![Aug. 31, 2010: Aaron East, left, and Dave Kaschmitter, ironworkers with All Steel, put up flags and a tree during a topping out ceremony at the new Yukon High School. [Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman Archives]](https://dmt55mxnkgbz2.cloudfront.net/1205x0_s3-32177-Screen-Shot-2017-01-13-at-2_16_57-PM.jpg)
![Aug. 31, 2010: Aaron East, left, and Dave Kaschmitter, ironworkers with All Steel, put up flags and a tree during a topping out ceremony at the new Yukon High School. [Photo by John Clanton, The Oklahoman Archives]](https://dmt55mxnkgbz2.cloudfront.net/900x0_s3-32177-Screen-Shot-2017-01-13-at-2_16_57-PM.jpg)
![Sept. 24, 2010: Eberardo Ballesteros, bottom, and Mario Nunez guide the last beam in place during the topping out ceremony for Intergris Health in Edmond. [Photo by Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman Archives]](https://dmt55mxnkgbz2.cloudfront.net/900x0_s3-32177-Screen-Shot-2017-01-13-at-2_17_12-PM.jpg)
![July 10, 1981: Several dignitaries including Oklahoma City Mayor Patience Latting, right, were on hand for the topping-out ceremony for the new multi-level parking garage at Will Rogers World Airport. [Photo by Roger Klock, The Oklahoman Archives]](https://dmt55mxnkgbz2.cloudfront.net/900x0_s3-32177-Screen-Shot-2017-01-13-at-2_17_34-PM.jpg)
The topping out ceremony celebrates the completion of many hours of heavy lifting, the near completion of constructing a building. It's a time for celebration.
Sometimes it's an undecorated evergreen or decorated Christmas tree. Sometimes it's a flag. Sometimes it's a steel beam. And, sometimes it's all of the above that is hoisted in the air to the highest point of construction.
The Oklahoman has captured some of these historical events as, one after one, a new hospital, a new bank, a new stadium has been erected.
On Dec. 10, 1970, The Oklahoman's photographer Bob Albright, photographed the brightly lit tree placed atop the Myriad Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.
For more information, visit http://newsok.com/article/5533379.
