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All the United States Oklahoma Cache Holy City of the Wichitas

Holy City of the Wichitas

This little slice of old Jerusalem in Oklahoma is the evolution of a century-old passion play.

Cache, Oklahoma

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lisah
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Holy City of the Wichitas   Barbara Ann Spengler on Flickr
Holy City of the Wichitas   Larry Smith on Flickr
Holy City of the Wichitas   Brian Wright on Flickr
  Scott Terrell / Atlas Obscura User
  Scott Terrell / Atlas Obscura User
  Scott Terrell / Atlas Obscura User
  Scott Terrell / Atlas Obscura User
12-5-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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12-5-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
12-5-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
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  Scott Terrell / Atlas Obscura User
12-5-20   Darrell Powers / Atlas Obscura User
  Scott Terrell / Atlas Obscura User
Fortunately the Holy City was spared from the Wichita fires which destroyed much here. This is a public Facebook post from the organization from 25 Oct 2024  
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Nestled in the Wichita mountains is what appears to be the stone ruins of an ancient city, but this structure is actually a fairly modern construction known as the Holy City of the Wichitas, where for nearly a century, the story of Jesus Christ has been retold to thousands of onlookers.

The long-running passion play there in the Wichita hills began back in 1926 when one Reverend Anthony Mark Wallock dragged his Sunday school class up into the hills to learn about Jesus. Presenting his class with a tableau of the Resurrection, little could Wallock have known that his presentation would be the start of a yearslong tradition. The year after his first tableau, he opened up his annual presentation to the public, and it was an instant hit.

By 1930, the event was attracting upwards of 6,000 people, and growing larger each year. Originally there was no permanent venue in the hills, but in 1934 the the Works Progress Administration (WPA) began building the sets and buildings that are now known as the Holy City of the Wichitas. The replica holy land includes locations like Pilate's judgment hall, Herod's Court, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Lord's Supper building, and a number of towers and walls. The story that is told each year covers Jesus' life from birth through his resurrection. Every year.

The play continues today bringing thousands of viewers to to the faux-ly land each year on Easter Sunday. The cast has grown from a handful to hundreds, and enthusiasm for the event doesn't seem to be waning. It is best known for its pageant, but the holy land itself can be visited year-round.

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Architectural Oddities Roadside Attractions Architecture

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Located approximately 22 miles NW of Lawton,or 10 miles W of I-44.262 Holy City Rd, Cache, OK 73527

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lisah

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IronQueen, EricGrundhauser, Darrell Powers, Scott Terrell...

  • IronQueen
  • EricGrundhauser
  • Darrell Powers
  • Scott Terrell
  • jugshunt71
  • geauxtarver
  • drwolff

Published

October 15, 2015

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  • http://www.travelok.com/listings/view.profile/id.3595
  • http://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=HO018
Holy City of the Wichitas
262 Holy City Rd
Cache, Oklahoma, 73527
United States
34.74226, -98.59131
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Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

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