Tulsa On the Arkansas River

Oklahoma is bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the north, Missouri on the northeast, Arkansas on the east, New Mexico on the west and Colorado on the northwest. The city of Tulsa on the Arkansas River is known for its Art Deco architecture.

The Philbrook Museum of Arts is housed in a impressive villa that was designed in 1927 by architect Edward Buehler Delk. The villa was built for Waite Phillips, a wealthy oilman. The mansion has 72 rooms. Artwork includes works by such artists as Picasso and Andrew Wyeth. The museum offers tours of the exhibits and highlights of the collections every day. After taking a look at the artwork enjoy a stroll through the lovely gardens.

The Gilcrease Museum was named for Thomas Gilcrease, an oilman and art collector. The museum has one of the largest collections of the American West artwork in the world. There are also artifacts from Centrla and South America. The museum grounds have been designed as themed gardens. The museum offers classes, events, programs, and workshops. You can get a public tour of the permanent collections and there are also special group tours.

The Woody Guthrie Center is located in the Brady Arts District and is a museum dedicated to the life and work of Woody Guthrie, American folk musician, singer, and songwriter. This is an interactive museum where visitors can see the musician's instruments, artwork, lyrics, notebooks, photos, and other memorabilia. The center also shows a biographical film and hosts folk music events.

The Woodward Park and Gardens Historic District is an arboretum, botonical garden, and public park. It was named after Helen Woodward and established in 1929. There are special areas in the park like that Tulsa Rose Garden. In 1935 formal terraces were established and have over 9000 roses which represent 250 amazing varieties. The park is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Other interesting features in the park are the Upper and Lower Rock Gardens, a glass conservatory, and a sunken garden.

The David R. Travis Mansion is located just south of Woodward Park. It is a 21 room mansion dating from 1919. It houses the Tulsa Garden Center which provides the community with the opportunity to learn about horticulture and the environment. Inside the house you'll find many photographs taken of the mansion at various times throughout history. The center also offers classes, events, and shows. There is a library with over 5000 books.

The Tulsa Zoo is located in Mohawk Park and is one of the largest city parks in the US. The zoo is a non-profit organization involved in conservation efforts. One of the highlights is the Children's Zoo where children can get close top animals like emus, kangaroos, llamas, otters, prairie dogs, and others. The exhibits include Africa, Asia, Oceans and Islands, and the Tropical American Rainforest. You can see many interesting animals from all over the world.

Part of the Oral Roberts University is an unusual looking Prayer Tower. This iconic building is recognized all over the worl and is 200 feet high. Visitors can ride up to the observations deck to see incredible views of Tulsa.

Known as the Golden Driller this is a golden statue of an oil worker and weighs in at 43,500 pounds. The statue is a reminder that Tulsa once sat atop the largest known oil reservoir in the world and referred to itself as the "Oil Capital of the World" The statue was built by an oilfield supply company from Texas for a trade fair.

Oklahoma Aquarium sits on the banks of the Arkansas River is is home to over 200 marine animals. There are themed exhibits and a museum of fishing tackle. Among the highlights is the Extreme Fish section exploring fish with extraordinary abilities like breathing air.

The Tulsa Botanic Garden includes the A.R. and Mary Louise Tandy Floral Terrace featuring 12, 000 spring bulbs each year. It's an ornamental garden with water flowing into the lake below. There are over 8,000 perennials, trees, roses, and plants surrounding it. The garden features a Lotus Pool and a Lakeside Promenade taking visitors around the seven-acre lake.

Both residents and visitors enjoy the Gathering Place: Tulsa's Riverfront Park. It stretches along the downtown riverfront along the Arkansas River featuring interactive experiences that have been designed for social interaction, outdoor adventure, and conservation.

Visit the unusual Cave House which is a strangely-designed home in the downtown area. Even though it is privately owned a tour can be arranged by appointment.

The Blue Dome District is an interesting area to explore. It is the heart of the city's entertainment and culinary scene. It was so named for the building with the blue dome in its center.

Stand in the Center of the Universe. This is a landmark in downtown Tulsa. The spot is marked by a circle of concrete and bricks that has an echo effect. So when you stand here talk, sing, or make sounds the acoustics reverberate loudly in whichever direction you face. The distortion of sounds have become a famous phenomenon in the city and a festival has been dedicated to this popular landmark.