How Oklahoma City Became the State Capital

Today, it's hard to imagine Oklahoma's capital being anywhere other than Oklahoma City. But for the first few years after statehood, the capital was actually located in Guthrie. 

When Oklahoma became the 46th state in 1907, Guthrie inherited its role as the territorial capital. The arrangement was supposed to last until Oklahomans selected a permanent capital through a future vote. Instead, the decision came much sooner. 

On June 11, 1910, voters across the state chose Oklahoma City as Oklahoma's new capital. The move reflected the city's rapid growth following the Land Run of 1889 and its emergence as the state's largest population center. 

The transition quickly became part of Oklahoma lore. A popular legend claims Gov. Charles Haskell secretly traveled to Guthrie under the cover of darkness and stole the state seal before bringing it to Oklahoma City. While the real story is less dramatic, the seal was officially transferred by order of the governor, and state government temporarily operated from Oklahoma City's Huckins Hotel until the Capitol building was completed in 1917. 

More than a century later, that decision continues to shape Oklahoma's future. From its beginnings as a town founded in a single day during the Land Run to becoming the political and economic center of the state, Oklahoma City's rise reflects the ambition and determination that still define the city today.