Tulsa, OK

| DAY TRIPS | FEBRUARY 08, 2019

Gathering Place, a new riverfront park in Tulsa, was designed as an inclusive green space where residents and visitors alike can relax and engage with one another. The expansive park makes use of more than 6 million gallons of water and 80 tree species, with attractions like multi-story fireplaces, an adventure playground, boathouse, sensory garden and a reading tree.

Our story began with the George Kaiser Family Foundation and an extraordinary dream to transform nearly 100 acres of Tulsa’s iconic waterfront along the scenic Arkansas River into a dynamic, interactive environment. Tulsans needed a welcoming, natural space where members of our diverse communities could come together to explore, learn and play.

After years of planning, generous donations and input from the community, Tulsa's dream became reality. In 2014, Gathering Place broke ground on Tulsa’s world-class park. The dream of a space to celebrate and gather along the river was becoming reality.

The next chapter is filled with excitement as we welcomed our first guests on September 8, 2018. The children, families and friends of Tulsa will write the narrative from there, an ongoing adventure sure to inspire wonderful moments for generations to come. We look forward to witnessing memories made and celebrating the collective growth experienced through Gathering Place, where your adventures will only be limited by your own imagination.

The Park is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. but attractions and buildings may have separate hours. Hours are subject to change seasonally and/or by event. Chapman Adventure Playground is open from 9 a.m. to dusk. Admission to the park and activities are free to the public.

The Philbrook Museum of Art truly a national gem. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Philbrook is nationally recognized as one of the top 50 museums in the United States. The Philbrook is also regarded as one of the only five museums in the country that has a combination of art collections, gardens, and a historical home.

There are three histories related to the Philbrook: the home, art museum, and gardens. Beginning with the home, Villa Philbrook was created by Waite and Genevieve Phillips. The Phillips hired Edward Buehler Delk, a prominent architect based in Kansas City, to design a mansion with the inspiration of an Italian Renaissance home. Villa Philbrook was completed in 1927 and was a mansion with three stories, a steel construction, and concrete framework. After residing in the home for approximately eleven years, the Phillips family donated their Villa Philbrook and surrounding property to the city of Tulsa. The main purpose for their donation, was so Villa Philbrook could become the art and cultural hotspot of Tulsa. It’s important to note that almost the entire home, except for the main rooms in the first floor, has been renovated and remodeled so it could adequately serve as a public facility.

The Philbrook Art Museum was made possible by the teamwork from the first director, Eugene Kingman, the Tulsa Art Association, and the original art collection that was housed in Villa Philbrook. In fall 1939, the Philbrook Art Museum officially opened to the public. One year after the Museum opened, official educational classes and workshops were added to the Museum’s services. This ultimately sparked and contributed to the created of the Children’s Museum, which opened in 1949. Since the Philbrook Art Museum opened, the Museum has undergone various renovations that have expanded and adjusted the overall facility. Thus, ensuring visitors will have an extremely unique and significant experience.

Since Villa Philbrook sits on approximately 23 acres of land, the surrounding areas of the home were turned into magnificent gardens. These elaborate gardens were influenced by one of Giacomo Barozzi de Vignola’s most magnificent estates, Villa Lante. Most of the gardens of the current day Philbrook have been maintained in a way that preserved the original construction. In 2004 an extension of the gardens was created. This extended the gardens to the summerhouse.

The Philbrook Museum is located at 2727 S Rockford Road, Tulsa, OK 74114. It is open Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun 9:00am-5:00pm, Fridays 9:00am-9:00pm, and closed Mondays & Tuesdays. General admission is $9.00, and $7.00 for Seniors and groups of 10 or more.

The Tulsa Air and Space Museum is an aerospace museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States. It is located in the northwest corner of the Tulsa International Airport property. It has 19,000 square feet of historical exhibits, hands-on activities, and vintage aircraft.

The James E. Bertelsmeyer Planetarium provides an exciting educational experience by pairing stunning high-definition visuals with state of the art technology in a fully-immersive theater atmosphere. In addition to daily screenings of full-dome videos, we also present interactive programs ranging from basic astronomy to earth science.

TASM’s planetarium inspires curiosity seekers to explore our universe and discover the wonders of Earth.

The museum and planetarium are open Monday-Saturday, and have various admission prices from $5.00-$15.00, dependant upon age and exhibits to visit. Please check website for any closures or special event requirements.

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