Our takeaways from our few days in Tulsa, OK, are…..
Wind, Churches, Oil, and highway tolls.
While Wind will remain at the top of the list for the foreseeable future, the last three ebb and flow according to the whims of the current conventional wisdom. When we arrived in Tulsa, it was early afternoon, so we decided to begin our exploration of this mid-America city. Boston Avenue runs roughly north and south, and is the beating heart of the city. Millions upon millions of oil and mineral dollars have flowed through this city and have resulted in graceful churches and impressive buildings, almost all of them located along or near Boston Avenue.
The Presbyterian Church is a grand example of the honor and glory Oklahomans give to their churches.
Other places of worship are located nearby.
The downtown “Blue Dome” district is a microcosm of Tulsa history.
The Mid Continent Tower was built in 1918 by The Cosdon Oil and Gas Company.
The Oklahoma Natural Gas Building was constructed in 1928 and is an example of “Zigzag Art Deco” architecture.
Modern Tulsa has not forgotten its roots and both old and new buildings give the downtown a unique vibe.
But, dominating downtown, and impossible to miss, is the Bank of Oklahoma.
Late on a Sunday afternoon, as we faced a wind tunnel wind whipping around the sharp corners of silent buildings, we looked up to see two window washers working their way down the side of an office building. They didn’t need to propel themselves from side to side….the wind took care of that!
Old Route 66 has been our companion for many hundreds of miles on its way to the West Coast. As it passed through Tulsa, businesses sprang up along it, providing much needed services to travelers and wealth to the city. Very few remnants of that busy time remain, but the Meadow Gold sign is one of the most famous. This dairy was one of the first to retail dairy products in a large way.
A mural on the original dairy store pays homage to the travelers passing by.
And, of course, we couldn’t leave Tulsa without taking a picture of Tulsas mascot, The Golden Driller.
We stayed in Whispering Oaks RV Park in Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Sapulpa is named for a native american who opened a trading post southwest of Tulsa back in the day. The park is neither whispering nor growing oak trees, but is adequate just the same, as long as the 24 hour drone of the adjacent beer bottle manufacturing company next door doesn’t present a problem…..
We have enjoyed spending time in Tulsa. We may return some day….who knows?
No comments:
Post a Comment