Tulsa Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Tulsa

Tulsa is the second-most-populous city in Oklahoma, situated in the northeastern corner of the state along the Arkansas River. Positioned at the transition between the Great Plains, the foothills of the Ozark Mountains, and the Osage Hills, it serves as the primary municipality for a region known as Green Country. The local landscape is characterized by rolling, forested hills, varied elevation points such as Turkey Mountain, and proximity to numerous regional lakes, providing a topographically diverse setting.

Recognized as a major cultural and arts center, Tulsa features one of the largest concentrations of Art Deco architecture in the United States, showcased in midtown and downtown structures like the Philcade Building, the Boston Avenue Methodist Church, and Will Rogers High School. The city supports two accredited art museums, as well as professional opera and ballet companies. Historic music venues like Cain's Ballroom, which gained prominence in the 1930s with western swing performances, complement modern performance spaces such as the Cesar Pelli-designed BOK Center arena.

The area was originally established between 1828 and 1836 by the Lochapoka band of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation under the Creek Council Oak Tree following forced relocation along the Trail of Tears. Formally incorporated in 1898, much of modern Tulsa continues to sit within Native American territorial lands, including the Muscogee, Cherokee, and Osage Nations. In 1921, the city's Greenwood neighborhood, a prosperous Black community known as Black Wall Street, was destroyed during the Tulsa Race Massacre, an event that resulted in significant loss of life and property damage.

Following major petroleum discoveries at Red Fork in 1901 and the nearby Glenn Pool reserve in 1905, Tulsa grew rapidly and was recognized for much of the twentieth century as the Oil Capital of the World. Energy wealth fueled a major architectural boom, and during the 1920s, local businessman Cyrus Avery helped establish the route for U.S. Highway 66, earning Tulsa the moniker Birthplace of Route 66. During World War II, the local economy expanded into aviation through manufacturing facilities and aerospace operations, eventually transitioning into a modern economy supported by technology, telecommunications, finance, and higher education.

Today, the city hosts several higher education institutions, including the University of Tulsa and Oral Roberts University, both of which field NCAA Division I sports teams, as well as secondary campuses for Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma. Managed riverfront areas like Zink Lake on the Arkansas River and an extensive park system complement its unique historical and built environment.