This replication of Jerusalem during biblical times sits inside the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, near Medicine Park Oklahoma in the United States. Complete with a chapel, rock shrines, and a recreated tomb, performers portray the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in great detail each year at the Holy City of the Wichitas.
Because the structures were created as biblical representations, they all revolve around aspects of the Passion Play. They are interesting all on their own, whether or not someone is interested in the biblical connections.
America’s Longest Running Pageant
Prince of Peace, the annual Easter Passion play continues as an annual event in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge to honor the life and Passion of Jesus. The Saturday night of Palm Weekend and the Saturday evening of Easter Weekend are the two yearly productions.
This year’s (2022) 97th Annual Prince of Peace Easter Pageant will be
Palm Sunday Weekend- Saturday, April 9, 2022, 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Easter Sunday Weekend- Saturday, April 16, 2022, 8:30 PM to 11:30 PM.
General Information about the Holy City of the Wichitas
The Beginning of the Holy City of the Wichitas
Wichita Mountains’ sunrise Easter Service/Passion performance was first hosted by Reverend Anthony Mark Wallock. In 1926, the pastor of The First Congregational Church of Lawton, using a cast of five performers drew a crowd of around 200 for the initial tableau of the resurrection. It was originally a production for his Sunday School class. The number of spectators of the Wichita Mountains Easter Pageant grew to 600 the following year, and then thousands in subsequent years.
With geographical similarities to the Holy Land, the 66-acre area became a permanent venue in 1934. President Franklin D. Roosevelt personally granted use of the federal land for this purpose. Funded by a $94,000 grant of federal funds, the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) built the present Holy City of the Wichitas over the following two years. Builders selected locally quarried granite and stone in order to aesthetically complement the surroundings.
Major Buildings in the Holy City of the Wichitas
World Chapel of the Holy City
The chapel is reminiscent of America’s oldest church, Christ Church, in Virginia, and hosts many private weddings each year. Contact the gift shop, or click HERE, or call 580-429-3361 for reservation information.
Artist Irene Malcolm of Lawton began a 60 piece mural project for the inside of the chapel n 1945. It took her eight years to complete. She created most of the works in her studio and installed them in the chapel later. Malcolm painted some frescoes into the plaster of the chapel walls.
Lord’s Supper Building
This structure depicts the upstairs room where Jesus gathered with his disciples the evening before his betrayal. According to the Bible, the disciples were reclining on the floor at a low table when Jesus, as host, brought a washbasin from disciple to disciple and washed their feet. Peter was reluctant for Jesus to conduct this act of service and humility and initially refused. Judas, the betrayer, also received this service from Jesus.
During the meal, Jesus told the group that one of them will soon betray him. Each said, “Surely not me.”
Christ blessed bread, broke it, then gave it to them. He pronounced the bread to be his body. Then he held a cup of wine, blessed it, and shared it with them all. He pronounced the wine as his blood- poured out for the masses. Then he assured them the Kingdom of God was imminent. They sang a hymn and left for the Mount of Olives. Mark (14:18-26)
Holy City of the Wichitas- Re-Creations
Garden of Gethsemane
At the foot of Mount of Olives, Jesus summoned his disciples to wait for him while he prayed privately. He went deeper into the grove and prayed for a time. Upon his return, his disciples were sleeping instead of maintaining alertness. He told them to watch and pray so they wouldn’t fall into temptation and retreated back into the garden for more prayer. In this scene, he repeated a total of three times. Each time, they slept. They didn’t know what to say to him the second time. When he returned the third time, Judas appeared, kissed Jesus, and an armed crowd, sent from the priests and lawyers and Jewish Elders, arrested Jesus. (Mark 14:32-45)
Temple Court
The arresting officials paid Judas 20 pieces of silver. They took Jesus to the Sanhedrin, (a group of religious elites, who had determined to maintain their way of life, and quash Jesus’ then new spiritual movement) in the Temple Court. The mob sought corroborative witnesses against Jesus but could find none. Then the High Priest asked Jesus if he was the Messiah. Jesus admitted he was. That was all the evidence available to sentence him to death. (Mark 14:53-65)
Pilate’s Judgment Hall
The Sanhedrin took him to Pilate. Pontius Pilate asked only one question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus affirmed. The priests meanwhile, accused Jesus of many things, and Jesus did not reply. Pilate tried to release Jesus because he couldn’t find fault in him, but the crowds insisted Jesus suffer crucifixion. Pilate sent the entire group to Herod, who likewise couldn’t find a violation of the law. Herod Returned them once more, to Pilate’s Judgment Hall. Pilate relented and allowed the crucifixion. (Mark 15: 1-16; Luke 23:7-11)
Herod’s Court
The gentile Area Political Supervisor of the day was Herod. Earlier, the Jewish religious leaders of the era drew Herod into their religious dispute; this time he wanted to stay neutral. The crowd at Herod’s Court was adamant about someone, it didn’t matter who to them- convict Jesus of some crime. He sent them back to Pilate, who turned Jesus over to soldiers who then led him to the mount of crucifixion. (Luke 23:7-11)
Calvary’s Mount
Jesus was crucified between two thieves on Calvary’s Mount, dressed only in a crown of thorns. The thieves deserved what they got. Jesus didn’t. He died innocent of wrongdoing, and the soldiers stabbed him in his side. Blood and also water poured forth. His mother was there. Sabbath day commenced at sundown. To honor Sabbath restrictions, his followers removed Jesus from the cross and hastily placed him in a nearby tomb before sundown. (Mark 15:33-41)
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The Tomb
Soldiers placed a stone over the mouth of Jesus’ burial chamber. He stayed in it that day, the next, and on the third day he rose from death- and angels rolled the stone away to let witnesses into the tomb, seeing for themselves that Jesus Christ indeed rose. He was no longer dead. (Mark 15:42-47)
Holy City of the Wichitas: Honoring the Past and Present
Christ of the Wichitas Statue
In keeping with Wallock’s last wishes, an 11-foot white marble statue of Christ stands sentry to the Holy City of the Wichitas, blessing all who pass. A separate shrine memorializes the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing. A path, Veteran’s Walkway, also honors our servicemen and women.
Bonus:
Holy City of the Wichitas Gift Shop
The gift shop offers a small selection of snacks and other items. The open hours are Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM and 1:00-5 PM. Sundays. Further, winter hours begin November 1.
THANKS FOR READING!
Looking for more information about the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge? While you are visiting the Holy City, you can continue the trip with a drive through the Refuge. American bison, prairie dogs, longhorn cattle, just to name a few, freely roam the roads and mountains. Click HERE for ideas for information!
Looking for more information about the surrounding area?
Wichita Mountains Scenic Byway
Iron Door Legend– Is there lost treasure in the Wichita Mountains?
Hiking Trails in the Wichita Mountains
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
Want to know more about who we are? Click HERE to learn more about us and what we do.
This ‘Holy City’ sells bricks that are supposed to line the pathways of some of the areas there. I purchased a brick over three years ago, along with my sister Sarah, in memory of our parents. We were promised that there would be a picture of the brick sent to us. After numerous calls, there has been no picture sent indicating that the brick was ever laid. This is an easy tourist ripoff, because there is a high number of visitors from out of state who don’t come back to see where their brick was laid. I feel that these people are pocketing the money that should be used in the support of the Holy City. Some Christians!
I hate that! I don’t know anything about the selling of the bricks. I’m so sorry you had such a bad experience!