Tulsa Museums

[sportyart]

What kind of museums do you think Tulsa is missing?

[Johnboy976]

Natural History Museum
Museum of Modern Art
Native American Museum of History
Oil Capitol of the World Museum
City/County History Museum

The list goes on

[carltonplace]

I'd love to see a city history museum. Thanks to Tulsan Beryl Ford we have a great collection of all things Tulsa. Why do I keep thinking that the Tulsa Historical Society would have a Tulsa museum in their new digs by Woodward Park?

[TheArtist]

My top pick would be a Modern Art museum.  The old abundant life building downtown would make a great place for one.  It has a fun style, great visibility,plenty of parking, and would bring people downtown.  Bit of some retrofittng, add some windows where some of those diamond shapes are and you would be set.  The building just "looks" like a modern art museum.  

 Either that or get one of those huge old manufacturing buildings that are just NE of downtown.

I also like the idea of a Natural History Museum.

 I had never thought of an Oil Capitol Museum, it could focus on Tulsa and its heyday,  give people a sense of what things were like here during that time.  A lot of newer people to the area dont have a clue.  It may not have lasted long but those times were quite amazing.  Perhaps instilling a sense of what Tulsa was, it can lend a sense of uniqueness and direction for what it can be.  That identitiy/branding thing.  Those people had a collective dream and ideal for where they wanted this city to go.  We have lost that.  When Alice was lost and asked the Cheshire cat which way she should go, the cat asked her where she wanted to go.  Alice said "I dont care where, anywhere is fine." The cat replied "Well it doesnt matter which way you go then does it?"  Sounds like Tulsa, no identity, no direction.

[tshane250]

quote:  My top pick would be a Modern Art museum.

That would be my top pick as well despite the fact I really dislike most modern art.  Frankly a lot of it is just crud that could easily be duplicated by a kindergartener.  I went to the IMA about a month ago and strolled around the modern art section.  One of the exhibits was a piece of yarn strung from the floor to the wall.  I was like pancakes is that!  Another exhibit was oddly shaped brightly colored foam core.  I mean come on, what is that!

I think Tulsa could also benefit from a hands on children's museum and a Tulsa history museum.

[Johnboy976]

I'll tell you one thing... the city museum would not be difficult to do. I worked as an interviewer for Greenville County's museum in South Carolina. That town managed to get the money to build their own museum (390,000 in the entire county... keep in mind that their county is almost twice the size of Tulsa County), so it shouldn't be that hard for Tulsa to do the same. Honestly, any of the suggestions I have made I would love to see show up in Tulsa.

[BAPharmer]

Definitely a children's science museum... Has anyone ever been to Enterprise Square(??) in OKC. A museum about capitalism - I remember going there as a kid and thinking it was the coolest!

Is there such a thing as a country music hall of fame? Oklahoma has definitely had its share of country music stars.

[carltonplace]

Anyone remember the Harmon (sp) Science Center? Why didn't it last?

[Johnboy976]

Nashville has had a Country Music Hall of Fame for a few years now. I went there in 2004.

[SXSW]

^ Yeah the Tulsa Historical Museum is quite nice in its new digs by the garden center.  They had an interesting exhibit the last time I went about Tulsa's history as a French fur trading outpost in the 18th century.

In order of importance...

1. Modern/Contemporary Art Museum - somewhere downtown in an innovative structure.  Nothing huge and it would need a niche and some large private donations.

2. Science Museum - again downtown in a modern building.  Something like the old Harmon Science Center but better.  Exhibits about energy and aerospace and its history/science would be cool and could be sponsored by local companies.

3. Architecture/Art Deco Museum - renovate the first and second floors of one of the old Art Deco gems downtown into museum space.  It wouldn't have to be all about Art Deco but architecture in general and the different styles not only in Tulsa but the U.S. as a whole.

Why put these downtown?  Downtown has the most hotel rooms and if we want to attract more retails and restaurants visitors (and Tulsan's) need attractions.  Unique museums like these make great urban attractions.  Our other two museums, Philbrook and Gilcrease, are not far either.

[TheArtist]

I like the idea of a Modern art museum and an Art-Deco museum being downtown.  But, how about having a Science museum near the Air and Space museum and Zoo to help build a concentration of "complimentary" sites in that area as well?  A Natural History museum would do well in both the Downtown or the Zoo area.

[TheArtist]

I like the idea of a Modern art museum and an Art-Deco museum being downtown.  But, how about having a Science museum near the Air and Space museum and Zoo to help build a concentration of "complimentary" sites in that area as well?  A Natural History museum would do well in both the Downtown or the Zoo area.

[swake]

I think that a modern art/art deco center could be combined and that the current central library is a good location and building for such a center.

Tulsa still needs a new central library and the current central library is a pretty cool building, or would be fully restored. Nice placement too near the arena and the proposed "Mayo Place"

[Mrs.B]

I saw that this time last year there was some discussion of the need for a childrens museum.  This is a must for Tulsa and I am ready to get together with other who want it to make it happen.  Anyone?

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Mrs.B

I saw that this time last year there was some discussion of the need for a childrens museum.  This is a must for Tulsa and I am ready to get together with other who want it to make it happen.  Anyone?

I agree on a childrens museum. The Omniplex in OKC is getting tossed by the wayside due to lack of updates. A children's sciene & hisotry museum would be nice. Put it on the west bank, soth of 21st street. I would like to see it jut out over the river (observation deck) and possibly even have a portion where you can walk or ride an elevator into the river.