The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

OKPOP museum finally finds home near historic Cain's Ballroom
Museum finally finds home near historic Cain’s Ballroom in Brady District

After years of searching for a home in Tulsa for Oklahoma’s proposed pop culture museum, the facility will soon be built across the street from one of the city’s decades-old cultural icons: Cain’s Ballroom.
The new location for the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Oklahoma Museum of Pop Culture, known as the OKPOP, will be just south of Interstate 244 at the corner of West Easton Street and North Main Street, directly across from Cain’s, officials plan to announce Thursday.
The empty lot at 422 N. Main St., which comprises a fourth of the city block, has been used for years as paid concert parking for Cain’s. It will soon be the location of the proposed 40,000-square-foot, $40 million museum facility and a 100-space underground parking garage, Oklahoma Historical Society Director Bob Blackburn said.
Since 2014, three different sites within Tulsa’s downtown have been proposed as potential locations for the museum, though the plan has always been for the building to end up in Tulsa, specifically the Brady Arts District, Blackburn said.
Once completed, the museum will include interactive exhibits showcasing the creativity of Oklahomans and how that influence has spread into pop culture at-large, as well as a performance venue and recording and broadcasting studios.
The goal is to give historical context to these pieces of art and culture, which Blackburn thinks will set the museum apart.
“There’s a story behind the music, behind the literature, behind the illustration, behind the movies. That’s the story that’s going to make this a unique museum,” he said. “You can get the music and the movies and everything else online anymore, but where can you get the story behind the art to connect the dots?”
Notable Oklahomans to be featured in the museum are Woody Guthrie, Mary Kay Place, S.E. Hinton, Garth Brooks, Leon Russell and the country star who called the adjacent Cain’s Ballroom home, Bob Wills.
The museum, which is funded in part by a $25 million state bond, was initially slated for a lot near the Brady Theater in 2008. Plans then changed because of the recession, moving the museum to a parking lot near Archer Street and Boston Avenue used by Bank of Oklahoma employees.
Officials scrapped the plan after a trade-off between the lot’s owner, BOK Financial, and the Oklahoma Historical Society to build parking for BOK employees created some legal and political difficulties.
The next proposed spot was near ONEOK Field, on Elgin Avenue between Archer and M.B. Brady streets. The museum competed against a proposal for a 250,000-square-foot multi-use building in vying for the Tulsa Development Authority-owned property.
During the bidding process for the Tulsa Development Authority property, Blackburn learned the property across from Cain’s Ballroom was available.
In addition to being next to the “sacred ground” that is the ballroom, Blackburn said the property had everything he’d been looking for because of the area’s history.
The site is in Tulsa, in the historic Greenwood District, in the modern Brady Arts District, and because of that history it represented the “crossroads of creativity” concepts museum officials hoped to illustrate with exhibits in the facility.
Blackburn called the new site “perfect,” and after the nearly decade-long search, he said it’s a relief to finally have a location selected for the museum.
“Now it’s time to get to the table and roll our sleeves up,” he said.
Officials plan to break ground on the museum by the beginning of 2018 and use 2017 for planning and designing the facility. The museum should open by the end of 2019.

The new home of OKPop was announced today and I didn't see that OKPop has ever had its own thread.  Now that it looks like they have a home directly across from Canes (SW corner of Brady and Easton), plans are sure to follow.  I'm guessing some people on here will have an opinion to share in that regard... so lets start a thread!

http://www.newson6.com/story/34055255/long-awaited-okpop-museum-will-be-built-across-from-cains-ballroom

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/okpop-museum-finally-finds-home-near-historic-cain-s-ballroom/article_2ccf1060-5898-5fb9-b360-31cc427c3b8b.html

- - -
Oddly, its own website has the location wrong (still shown in the BOK lot) and the latest announcement doesn't appear on the website:
http://www.okpop.org/

And nothing on the Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/OKPOPmuseum/
- - -

No word yet on if the plan would be the same submitted to the TDA across from the ballpark (http://www.newson6.com/story/32426360/tulsa-development-authority-looks-at-okpop-museum-retail-development-for-brady-district), or closer to the renderings given for the BOK lot, or something entirely different. I trolled the website of the listed architect (http://www.okpop.org/2016/05/okpop-museum-selects-architectural-design-team/) (Overland Partners) and didn't see anything. 

The empty lot at 422 N. Main St., which comprises a fourth of the city block, has been used for years as paid concert parking for Cain’s. It will soon be the location of the proposed 40,000-square-foot, $40 million museum facility and a 100-space underground parking garage

The next proposed spot was near ONEOK Field, on Elgin Avenue between Archer and M.B. Brady streets. The museum competed against a proposal for a 250,000-square-foot multi-use building in vying for the Tulsa Development Authority-owned property.

Officials plan to break ground on the museum by the beginning of 2018 and use 2017 for planning and designing the facility. The museum should open by the end of 2019.

$1000 per square foot. What kind of building are these people building?

I don't mind saying that I think the OKPOP Museum is kind of a silly waste. As a friend of mine puts it: "Who would go see a bunch of tchotchkes related to anyone and everyone who was minor celebrity from a previous generation and had some connection to New Mexico?" It seems over-broad and lacking in depth. The performance space and recording studio may save it.

That said, if it must be built, I think the latest location is the best place it could possibly be. Across the street from the Cain's may help alleviate the previous concerns by giving the museum the seriousness it needs; and I think both institutions could benefit from a positive feedback loop. And of course in favor of putting just about anything on top of a parking lot on Main Street in the Brady District.

2019 does seem like the distant future. That's the time the Hansons' project (http://www.newson6.com/story/33280360/hanson-brothers-in-talks-to-build-brewery-studio-in-brady-district) is supposed to be starting - yikes. There are many days I wish things downtown would move faster. I want to be able to enjoy while I still have a chance!

I don't mind saying that I think the OKPOP Museum is kind of a silly waste. As a friend of mine puts it: "Who would go see a bunch of tchotchkes related to anyone and everyone who was minor celebrity from a previous generation and had some connection to New Mexico?" It seems over-broad and lacking in depth. The performance space and recording studio may save it.

That said, if it must be built, I think the latest location is the best place it could possibly be. Across the street from the Cain's may help alleviate the previous concerns by giving the museum the seriousness it needs; and I think both institutions could benefit from a positive feedback loop. And of course in favor of putting just about anything on top of a parking lot on Main Street in the Brady District.

2019 does seem like the distant future. That's the time the Hansons' project (http://www.newson6.com/story/33280360/hanson-brothers-in-talks-to-build-brewery-studio-in-brady-district) is supposed to be starting - yikes. There are many days I wish things downtown would move faster. I want to be able to enjoy while I still have a chance!

With this going in it's even more critical the proposed parking garage at Main & Cameron has street level retail space or something interesting.  Isn't that going to be across the street from the future Hanson brewery?

Wow, I couldn’t disagree more.  Philbrook and Gilcrease are wonderful museums that stake out a particular space in the art world.  But most decent size cities have nice museums that have a notable national or regional bent.  This will be something entirely unique and showcase Oklahoma’s oversized impact and influence on popular culture.  Combined with the Woody Guthrie Center and the Dylan archives, OKPOP has the potential to create a real draw to downtown.

The same negative comments could apply to Living Arts Museum ,the Woody Guthrie Center, Bob Dylan center coming, or most any museum.  Few are, in and of themselves, actual destinations.  Rather they are part of a collection of attractions which together make an area more likely to draw tourists.  No one goes to San Antonio for the Alamo, they go for Old Towne, the River Walk, the Alamo and because there is probably something going on. Same with OKC.  Same with KC.  Same with most people going to Memphis.  Other than a dwindling few who go to Memphis because they are Elvis freaks, they want to eat BBQ, walk down Beale, see where MLK was shot, maybe go to the Gibson guitar factory, and maybe catch a game while in town.

The OK POP adds one more thing to do in Tulsa.

Add the BOK Center to all the things you listed and we drastically increase the likelihood that someone coming to town for a show decides to stay for a long weekend.  Add it all up and we keep events like the Arabian Horse show and BMX Nationals and we start adding to the list.  Most Tulsan's don't realize how easy it is becoming to sell Tulsa.

That's exactly right - it's about creating an ecosystem of attractions, which together are more than the sum of their parts.  I think that programming beyond the pure museum component is absolutely key to OKPOP's success - imagine performances, a music school, fantastic acts from genres that may not sell out stadiums (Delta blues, folk, gospel, bluegrass, Americana), writing workshops, etc.  A place where up and coming talent can be nurtured and get their work out there outside of bars.

GKFF is heavily involved in OKPOP.  So far they have killed it on programming, from the Guthrie Green to the various other museums in the Brady District, and I think they fully recognize that the museum has to have a steady stream of events to succeed.  I have a lot of hope. 

PLUS we'll start to get a music district.  OKPOP, Cain's, Soundpony, Yeti, all right there and you start to get one of those destinations where you don't need to plan in advance to expect quality entertainment.  You just show up and there will be at least one good show going on. 

Anyway I'm really excited about this!

OKPOP museum clears hurdle to build in Tulsa with $25 million in bonds approved

State bond council OKs $25 million in financing for facility in Brady Arts District

Efforts to build a museum of popular culture in downtown Tulsa cleared another hurdle on Thursday.

The state Council of Bond Oversight approved the sale of $25 million in bonds to build the four-story facility across from Cain’s Ballroom in the Brady Arts District.

“This is the culmination of one more very significant step toward the ultimate creation of this facility,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber.

The Oklahoma Museum of Pop Culture, known as the OKPOP, will be just south of Interstate 244 at the corner of Main and Easton streets. The facility is expected to open in the spring of 2020, said Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society.

“I have high hopes this will be a very successful museum,” he said.

Construction is expected to begin in 2018 and take a year. It will take another six to eight months to move in the collections, Blackburn said.

Officials hope to privately raise another $15 million or more to support the facility, he said.

The museum will showcase actors, singers, artists, bands and writers, among others. It will highlight the “history of creativity by those who can make a living at it,” Blackburn said.

The museum will have space for interactive exhibits, educational programming, administration offices, and archival and collection storage.

The facility will be between 40,000 and 45,000 square feet and have a two-story, 100-space underground parking garage, which will generate revenue, Blackburn said.

The city of Tulsa is a partner in the parking facility and has pledged more than $2 million toward the garage, he said.

A rooftop feature is also part of the museum’s design, Blackburn said.

Mayor G.T. Bynum praised the concept of OKPOP.

“This museum is important not just because it honors our heritage, but more importantly because it will inspire the next generation of creative Oklahomans in a global economy that increasingly rewards creative thinking,” he said. “The state of Oklahoma’s commitment is significant and, in combination with both donor support and local government assistance, will help build a transformative destination for Oklahomans.”

 
Legislation authorizing the museum was passed and signed in 2015 after several failed attempts.

“We are ready to go,” Blackburn said.

Neal said the facility will attract visitors, new businesses and help create jobs.

Next week, a delegation will travel to Los Angeles and Seattle to look at similar facilities and learn more about generating revenue. The delegation will host a dinner for various Hollywood-based Oklahomans, seeking to get their input and recruit others to participate in the project, Blackburn said.

A trip to the East Coast will be made in the fall, he said.

“We are in the vision-seeking phase of it,” Blackburn said.

I feel like there was a better location for that museum. Like maybe the giant parking lot on the corner of Main and Cameron and not right by the highway. Pretty soon places that made the neighborhood cool aren't going to be able to stay-like Soundpony.

I feel like there was a better location for that museum. Like maybe the giant parking lot on the corner of Main and Cameron and not right by the highway. Pretty soon places that made the neighborhood cool aren't going to be able to stay-like Soundpony.

<snip>I'm sure this design will catch a lot of flack from Tulsans, but the city needs more unique and significant architectural points around the city. <snip>

Why do you think that? I think it will be wholly embraced. Why wouldn't it?

Perhaps I just read too many comments in the TW, but it seems that whenever something "different" gets built ( think BOK center), it's the negative responses that stick. I believe the folks that know that it's a good thing don't feel the need to defend it. I'm sure this building will be fully embraced by the city eventually, I just have to look past the negative responses. It's part of the problem of being on the outside, down here in Dallas, looking in!

Hey D-TT, this forum is filled with so many Negative Nancies.  The stuff they posted about the failure of the BOK is legend.  The stuff they posted about the failure of the Drillers Stadium was over the top.  Let a new restaurant open and some of them are so sure they know better than the persons who spent the money to open it.  And it seems no one does it exactly like they would do it. It is amazing that Tulsa is still a fully functioning entity because it seems to keep on keeping on in spite of their sage advice. 

Perhaps I just read too many comments in the TW, but it seems that whenever something "different" gets built ( think BOK center), it's the negative responses that stick. I believe the folks that know that it's a good thing don't feel the need to defend it. I'm sure this building will be fully embraced by the city eventually, I just have to look past the negative responses. It's part of the problem of being on the outside, down here in Dallas, looking in!

It is better to not read the news article comments. Fortunately, Tulsa World removed those and put them separate on fb. I don't know how some of those people can constantly complain about most everything, but they don't represent most people.

I don't think anyone will hate on this design. It's kind of a game-changing design, far better than the original rendering, and it will take an ugly edge of downtown and turns it into something you'd expect to be in downtown Seattle or LA. The pergola on the roof makes it look like there might be some sort of restaurant or bar/venue up there which is a really nice idea.

You are right on about the BOK center - it is bu$$ ugly, but has been very successful, so that brings it's own funky 'beauty' to it.  I mean, really, who wouldn't want to have a crashed spaceship in their backyard??  I want one!!  Anyone who says no is lying!!


OKPop is gonna bring a nice touch to the area.  I absolutely hate that so many buildings are using so much glass instead of true design elements, but that is the period of time we are in right now in architecture schools, and I think they did a pretty good job given the limits/constraints of melty sand!


Glass is like the commercial building equivalent of large garage door in front of a house as architectural element.  They both suck.

I'm a fan of the BOK, I think because just seeing SOMETHING being built downtown, while on the bus to Booker T, was the coolest thing for me. It actually had some sort of an impact on me to want to become an architect! Not because of the design, but more for the impact it would have on, what was at the time, a pretty barren part of downtown, and at least started a conversation there.
Unfortunately the stuff being built adjacent have been a whiff design wise, but hey, it's SOMETHING. We could definitely do better, and I think fortunately folks have taken note and have pushed for more thoughtful design, though understandably it does come down to money so we have constraints. I actually think someone needs to come in and re-skin that exterior of cimarex.

I like the comment on glass here because you are right, EVERYONE in architecture school felt the need to make everything glass! I do appreciate transparency, but staying true to materials can be just as successful, as well as having a good mix of them. Thankfully this OKPOP museum looks to be doing just that!

This forum is all about criticism when design doesn't meet expectations of the taxpayers, who are often footing the bill (like in this case or BOK Center!), or when it doesn't meet acceptable minimum design standards for what we want Tulsa to be (What Tulsa Now was founded on). I honestly don't see too many "Negative Nancies" on here except for the guy who is always (understandably) griping about the lighting. I see far more "attaboys" for great design like this place or Santa Fe Square renderings or NOLA's. There's a lot of great things to celebrate, but if we can't get on here to criticize and discuss, why have this board? Some of us don't want Tulsa to end up with too many Cimarex towers, generic-looking CVS's on Cherry Street or riverfront shopping centers.

You are right on about the BOK center - it is bu$$ ugly, but has been very successful, so that brings it's own funky 'beauty' to it.  I mean, really, who wouldn't want to have a crashed spaceship in their backyard??  I want one!!  Anyone who says no is lying!!


OKPop is gonna bring a nice touch to the area.  I absolutely hate that so many buildings are using so much glass instead of true design elements, but that is the period of time we are in right now in architecture schools, and I think they did a pretty good job given the limits/constraints of melty sand!


Glass is like the commercial building equivalent of large garage door in front of a house as architectural element.  They both suck.

You are an architect?   But in Texas??   Oh, wait... Baja Oklahoma!   There...I got it right....

Yep! Originally from Dallas, grew up in Tulsa, went to the University of Arkansas for the architecture program, then SOMEHOW got pulled out to San Francisco for work. Realized I was not a good Californian and transferred to our Dallas office (closest to home), so pretty much come full circle. I've been following Tulsanow since a freshman in highschool in all the cities I've lived in to keep up with the development happening there. I am unapologetically proud Tulsan and love seeing how far it really has come. We are actually trying to tap into the Oklahoma market (although I am trying to contain my bias to gun for the Tulsa metro). I come up about twice a month and it just amazes me, how much has actually happened development wise. This museum is just going to add fuel to the fire and keep the train rollin'!

I'm a fan of the OK POP design, it's even cooler knowing that it will have Bob Will's bus embedded in the façade.
Also I have always loved the BOK center's design. I think Peli did a good job with it.

Ahem (cough, cough) constructive criticism.  To their credit, the city has made a lot of progress in the last few years; It just took a while to see that better lighting choices were not necessarily coming from the people selling the electricity.
Also, im very cool with the revival of neon.  No one has really gone overboard with it so thats very encouraging.

Haha.. true it was constructive. I learned quite a lot from your posts like to never buy acorn lights even though I think they look nice visually during the day and about how much needless light pollution we have. Seeing your posts about proper lighting, which is far cheaper long-term, definitely opened my eyes to how wasteful the city is by pinching pennies up front (and even developers of projects downtown). 

As far as I can tell the newer blue light posts on the I-244 bridge over the river to west Tulsa from downtown look nice and so do the Blue Dome/Arts District lights. They look like far better lighting options than what we have had in the past with the standard blue halogen or orange blur machines. 

Your criticisms were on point. I was mostly saying this board in general doesn't seem very negative in general, more just apt criticism where it is due (Like the first-draft of CVS at 15th and Lewis or Turkey Mountain Mall fiasco).

OKPOP set to break ground on state's pop culture museum next month in downtown Tulsa

The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, also known as OKPOP, will officially break ground in October across the street from Cain's Ballroom, officials announced on Thursday.  The museum, which will house collections of Oklahoma creative artists from music, movies, TV and more, will have a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. Oct. 23, which Gov. Kevin Stitt, other officials and special guests will attend.


https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/okpop-set-to-break-ground-on-state-s-pop-culture/article_e4642f02-5487-52c0-98b6-6b76b2bd087d.html

Indeed - long over due.  This will be a game changer for Brady/Tulsa Arts District.

I don't know about national draw, but it will definitely give downtown some critical mass. Time to start some real tourism programs to really market all the stuff we have. I know we already do a bit, but this + Bob Dylan will give us enough punching weight to actually attract some people. It will also make it a lot easier to attract major events. Lots of momentum here for sure.

Groundbreaking was today.  I’m excited to watch this go up and how it will eventually anchor the north stretch of Main along with Cain’s.

https://www.fox23.com/news/okpop-museum-groundbreaking-set-for-wednesday/1000175408 (https://www.fox23.com/news/okpop-museum-groundbreaking-set-for-wednesday/1000175408)

Drove by the site a few days ago. Doesn't look like they've quite started anything, but there is a new construction trailer on the lot.

Drove by the site a few days ago. Doesn't look like they've quite started anything, but there is a new construction trailer on the lot.

A nice video of the renderings... they've been working in earnest for about a month.

https://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainment/watch-now-okpop-museum-makes-progress-take-a-look-at-video-tour/article_218274b3-b779-506f-8b36-a21ebc64ca84.html

I can't remember from the mock ups... is that yellow close to the final color?

It does look a lot better now. Still needs the sign and lighting to really make it pop.

Last I heard is they don't have funding for exhibits - they are trying to get the state to kick in more money to finish out the interior of the museum but it will likely not be open for 12 months or more is my guess. They spent pretty much everything that got allocated on the site/building.

Seems like an important part of building a museum is making sure you can actually have a museum..

Seems like an important part of building a museum is making sure you can actually have a museum..

Same approach the FAM (First Americans Museum) in OKC took. Once it's under construction at some point the state is going to kick in more funds to get it finished. They at least finished the building as opposed to FAM that went back for more money multiple times just to finish the structure. I'd expect there to be additional funding requested in the 2022 legislature session, I think all the bills to be considered this year are due here shortly.

It seems like some kind of gift shop or traveling exhibit area to activate the ground floor would be a good filler until they can finish out the upper floors. 

It's been over nine months since we first discussed how they didn't have funding to complete the exhibits... https://tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/okpop-in-limbo-as-it-searches-for-funding/article_6ec11f98-352b-11ed-a5f2-f3a66fa9ba6f.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_Tulsa_World&fbclid=IwAR1fb3XwMiQg-bLR5O5wgdABmhuTdtZ0wq4ZQh5_307_kKdXePeLX6svkT4

Nothing has changed. Blake Ewing was involved but has since left for a cushy city job - funny how he always seems to be involved in the city's quagmires...

Various interviews have stated that they have a lot of artifacts on hand, such as Bob Wills' tour bus. https://www.tulsapeople.com/multimedia/podcast/okpop-museums-goals-and-the-rise-of-oklahollywood-blake-ewing-okpop-museum/article_80174686-26af-11ec-8b71-6bd116bee663.html

They also state that they have approximately $3 million in commitments from COT and the County. My question is, why can't they do SOMETHING with $3 million to bring some exhibits to life to get the ball rolling? I get that they want to make a splash from day one and first impressions are important, but opening at least the ground floor as a "teaser" for the rest would be a better hook for donations/grants than an empty building that is quickly turning into a joke.

[quote author=shavethewhales

Various interviews have stated that they have a lot of artifacts on hand, such as Bob Wills' tour bus. https://www.tulsapeople.com/multimedia/podcast/okpop-museums-goals-and-the-rise-of-oklahollywood-blake-ewing-okpop-museum/article_80174686-26af-11ec-8b71-6bd116bee663.html



This one?
(https://digitalcollections.tulsalibrary.org/digital/api/singleitem/image/p15020coll1/16180/default.jpg)

So it sounds like the House decided not to even vote on this, so they never got the final approval despite passing the senate. So OKPOP is dead in the water again... Very frustrating. How many years will the building sit in limbo before they come up with a plan?