 | Tulsa Oklahoma: Encyclopedia II - Tulsa Oklahoma - Tulsa's districts and neighborhoods
Tulsa Oklahoma - Tulsa's districts and neighborhoods
Tulsa is a unique city with many striking structures built in the 1920s and 1930s 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, 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.
Tulsa Oklahoma - 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.
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.
Continuing its rich architectural history, in 2005 the City of Tulsa broke ground on a new 18,000 seat events center designed by renowned architect César Pelli. Tulsa-based BOK Financial has purchased the naming rights to the new facility and when completed, the arena will be known as the BOK Center.
Another unique local downtown landmark is the "Center of the Universe", an echo spot 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.
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.
North of the Brady on Main Street is the Cain's Ballroom, the home of Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys and the Light Crust Doughboys. To many, Cain's is the cornerstone of western swing music in the United States; it is also one of only two still-surviving venues from the Sex Pistols' infamous 1978 USA Tour. (They played at Cain's on January 12, 1978; the spectacle of the Pistols--playing in front of a hall lined with sepia-toned blow-up photographs of Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, and other c/w legends--was one not to be forgotten by those in attendance at what was later termed the best performance of the Pistols' brief U.S. tour. Two days later at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco, Johnny Rotten would walk off stage as a Sex Pistol for the last time). Today, Cain's leads a thriving existence by attracting an eclectic mix of country, rock, "jamband," jazz, and roots music. The district is also the location of many local artists' galleries, restaurants, and bars such as the popular Caz's, Gypsy Coffeehouse, and The Bowery.
Another popular downtown entertainment district is the Blue Dome, named for a distinctive, domed building in the area in the eastern section of downtown. While some of the bars that opened there have since closed, current venues include Tsunami Sushi Bar, THE Route 66 Diner, Arnie's Bar and McNellie's Public House.
Tulsa's gay/lesbian community is energized by the establishment of the cornerstone of a gay district east of downtown, and have recently opened a Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transexual activity center.
The Greenwood Historical District is just north of downtown and east of the Brady District. In 1921, thirty-five blocks of businesses and residences were burned in this district during the infamous Tulsa Race Riot. The Oklahoma State Legislature passed laws in 2001 aimed at revitalizing Greenwood, setting up a scholarship fund for college-bound descendants of riot victims and appropriating $2 million for a riot memorial. As of 2004, two blocks of the old neighborhood have been restored and are part of the Greenwood Historical District. It is now home to the Greenwood Cultural Center, the Tulsa Race Riot Memorial, and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, as well as Oklahoma State University - Tulsa and Langston University-Tulsa.
Uptown is the region just to the south of Downtown. Here you will find the Hotel Ambassador, a Tulsa landmark, which 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, Mercury Lounge, the Rehab Lounge ,Dalessandro's Restaurant, and Vintage 1740 Wine Bar are popular destinations in SOBO.
Tulsa Oklahoma - 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.
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.
Tulsa Oklahoma - 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. The neighborhood is even home to a relocated saltbox home from colonial New England. Schools in this part of the city include Bishop Kelley High School, Cascia Hall Preparatory School, Edison High School, Elliot Elementary, Francis Scott Key Elementary, Robert E. Lee Elementary, Patrick Henry Elementary and Undercroft Montessori. Woodward Park, located in Midtown, is known for its azaleas and gardens and is a popular destination for photography and picnics. Other popular Midtown Parks include LaFortune Park, Darlington Park and Whiteside Park.
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.
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. Tulsa's conservative synagogue, B'nai Emunah is also in Midtown.
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.
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 minor league baseball Tulsa Drillers, 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.
The Expo Center is also home to the annual Darryl Starbird Rod and Custom Show. Held in early February, it is touted as 'The World's Largest Indoor Car Show' and often draws around 1,500 custom and classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Antique car auctions are also held here and draw many visitors from across the nation.
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, funky vintage stores, and even a scooter shop now filling old storefronts built in the 1920s & 1930s, as well as some fabulous old homes in the surrounding residential areas.
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.
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. 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.
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.
To the east of downtown is Tulsa’s oldest suburban shopping area and is noted for its abundance of red brick. The artsy, historic, and recently restored 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 east of this area is the University of Tulsa.
Tulsa Oklahoma - South Tulsa
South Tulsa is popularly considered to be south of 51st Street and north of 121st Street, bounded on the west by the Arkansas River, and on the east by Memorial Drive, hilly and secluded. Much of the more luxurious new home construction in the city has taken place within this area in the previous decade, though it is slowly moving southward into Bixby as the area is getting built up. As an affluent clientele has moved into the area, businesses tailored to such residents have also opened nearby. For example, the city's largest automotive dealer strip is located at about 95th and Memorial. The schools in the area are some of the state's best, but also among the state's largest (Jenks East Elementary enrolls over 1,600 students.) The major school districts of South Tulsa are Jenks and Union; Tulsa Public School District's Memorial High School is also located here
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 U.S. 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.
Woodland Hills is a both a region in the southeast part of the city and 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. 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.
Tulsa Oklahoma - East Tulsa
East Tulsa is a suburban-style area. Attractions in this part of the city include McClure Park, which is notable for its frisbee golf course, and the Carl Smith Athletic Complex. This region includes several growing multi-ethnic communities with booming Hispanic and Asian populations. The parts of East Tulsa that fall in Union and Broken Arrow School districts are increasingly attracting high-income professionals looking for suburban life within the city limits. Mayo Demonstration Academy, a magnet school of the Tulsa Public School system, is located in this area. Eastland Mall is also in this area. Also the area is home to Tulsa's hospitality district, where many hotels are located. Redbud Valley Nature Preserve is also located in this part of the city.
Tulsa Oklahoma - North Tulsa
North Tulsa is the traditional home of Tulsa’s African-American community. 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. Directly north of downtown, Gilcrease Museum of Art finds its home. Further to the northeast, close to Tulsa International Airport, are Mohawk Park, which includes the Tulsa Zoo and the Oxley Nature Center, and the new Tulsa Air and Space Center.
Much of the north part of city, however, is depressed, as shown by poor and shrinking neighborhood schools, poorly aging homes, crime problems in some areas, and a lack of development by major retail outlets.
Tulsa Oklahoma - 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.
The Riverparks system, also here on the bank of the river, includes the Riverwest Festival Park, with its floating stage amphitheater overlooking downtown. Riverwest is home to such popular events as Tulsa's Oktoberfest, one of the largest of its kind in North America, and the Gatesway Balloon Festival.
Although not in Tulsa proper, the new Riverwalk Crossing development in Jenks features specialty shops and restaurants along the west bank of the Arkansas River. The center also features fountains and an outdoor amphitheater. Plans are in the works for Bell's Amusement Park to relocate from Tulsa's Expo Square to a parcel of land near the Riverwalk Crossing complex around 2007. The Oklahoma Aquarium is also located on the west bank, a short distance away from the new retail center.
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 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Tulsa's districts and neighborhoods", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
