The Tulsa Air and Space Museum & Planetarium is an outstanding museum that strives to pay homage to the past while encouraging the future. Since its establishment in 1994, the museum offers guided tours, hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, motivational messages, and educational planetarium programs. TASM provides education in an awe-inspiring setting that showcases the stories of aerospace pioneers and events, one-of-a-kind and priceless airplanes, computer flight simulators, cockpit trainers, demonstrations, and simulated space missions. The museum enhances learning through hands-on activities. During group tours, students can touch and interact with aircraft. The museum offers open cockpits and various simulators, such as the space shuttle landing, P51, manned maneuvering unit, and hot air balloon, to help students understand the principles of flight and the technology used by astronauts, pilots, and scientists.
If you're looking for the best way to explore downtown Tulsa, look no further than Tulsa Tours. These local pros offer a variety of walking tours that cater to your interests and budget. Head to their tour office in the Philcade, an Art Deco landmark built by oilman Waite Phillips, to get started. You'll love browsing their collection of vintage Tulsa postcards and pennants, dating back to when Tulsa was known as the World's Oil Capital. One of the most popular tours among visitors is Architecture & Art Deco. This tour explores the fantastic architecture of Tulsa and delves into the meaning behind ornamental details found in the city's most storied buildings. You'll see styles ranging from Neo-Gothic to Art Deco to Modernism and even gain exclusive access to a dazzling Deco lobby normally closed to the public. For locals, the Tunnel Tour is a must-see. This tour takes you through the interior corridors of historic office buildings, where you'll learn about the rich history of these buildings and the oil men who built them.
Have you ever heard of the Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Reserve? It's an incredible piece of nature that boasts the last remaining 10 percent of natural prairie grass. The two-hour drive through the preserve is a nature lover's dream. You'll see grazing bison amid the 500 different plant species and great views of the city's outdoor landscape. It's truly a sight to behold. Visitors to the reserve can experience the wide-open prairie and the patches of crosstimbers forest by circling the 15-mile bison driving loop, hiking along designated trails, and stopping to take in the views at various scenic turnouts. With over 700 plants, 300 birds, and 80 mammals, the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve offers excellent wildlife-watching opportunities and exceptional views of diverse natural habitats.