Tulsa, Oklahoma, the second largest city of Oklahoma and the 46th largest in the USA has been the oil capital of the world for a great part of the 20th century. This oil boom brought a lot of wealth and with that came some great architecture. The city has one of the biggest number of Art Deco structures in the country.
In the boom time, almost every oilman built a mansion in Tulsa, these days the oilmen and the oil industry has mostly moved out of Tulsa, but thanks to the Tulsa Historical Society, most of these houses are well preserved.
Most of these houses were built in early1900s.
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| Harwelden Mansion |
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| Tulsa Historical Society-Travis Brothers mansion |
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| Parriott House |
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| Front door of Parriott house |
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| McBirney Mansion |
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| House behind McBirney mansion |
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| Main door of the house |
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| Gillette Mansion |
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| Carl K. Dresser house |
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| Kennedy Mansion |
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| Side view of Kennedy mansion |
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| Skelly Mansion |
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McGay house- McGay is the inventor of the parking meter
and tubeless tires and more |
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| McGay house |
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| Maple Ridge home |
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| Villa Philbrook, built by Waite Phillips of Phillips Oil-1927 |
Picture credits: Google, tulsa gentleman, paisley curtain, etc
I had no idea that Tulsa had such wealthy residents who loved architecture.
ReplyDeleteDavid, in early 1920s and 30s Tulsa was booming with oil and aircraft industry. Even J Paul Getty had his Getty Oil based in Tulsa, he later bought Spartan Aircraft Company based in Tulsa, from Oil baron William Skelly. Imagine the wealth that was there at that time.
ReplyDeleteTulsa still has a lot of wealthy people, but not of that level.
Hello:
ReplyDeleteWe count architecture, and particularly domestic architecture, as one of our principal interests and so you may well imagine how much we have enjoyed this post.
Interestingly, there are details about these houses which very much reflect and suggest their counterparts in Britain, but for all of that they remain, at least to our eyes, and understandably so, very American. Whatever, they represent a particular time, and mindset, where, for the very rich, money was no object and where a display of wealth signified status.
Jane and Lance, a lot f the wealthy people wanted to have features similar to some of their favorite Manors or Chateaus of Europe. But they have their own American touch too. Money was never a problem when these houses were built, actually they all tried to outspend the others :)
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThats the first time i see such beautiful houses of Tulsa.
Have a nice weekend
Jérôme
Well I only saw these houses after visiting Tulsa for the first time. It is amazing to see so many mansions in a few block area.
ReplyDelete