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Entertainment and Culture | Museums | Performing Arts
Outdoor Festivals | Attractions
Entertainment and Culture
 Tulsa is the center of cultural refinement in Oklahoma. Tulsa’s pioneer oilmen bequeathed a rich cultural legacy and passion for the arts that gives the city a level of polish and sophistication that is unmatched in the state. From opera, ballet and orchestral music to world-class art, Tulsa combines the advantages of a smaller city with the broad artistic and cultural assets commonly associated with bigger cities on the coasts.
Museums
Tulsa museums display a breathtaking array of historical artifacts and artistic masterpieces from around the world. The Philbrook Museum of Art houses an impressive collection of Italian painting and sculpture, Native American baskets and pottery, and 18th- and 19th-century oil paintings. Villa Philbrook, the former home of oilman Waite Phillips, is ranked among the top 100 art museums in the country and features beautifully manicured Italian gardens.
The Gilcrease Museum is home to the world’s largest collection of art from the American West. The works of Remington, Russell and Moran highlight more than 50,000 artifacts and accentuate Tulsa’s reputation as city replete with cultural attractions.
Other museums offering distinct cultural tastes include the Alexander Hogue Gallery at the University of Tulsa, Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art, Elsing Museum, and more. Within an hour’s drive are the Cherokee Heritage Center in Tahlequah, and the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore. Woolaroc Museum near Bartlesville houses an extensive collection of American artifacts and the oil-rich history of the Phillips family.
Performing Arts
From staging an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical spectacular to a local production of a Tennessee Williams play, Tulsa’s performing arts community is among the most creative and active in the country. Entertainment options include the Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Opera, the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, the Oklahoma Sinfonia, Theatre North, the American Indian Theatre Company, Theatre Tulsa, and many more. Several of these performing groups call the Tulsa Performing Arts Center (PAC) home. The PAC has hosted such impressive productions as Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Cats and continually attracts world-class productions of all kinds.
A new stage for productions and gatherings in recent years is the Greenwood Cultural Center, which not only offers a performance stage but also the renowned collection of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, and an art gallery. Located in the historic Greenwood district, the center stands as a tribute to the area’s past and its importance as the Black Wall Street of America before the devastating race riot of 1921. The Greenwood area is also the home of the annual Juneteenth Jazz Festival that attracts thousands of Tulsans and visitors for music, food and festivities each June. Recently the Tulsa County Commissioners approved the purchase of the Tulsa Union Depot, the historic Tulsa train station and itself an art deco masterpiece, for use by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
Coming soon: BOK Center
 This year, downtown Tulsa will officially become home to a striking, 18,000-seat, multi-use arena. Approved by Tulsa County voters in 2003, the arena was designed by Cesar Pelli, FAIA, one of the world’s most honored architects, along with local firm, Matrix. Winner of the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal, the highest honor of all AIA awards, Pelli has designed some of the most compelling buildings of recent times including the twin Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and the Canary Wharf Tower in London. Pelli presented his iconic new Tulsa arena as “full of movement, speed and life,” explaining that the concept pays homage to Tulsa’s rich American Indian heritage and recognizes downtown’s historic art deco with “optimistic form.” Bank of Oklahoma, N.A. purchased naming rights, and the grand opening is anticipated in September 2008.
Outdoor Festivals
Tulsans love outdoor activities, especially big celebrations that feature superb music and the opportunity to sample different cultures. Tulsa’s downtown atmosphere comes alive during our diverse festivals held throughout the year including the Indian Art Festival, Greek Holiday Festival, Tulsa International Mayfest, the Clear Channel RiverFest, the Oklahoma Blues Festival, and Dfest music festival and conference. Each October, polka music, pretzels and beer take center stage along the west bank of the Arkansas River during Oktoberfest, a celebration of German culture that has become one of the largest of its kind in the country.
Other Attractions
 With its rolling green hills, sprawling lakes filled with game fish, and tranquil rivers meandering through gorgeous countryside, northeast Oklahoma offers amazing natural beauty and a tantalizing array of outdoor activities. Known simply as “Green Country,” the area encompasses thousands of miles of lakeshore, most within short driving distance of the Tulsa area. Just 15 minutes from downtown Tulsa you can watch bald eagles on the hunt at Keystone Lake, while the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tenkiller offer excellent fishing and scuba diving. The vast expanses of lakes Ft. Gibson, Grand and Eufaula make them a boater’s paradise. To the east, the Illinois River offers enchanting scenery and superb facilities for canoeing, camping and weekend float trips.
Buffalo once roamed the vast plains of the American heartland and you can still see them in their natural environment by visiting the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, a 35,000-acre park north of Tulsa. The preserve offers a rare glimpse into the west as it once was, restored through careful management that has included the reintroduction of bison and fire. This unique preserve encompasses an entire ecosystem and serves as an outdoor classroom for scientists and day visitors alike who appreciate the richness of an unspoiled wilderness.
Expo Square, a onetime venue for petroleum expositions, is now the site for the Tulsa State Fair and is undergoing major renovations, making it one of the most expansive special-event locations of its kind in the nation. The Tulsa Drillers play nearby in a renovated baseball stadium, and Fair Meadows beckons horse racing aficionados who can either watch the ponies live or via simulcast in the comfort of a full-service restaurant. Kids of all ages are sure to enjoy Big Splash Water Park on the southeast corner of this remarkable facility.
The Tulsa Zoo has become a magnet for families and animal lovers alike, and for good reason. Thanks to substantial renovations and generous bequests, the zoo has emerged as one of the most impressive zoos in the region and was named America’s Favorite Zoo in 2005 by Microsoft Game Studios. More than 1,500 animals, together with exhibits and educational programs, make the zoo a must-see for residents and visitors. The nearby Oxley Nature Center offers more than 800 pristine acres of walking trails through forests, fields and wetlands.
 Sharks in Oklahoma? You bet, at the Oklahoma Aquarium. Located on the banks of the Arkansas River in Jenks, Oklahoma, the aquarium houses a variety of marine and aquatic animals, as well as a unique fishing tackle collection. More than 200 exhibits are housed in the Oklahoma Aquarium, and contain several thousand animals representing different marine environments from around the world. Visit www.okaquarium.org to learn more about the aquarium’s visitation schedule and recreational opportunities.
Tulsa enjoys an above-par reputation when it comes to golf. One reason is that the city is home to the premier Southern Hills Country Golf Club, which served as host for the 2007 PGA Championship during August 6-12, 2007, making it the first course to host this major championship for a fourth time. Spectators from around the world have come to Southern Hills over the years to see the nation’s top golfers compete in the PGA, TPC and U.S. Open championships. Tulsa continues to host some of the world’s finest women golfers at LPGA tournaments held at Cedar Ridge Country courtesy of the John Q. Hammons Hotel Classic. If you’re an avid golfer, a selection of public and private courses in the Tulsa area will provide plenty of fun and challenges.
Without a doubt, one of Tulsa’s outdoor highlights is its RiverParks, a strip of unspoiled land along the Arkansas River that testifies to visionary urban planning. Stretching southward from downtown, RiverParks offers more than 20 miles of asphalt-surfaced trails, several recreation areas, scenic overlooks, and excellent catfish and striped bass fishing. The low-water dam and pedestrian bridge make for attractive scenery, and the RiverWest area on the west bank of the river offers a floating stage for outdoor concerts and is the location of the annual Oktoberfest celebration. Just to the east, and celebrated for their exceptional landscaping, are Woodward Park and the Municipal Rose Garden.
In recent years, Oklahoma’s American Indian tribes have built impressive gaming entertainment facilities in and around Tulsa. The Cherokee Casino and Resort offers 24-hour enjoyment through 1,500 electronic games and more than 70 card game tables. The resort also features a newly redesigned golf course and hotel featuring beautiful historical and cultural styling from the Cherokee tribe and stunning art deco effects reminiscent of historic downtown Tulsa in the 1920s. The Creek Nation is also expanding its location on the Arkansas River by building a new hotel, while the Osage Nation has completed a beautiful new addition to its Million Dollar Elm Casino in nearby Sand Springs.
When the wind comes sweeping down the plain on a summer evening, you can’t beat Discoveryland!, the official home of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s immortal tribute to America’s 46th state. What better way to end a day of exploration in Green Country than to join a sell-out crowd in a steak dinner and a rousing rendition of the state song, Oklahoma! Discoveryland! also shows Seven Brides for Seven Brothers during select seasonal days. Visit www.discoverylandusa.com for season schedules.
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