Exploring Cultural Opportunities in Tulsa, Oklahoma
The city of Tulsa, Oklahoma is home to a wide variety of art museums and other museums that place an emphasis on art, culture and history. In fact, the city places such importance on the arts that 1% of the city’s annual budget has been going toward public displays of artwork since 1969. To that end, sculptures created by local artists are put on display along the Arkansas River trail system each year as well as in the city’s parks and at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds. In addition to the sculptures and other works of art throughout the city, there are several museums for the arts and culture lover to select from as well.
Philbrook Museum
The Philbrook Museum, which was completed in 1927 founded by oil pioneer Waite Phillips, is considered by many to be one of the top 50 fine art museums in the country. Visitors to the Philbrook Museum can enjoy art from around the world and artistic styles, including artwork from 19th Century European artists, Renaissance art, Baroque art, Native American art and African art. The museum is also one of only five art museums to include an art collection as well as a historic home and gardens.
In 1926 Edward Buehler Delk (1885-1956), a Kansas City architect, was hired to design an Italian Renaissance villa on 23 acres by oilman Waite Phillips. Delk skillfully interpreted Renaissance styles in the most fashionable manner of the day and was hired in a burst of commissions with three major projects at once: Villa Philbrook, Villa Philmonte and the Philtower office building.
This impressive home was completed in 1927. Friends say that the Phillipses built the villa as a place where their two children could entertain friends. When they moved in, daughter Helen was sixteen, son Elliott was ten.
Gilcrease Museum
The Gilcrease Museum features the art collection of oil man Thomas Gilcrease, which he first made available to public viewing in 1949. The museum, which is found in downtown Tulsa, is home to the largest and most complete collection of American West art in the world. The museum also includes artifacts and art from South American and Central America.
Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art
The Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, which was founded in 1966, houses the largest collection of Jewish art in the Southwest. The museum was founded with the purpose of helping the local Jewish community better understand its heritage while helping other learn more about the Jewish culture and history.
Historical Museums
In addition to the numerous art museums, Tulsa is also home to many other historical museums. The Tulsa Air and Space Museum, for example, offers 19,000 square feet of exhibits that highlight the city’s history in aviation. Hands-on exhibits as well as exhibits of vintage aircraft are central features of the museum. The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, on the other hand, offers visitors a look at the city’s jazz musicians while the Greenwood Cultural Center celebrates African American heritage.
Originally published here.
Kinan Beck is the developer of JeremyKWard.com, a fantastic Tulsa Attorney website. He also developed a Tulsa pest control site, as well as a Tulsa resources site.