Tulsa is quickly becoming one of the best places to visit. Within the city you will find world-class dining, unique shopping destinations, a wealth of artistic experiences, and historic landmarks around every corner. Read on to discover our must-see-and-do guide when planning a 3-day trip to Tulsa or take a look at our Tulsa Day Trip Itinerary if you're planning a shorter excurision.
04/2020 by TulsaGo Staff
Last Update: 10/2021
Explore the city’s arts & culture scene on the first day of your trip to visit Tulsa. Throughout the year, you will find gallery openings, theater productions, choral performances, orchestral concerts, and much more. New and exciting exhibits can be found amid Tulsa's museum scene, ranging from rare art collections to never-before-heard music archives.
1. Sherwin Miller Museum
Founded in 1966, the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art houses the largest collection of Jewish art in the Southwestern United States. The museum contains 13,700 square feet of exhibit space consisting of more than 16,000 pieces, including items of archaeological and ritual significance, ethnographic costumes, synagogue textiles, historical documents, and fine art.
Gilcrease Museum houses a comprehensive collection of the art, culture and history of North America. Thomas Gilcrease established Gilcrease Museum in 1949 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Today the interdisciplinary collection contains more than 350,000 items. The museum represents hundreds of Indigenous cultures from across North and South America, with material culture and archaeology ranging from 12,000 BCE to the 21st century. In 2021, Gilcrease began a full rennovation of its facility - reopening to visitors again in early 2022.
Explore 19,000 feet of exhibit space, hands-on educational displays, a full dome planetarium and the MD-80 Discovery Center. The Tulsa Air and Space Museum honors and celebrates Tulsa's rich aviation heritage as well as its future in the aerospace industry.
First opened in 1939, Philbrook Museum of Art serves as a world-class art center for the city of Tulsa, with 25 acres of gardens and a sprawling Italian Villa. Serving over 160,000 visitors annually, Philbrook has become a poignant testimony to Tulsa’s past.
Interact through programs and tours, research online through photo collections and virtual exhibits, or watch documentaries about Tulsa’s past. There are many ways to connect with Tulsa’s history.
The world's largest collection of bull sharks, sacred sculpture art at Woodward Park, a mysterious spot in Downtown Tulsa where echoes are amplified, a space cowboy muffler man on historic Route 66, and an 85-acre local zoo with exhibits featuring wildlife from all around the world.
6. Appeal to the Great SpiritLocated at 21st & Peoria inside Woodward Park, Appeal to the Great Spirit is a true landmark in the city.
7. Center of the UniverseThe Center of the Universe in Downtown Tulsa is a mysterious spot where visitors can stand on a circle & the noises they make are echoed back much louder.
8. Cyrus Avery Centennial PlazaThe Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza features the flags of the eight states that Route 66 passes through, the Route 66 Skywalk, a pedestrian walk way over the Mother Road, and several bronze statues that include a land-run horse and wagon and an old automobile featuring Will Rogers.
9. Gathering PlaceGathering Place is a public park located near Riverside Drive. With over 100 acres, visitors enjoy an unparalleled playground, trails, gardens, boat rentals, eateries, live music, special events, and more.
10. Oklahoma AquariumOpened in 2003, the Oklahoma Aquarium is over 72,000 square feet and is home to the world's largest exhibit of bull sharks, as well as a loggerhead sea turtle, zebra shark, and humphead wrasse.
11. Tulsa Botanic GardenOver 170 acres of beauty and wildlife just northwest of Downtown Tulsa. Tulsa Botanic Garden also hosts several seasonal events throughout the year, including Autumn in the Garden and Garden of Lights.
12. Tulsa ZooThe Tulsa Zoo is 85 acres and is located in Mohawk Park. The zoo houses a wealth of wildlife animals including African Lions, penguins, alligators, flamingos, elephants, monkies, bobcats, and much more. Exhibits include the conservation center, Life in the Cold, Life in the Desert, Life in the Forest, Life in the Water, and The Lost Kingdom - to name a few.
One of the most distinct aspects of Tulsa is its districts. Some offer an inviting bar scene, some offer a plethora of retail options, and some offer the most delectable foods you will ever have the pleasure of eating. Explore each district on tulsago.com and you will be sure to find something new, something unexpected, and something prominent. Choose a single district or explore all of them. Click the button below for more information on each of the Tulsa Districts.