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When Oklahoma became a state on November 16, 1907, Guthrie was designated as the temporary capital. This decision followed the terms set by the Oklahoma Enabling Act, which required that the capital remain in Guthrie until 1913. However, political and economic factors soon led to a movement advocating for the relocation of the capital to a more central and populous location—Oklahoma City.
Guthrie, a thriving city in its own right, was a stronghold for Republican politicians and business interests, while Oklahoma City, growing rapidly due to the railroad and oil industries, was dominated by Democrats. Governor Charles N. Haskell, Oklahoma’s first governor and a Democrat, strongly supported moving the capital to Oklahoma City. The push for relocation gained momentum as Oklahoma City’s economic and political influence grew.
By 1909, Oklahoma City leaders began organizing efforts to move the capital ahead of the original 1913 deadline. They launched an initiative petition, a process allowing citizens to propose laws or constitutional amendments through direct vote. The petition gathered enough signatures to force a statewide vote on the matter. On June 11, 1910, Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly approved the proposal to move the state capital from Guthrie to Oklahoma City, defeating other competing cities such as Shawnee.
The events that followed were dramatic. On the night of June 11, immediately after the election results were confirmed, Governor Haskell, fearing legal challenges or opposition from Guthrie officials, took swift action. Under cover of darkness, he ordered state officials to load government documents, the state seal, and records into a vehicle and transport them to Oklahoma City. By the next morning, the state government was operating out of Oklahoma City, effectively solidifying the move before any legal injunctions could be issued.
Guthrie leaders were outraged and filed lawsuits to overturn the relocation, arguing that the move violated the Enabling Act’s requirement to keep the capital in Guthrie until 1913. The case reached the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in favor of the relocation, affirming the power of the initiative petition process and the will of the voters. This decision permanently established Oklahoma City as the state capital.
Following the relocation, Oklahoma City quickly adapted to its new status as the center of government. In 1914, construction began on a new state capitol building, which was completed in 1917. Unlike many capitol buildings, Oklahoma’s was originally designed to have a dome, but financial constraints at the time prevented its construction. The dome was finally added in 2002, nearly a century later.
The rapid and somewhat controversial move of the state capital remains one of the most fascinating episodes in Oklahoma’s political history. It highlights the growing power of Oklahoma City in the early 20th century and the effectiveness of direct democracy through initiative petitions. Today, Oklahoma City continues to thrive as the state’s economic, political, and cultural hub, a status cemented by the bold actions taken in 1910.