Entry No. 23 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: outdoor
Architectural DNA
“twisting like a double helix with no floor to land on and no building to climb”
A rusted spiral fire escape, salvaged from the demolished Marion Hotel, hangs suspended in midair between two Midtown buildings, twisting like a double helix with no floor to land on and no building to climb. Installed by Fitzsimmons Architects in 2014, it's a surreal piece of accidental-feeling public art most people walk right past.
The move: Make it the odd centerpiece of a slow Midtown wander: find the floating staircase, hunt for the architect's initials etched into it, then drift to a nearby Midtown coffee or patio to compare photos.
📍 Before you go The staircase hangs over NW 10th Street in Midtown, strung on cables between the 123 Garage parking structure and the old Buick building beside it, so look up mid-block rather than scanning at street level. The garage right there is the easiest place to leave the car, and the piece reads best in daylight when the rust catches the sun. There is no plaque or marked entrance, which is the catch: it is easy to walk straight under it without noticing. Midtown coffee shops, patios, and the Plaza Court block are all within an easy stroll for a longer wander.
- 📍 Midtown
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 123 NW 10th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Hours: Outdoor public art, viewable anytime; best in good light for photos.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · Roadside America
last checked: 2026-06-06