Greenwood’s history gives Tulsa a distinctive cultural depth. The four galleries at Greenwood Rising explore the Freedmen, the founding and success of Black Wall Street, and notable figures from the Greenwood District. You can explore the galleries on your own or as part of a docent-led tour. Vernon A.M.E. Church is significant to understanding segregation, Greenwood’s reconstruction and the racial discrimination experienced by African Americans.

The John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park also focuses on the history of African Americans in Oklahoma. Hope Plaza and the Tower of Reconciliation commemorate, among others, the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The park is also an official member of the African American Civil Rights Network. Together, these places offer different ways to engage with history: through galleries, the significance of a church and a public place of remembrance.

Art, Music and Route 66

At Philbrook, a historic residence, a world-class art museum and 25-acre gardens come together. Philbrook’s Westby Sculpture Walk offers a distinct perspective on outdoor art, featuring three-dimensional works by artists from around the world. A visit therefore includes not just exhibition spaces, but also sculptures as part of the experience.

The Bob Dylan Center combines a permanent exhibition about Bob Dylan’s life and work with changing exhibitions and a year-round program. An interactive audio experience uses illuminated touchpoints and synchronized audio through headphones. At the Woody Guthrie Center, the interactive timeline wall “Woody’s Footsteps” traces the musician’s travels: from Okemah, Oklahoma, through Pampa, Texas, and Los Angeles, to New York. Both centers offer different ways to explore music and the paths taken by the artists featured there.

The Route 66 Historical Village is an open-air museum on Tulsa’s historic Southwest Boulevard. Its exhibits include a restored Frisco 4500 steam locomotive, a passenger car, a caboose and an oil derrick. The derrick is 194 feet tall and stands at the historic site of the first oil discovery on June 25, 1901. The combination of railroad artifacts and oil history gives visitors a tangible connection to the subjects the Village explores.

Green Spaces and Trails

The 66.5-acre Gathering Place is a riverside park and public space that brings together nature, community and play. It can be reached on foot via the River Parks trails and through an entrance on the east side at the Midland Valley Trail; admission is free. The Tulsa River Parks offer a different focus, with more than 26 miles of paved trails for jogging, walking, cycling and roller skating. Kayaking is available on Zink Lake.

The Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Area encompasses more than 300 acres of undeveloped land along the Arkansas River. The 4.4-mile Yellow Trail leads to the river and then runs parallel to it. Visitors interested in a natural area with a clearly described route will find specific details here about the trail’s length and course.

On the south bank of Bird Creek, the 804-acre Oxley Nature Center is home to a variety of habitats. Its trails can be hiked year-round, seven days a week. Maintenance and weather can affect trail conditions, so check conditions before your visit. At the Tulsa Botanic Garden, you can explore the native flora and fauna of the Cross Timbers ecoregion, where western tallgrass prairies meet eastern deciduous forests. An approximately one-mile loop begins at Persimmon Grove. The Josephine G. and Timothy W. Driskill Children’s Discovery Garden offers children and families hands-on learning opportunities.

Experiences at the Tulsa Zoo

At the Tulsa Zoo, the Safari Train circles the zoo and offers views of animal exhibits and behind-the-scenes areas. There is also a 30-minute behind-the-scenes experience with African penguins. The Oklahoma Central Credit Union Nature Exchange offers another way to engage with nature: visitors can trade natural objects found outdoors for items from the collection. The offerings range from a ride with scenic views to a timed animal experience and an exchange involving natural objects.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Glenpool, Sand Springs, Jenks, Grady County, Washington County.

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