On Friday, Nov. 22, the City of Tulsa will host several public tours of the new Gilcrease Museum building as it reaches the final stages of construction.

 

With the construction of the building in its final stages and with a public tour scheduled Nov. 22, the Gilcrease Museum will also host multiple community activities and workshops throughout next year for Tulsans to enjoy. The exhibition installation is expected to begin in late 2025 with the new Gilcrease Museum expected to open to the public in Fall 2026.

 

Nov. 22 tours are very limited, and spots can be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. Interested groups can sign up for a tour time slot online at https://tulsaparks.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1297

 

Participants must but 18 years of age and closed toe shoes are recommended. The tour involves several flights of stairs and elevator access will be limited. Please note, no art or exhibits will be present in the building, but attendees will get a glimpse of what the reimagined space will look like prior to art installation and the opening in 2026. 

 

With voter approved funds and private support, the re-envisioned 91,000-square-foot building will boast a much-improved space that meets contemporary standards for care of Gilcrease’s extensive collection and touring exhibitions. The museum is owned by the City of Tulsa, which has partnered with The University of Tulsa to manage the museum.

 

Located within the Osage Nation reservation boundaries, the new building design contains subtle references to Osage culture. The lower level of the building is comprised of earth tones, creating a connection to the ground, while the upper level utilizes sky tones, blurring the line between architecture and the sky. A three-story atrium helps orient visitors while other spaces throughout the building frame views of Downtown and North Tulsa and panoramic views of the Osage Hills that will create experiential moments between visitors and the “Great American Landscape”.

 

About Gilcrease Museum

Gilcrease Museum was founded in 1949 as a private museum by Tulsa oilman Thomas Gilcrease, who amassed the most comprehensive collection of art of the American West in the United States, as well as major collection of historical documents and artifacts. The City of Tulsa acquired the collection in 1954, with an additional gift from the Gilcrease family in 1963 and other private gifts.

 

The museum includes a collection of more than 350,000 items reflecting the art, culture and history of North America, representing hundreds of Indigenous cultures from across North and South America, with works of art and artifacts from 12,000 BCE to the 21st century.