The Tulsa Art Deco Tour

In June of 2003 the Hampton Inn® Route 66 Caravan was in Tulsa. It was an "off" day for us. I had mentioned that I was a big fan of Art Deco to Marian Clark, author of the Route 66 Cookbook, and I guess she decided to find out just how big a fan of this beautiful architectural art form I really was. Marian arranged to have her friend, Michelle Place, from the Tulsa Historical Society take us on a tour of some of Tulsa's Art Deco treasures. We walked all over downtown Tulsa Town in search of its often forgotten wonders of another era. I was amazed at all the wonderful examples of Art Deco to be found in Tulsa. There is so much left of this fascinating architectural art form that I would hazard to guess that Tulsa just might be the Art Deco Capital of the United States!

				Marian Clark is quite a Route 66 historian and it was a pleasure to be led around town in search of Art Deco.

		Gallery of some great Tulsa Art Deco designs ...








				One of the highlights of the day was our tour of the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Michelle Place gave us the super deluxe tour, which included a trip into the church tower! Built in 1929, this is the largest Art Deco Church in the world.

		The Blue Dome
				Another masterpiece of Art Deco along Route 66 in Tulsa is the Blue Dome. The Blue Dome was built in 1924 and served as a Gulf Oil Station. This was the first station in Oklahoma to have hot water, pressurized air and a car wash. It was also open 24 hours, seven days a week. The station attendant lived upstairs in the dome itself. This 1948 picture shows the Blue Dome in the hey-day of Route 66.

		Today owner Michael Sager is restoring the Blue Dome to its former glory. Michael hopes to have it completed by the Tulsa Route 66 Festival in June of 2004. The area around the Blue Dome on Route 66 will be the center focus of the festival.

		They just don't make gas stations like this anymore!

Route 66 Side Trip

Tulsa Art Deco

Marian Clark is quite a Route 66 historian and it was a pleasure to be led around town in search of Art Deco.

Gallery of some great Tulsa Art Deco designs ...

One of the highlights of the day was our tour of the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Michelle Place gave us the super deluxe tour, which included a trip into the church tower! Built in 1929, this is the largest Art Deco Church in the world.

The Blue Dome

Today owner Michael Sager is restoring the Blue Dome to its former glory. Michael hopes to have it completed by the Tulsa Route 66 Festival in June of 2004. The area around the Blue Dome on Route 66 will be the center focus of the festival.

They just don't make gas stations like this anymore!

Take this exit to return to Route 66 in Tulsa...