in diameter, were downed.
August 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$150	Three to four inch diameter tree limbs were downed on the west side of town.
August 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	$100	Five inch diameter tree limbs were snapped.
April 2026	Hail	Stillwater	-	Reported by a broadcast media storm chaser. The location is approximate.
January 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	-	A tree was blown down on Husband Street, just north of Stillwater High School. The event location is approximate, and the time is estimated from radar observations.
April 2025	Hail	Stillwater	-	The report was relayed through mPING.
May 2025	Hail	Stillwater	-	Hailfall occurred near the intersection of 19th Street and Western Road.
May 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	-	Social media image showing a tree blown down. Time is radar estimated.
May 2023	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	-	Numerous 2+ inch diameter tree limbs blown down across portions of the Oklahoma State University campus.
May 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	-	Large tree blown over. Twitter report with a picture.
June 2019	Flash Flood	Stillwater	-	Water moving across the road.
May 2019	Hail	Stillwater	-	Reported through Mping.
May 2019	Flood	Stillwater	-	Road closed south of 32nd at Stillwater Creek. Also several home and vehicle rescues within town.
August 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	-	Social media video showed 6-8 inch diameter tree limb snapped from tree. Time estimated from radar.
August 2018	Thunderstorm Wind	Stillwater	-	Six to eight inch limb downed. Time estimated from radar.
August 2018	Flood	Stillwater	-	Multiple streets and intersections with flooding in Stillwater.
August 2018	Flash Flood	Stillwater	-	Car swept off road by floodwater. 1 to 2 feet of water on roadway.
October 2017	Flash Flood	Stillwater	-	Street flooding reported with stalled vehicles.

Every storm recorded in Payne County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Campus Fire Station	under 500 feet	2004
James E. Berry House	0.4 miles	1980
Murphy House	0.4 miles	1986
Payne County Courthouse	0.5 miles	1984
Pruett House	0.5 miles	2016
Hoke Building	0.6 miles	1983

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 71000672 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Payne County	All 33 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.