Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa is the second-largest city in Oklahoma, USA. As of the revised 2004 census report, the city had a total population of 387,807, with 930,842 in the greater metro area. It is the county seat of Tulsa County.

Tulsa landmarks and neighborhoods

Tulsa is a unique city with many striking structures built in the 1930s and 1940s by oil barons. Downtown in particular has many landmark buildings. Tulsa is world renowned for its Art Deco landmarks, including the Philtower, the Mayo Hotel, Boston Avenue Methodist Church (designed by Adah Robinson and Bruce Goff), Christ the King Catholic Church and the Adams building. Known for a time as "Terra Cotta City", Tulsa hosted the International Sixth Congress on Art Deco in 2001.

Related Topics:
Art Deco - Boston Avenue Methodist Church - Bruce Goff - Christ the King Catholic Church - 2001

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Downtown

Downtown Tulsa is in the northwest quadrant of the city and is ringed by an expressway system called the inner dispersal loop. Downtown's buildings include many large office towers. The BOK Tower (formerly One Willliams Center) is the tallest building in Oklahoma and was designed in 1975 by Minoru Yamasaki & Associates, the same architect who designed the World Trade Center in New York. This structure is very similar to a single tower from the WTC in looks and construction. Other notable buildings include the art deco Midcontinent Tower and the Tulsa National Bank buildings.

Related Topics:
BOK Tower - Oklahoma - 1975 - Minoru Yamasaki - World Trade Center - New York

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The Tulsa Performing Arts Center, occupies a half city block in Tulsa's historical downtown. The PAC is the design of Minoru Yamasaki, architect of the World Trade Center. It houses five theatres and a beautifully appointed reception hall. More than a quarter of a million people visit the Center each year to attend a performance from one of Tulsa's seven acclaimed musical and dramatic companies including the Tulsa Opera, Tulsa Ballet Theater, and a variety of symphonic groups. The PAC hosts a multitude of cultural events through the fall, winter and spring.

Related Topics:
Minoru Yamasaki - World Trade Center

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Continuing its rich architectural history, in 2004 the City of Tulsa broke ground on a new 18,000 seat events center designed by renowned architect César Pelli.

Related Topics:
2004 - Architect - César Pelli

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Another unique local downtown landmark is the "Center of the Universe", which is located on the arched pedestrian bridge, next to the old Tulsa Union Depot (the future home of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame). To experience the acoustic phenomenon of the Center of the Universe, all one needs to do is to stand in the middle of the circle on the arch of the bridge and speak. This part of downtown is always fairly empty of people, especially at night, and is a good place for urban exploration. At the bottom of the steps, next to the train tracks, is a sewer grate which, as legend has it, leads eventually to Tulsa's defunct system of underground tunnels, which supposedly stretch throughout downtown.

Related Topics:
Tulsa Union Depot - Downtown - Urban

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The Brady Arts District is located just North of the "Center of the Universe and inludes most of the northern section of downtown Tulsa. The Brady District contains many of Tulsa's historic entertainment venues, including The Brady Theater, built in 1914. Known affectionately as the "Old Lady on Brady", it is rumored to be haunted by the Ghost of Enrico Caruso, who performed there in 1920, and reportedly caught the cold that led to his death of pleurisy in 1921.

Related Topics:
Brady Arts District - 1914 - Haunted - Enrico Caruso - 1920 - Pleurisy - 1921

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North of the Brady on Main Street is the Cain's Ballroom, the "Home of Bob Wills", the Texas Playboys, the Light Crust Doughboys and to many, is the cornerstone of western swing music in the United States. In addition to this distinction, it is also the last still-standing venue from the Sex Pistols infamous 1978 USA Tour. (They played at Cain's on January 12, 1978. Two days later at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom, Johnny Rotten would walk off stage as a Sex Pistol for the last time). The district is also the location of many local artists' galleries, restaurants, and bars such as the popular Caz's and The Bowery.

Related Topics:
Bob Wills - Texas Playboys - Light Crust Doughboys - Western swing - Music - Sex Pistols - 1978 - January 12 - San Francisco - Winterland Ballroom - Johnny Rotten

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Another popular downtown entertainment district is the Blue Dome, named for a distictive, domed building in the area in the eastern section of downtown. Venues here include Tsunami Sushi Bar, THE Route 66 Diner, Arnie's Bar and McNellie's Public House.

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The Arkansas River

The Tulsa area boasts nearly 40 miles of river shoreline along the Arkansas River. River Parks lines more than 20 miles of that stretch, spread along the banks of the 1/4 mile wide channel. River Parks is a popular destination for outdoor recreation. Miles of asphalt-surfaced recreation trails weave past picnic areas, playgrounds, fountains and sculptures. The park's landscape ranges from manicured lawns to the rugged terrain of the Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area. Recreation in River Parks includes fishing, rowing, kayaking, disc golf, hiking, biking and horseback riding.

Related Topics:
River - Arkansas River - Playgrounds - Fountains - Sculptures - Fishing - Rowing - Kayaking - Disc golf - Hiking - Biking - Horseback riding

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During the spring, summer, and early fall concerts, festivals and the state's largest free fireworks display (on the Fourth of July) are popular draws to the river.

Related Topics:
Fireworks - Fourth of July

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Uptown

Uptown is the region just to the south of Downtown. Here you will find The Hotel Ambassador, a Tulsa landmark, actually began life as a temporary housing facility for oil tycoons who were building their mansions. Functioning as a full-service hotel these days, it gives its guests a taste of the luxury of the glory days. The Sobo bar district in this area at 18th and south Boston is quite popular. Doubleshot Coffeehouse, The Mercury Lounge hot rod bar, Dalessandro's Restaurant, and Vintage 1740 Wine Bar are popular destinations in SOBO.

Related Topics:
Hotel Ambassador - Oil tycoon - Mansion - Hotel

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Midtown

Midtown is a unique and largely residential district in the heart of the city. This area consists mostly of homes built in the early 1900's and has a wide variety of American styles ranging from the Craftsman bungalow to the ranch style home to Greek Revival. In fact, the neighborhood is even home to a relocated saltbox home from colonial New England. Schools in this part of the city include Edison High School, Bishop Kelley, Elliot, Patrick Henry Elementary and Undercroft Montessori. Woodward Park, located in Midtown, is known for its azaleas and gardens is a popular destination for photography and picnics.

Related Topics:
Craftsman bungalow - Ranch style home - Greek Revival - Azalea - Photography - Picnics

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Utica Square is both a unique shopping center and another neighborhood built with lots of Oil Wealth. It's the most popular midtown shopping area and is mixed with national retailers, such as Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Local retailers include many clothing boutiques and Tulsa's oldest department store, Miss Jackson's. Several of Tulsa's most acclaimed restaurants are also located in Utica Square including the Polo Grille and the Wild Fork.

Related Topics:
Restoration Hardware - Pottery Barn - Saks Fifth Avenue

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Located directly behind Utica Square is Tulsa's only Reform Jewish institution, Temple Israel. Temple Israel was founded in 1914 and currently has a membership of approximately 500 families. Temple Israel is a Reform Congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the national organization of Reform Judaism.

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Some of the other major shopping centers in this part of the city include the Promenade Mall, Highland Park Shopping Center, Southroads, Ranch Acres, The Farm Shopping Center, and The Plaza. OU-Tulsa is across the street from the Promenade Mall at 41st and Yale, on the southern edge of Midtown.

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In northeast Midtown, the Tulsa State Fairgrounds, now called Expo Square, is home to several unique Tulsa landmarks. In addition to the site being home to the AA Tulsa Drillers minor league baseball team, the Art Deco Expo Square Pavilion, the Fair Meadows horse racing track, and the annual Tulsa State Fair, it boasts the Expo Center, the largest clearspan building in the world, providing 354,000 square feet (33,000 m²) of column-free space under a cable-suspended roof. In front of the Expo Center is the "Golden Driller", standing 76 feet (23 m) tall. Built in 1966 as a symbol for the International Petroleum Expo, the statue serves as a reminder of Tulsa's oily past.

Related Topics:
Tulsa Drillers - Minor league baseball - Art Deco - Golden Driller - 1966

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Cherry Street

The Cherry Street Neighborhood is in Midtown Tulsa, located near three of Tulsa's designated Historic Districts: the Swan Lake, North Maple Ridge, and Yorktown neighborhoods. The Cherry Street District is set near downtown in the northern midtown area, defined by a portion of 15th Street dubbed "Cherry Street." Visitors to this neighborhood find great local restaurants, boutique shops, art galleries, antique shops, and funky vintage stores, now filling old storefronts built in the 1920s & 1930s, as well as some fabulous old homes in the surrounding residential areas.

Related Topics:
Swan Lake - North Maple Ridge - Yorktown - Vintage - 1920s - 1930s

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Maple Ridge

The Maple Ridge Historic District is just south of downtown in Midtown. This neighborhood contains "Black Gold Row", where the fabulous mansions built by the oil barons in the 1920s still stand, long after their original owners have gone.

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Brookside

Brookside, like Cherry Street, is another popular shopping and entertainment district in Midtown. This area extends from the Arkansas River east to Peoria. Its defining strip is South Peoria between 31st and 41st Streets, where visitors find a variety of shopping delights, and is home to more than 35 restaurants and nightspots (many with patio seating), featuring everything from sushi to old-fashioned burger and root beer stands. There are also plenty of swanky boutiques, decor shops and art galleries for window shopping. The atmosphere is chic and eclectic, appealing to a younger, more progressive set. Scenic Riverside Drive, which parallels the east bank of the river, and River Parks, the park that stretches along the riverbank, are also popular sections of Brookside.

Related Topics:
Brookside - Burger - Root beer

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Terwilleger Heights

Terwilleger Heights is located immediately south and west of Utica Square bordered by 21st Street, 31st Street, Utica Avenue and Peoria Avenue. This area has early 1930's homes both grand and small, full grown trees, winding streets and is adjacent to the Philbrook Museum of Art and Woodward Park.

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Kendall-Whittier

To the east of downtown is Tulsa?s oldest ?suburban? shopping area and is noted for its abundance of red brick. The artsy and historic Circle Cinema is located in this area. The Kendall-Whittier shopping area and surrounding neighborhoods are now popular with Tulsa?s rapidly growing Hispanic community. Just to the east of this area is The University of Tulsa.

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South Tulsa

Southern Hills

Southern Hills is an exclusive neighborhood on the south side that is centered around the Southern Hills Country Club. Southern Hills Country Club has been the home to 13 major golf championships including four US Opens. Many of the original homes in this neighborhood were sprawling suburban homes built in the Ranch style.The campus of Oral Roberts University with its very distinctive futuristic architecture is in this area.

Related Topics:
Southern Hills Country Club - US Open - Oral Roberts University

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71st Street Corridor/Woodland Hills

Woodland Hills is a both a region in the south east part of the city and is the state's largest shopping mall. The area around the mall is a massive shopping district with all the usual stores and traffic that reaches for miles along 71st Street from Tulsa into Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Most, though not all of the businesses in this area are chains, ranging from big box stores like BestBuy, and CompUSA to restaurants like Krispy Kreme and Famous Dave's.

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East Tulsa

East Tulsa is a suburban-style area. This region includes several growing multi-ethnic communities with booming Hispanic and Asian populations. Eastland Mall is in this area.

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North Tulsa and Greenwood

North Tulsa is the traditional home of Tulsa?s African-American community. OSU-Tulsa is here just north of downtown. Many visit the Greenwood Cultural Center and the Tulsa Race Riot Memorial. The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is also in this neighborhood. OSU-Tulsa is located in this part of town. Langston University-Tulsa is here as well. Further to the northeast close to Tulsa International Airport are Mohawk Park which includes the Tulsa Zoo and the new Tulsa Air and Space Center. Tulsa?s African-American high school during the segregation era, Booker T Washington High School, in this area was recently judged to be the 58th best high school in the nation by Newsweek.

Related Topics:
African-American - OSU-Tulsa - Tulsa International Airport - Newsweek

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West Tulsa

West Tulsa is another reminder of Tulsa?s Oil rich past. Two huge oil refineries remain in operation to this day on the west bank of the river. This large industrial area gives way to wooded and hilly neighborhoods. Tulsa?s general aviation airport Jones Airport is also in this area. The classic art deco Webster High School is here as is the popular train themed Ollie?s Station Restaurant sitting next to the Tulsa rail yard.

Related Topics:
West Tulsa - Jones Airport

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The Riverparks system is also here on the bank of the river including the Riverwest Festival Park with it?s floating stage amphitheater overlooking downtown which is home to such popular events as Oktoberfest (one of the largest Oktoberfests in North America) and the Gatesway Balloon Festival.

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The new Riverwalk development features specialty shops and restaurants along with a riverfront outdoor ampitheater on the west bank of the Arkansas River just south of Tulsa in suburban Jenks next to the Oklahoma Aquarium.

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