Visit Oxley Nature Center if you want a peaceful, natural escape in Tulsa. With over 800 acres of preserved land, you'll have plenty of space to explore and enjoy the diverse wildlife that calls the area home. Whether you're interested in birdwatching or learning about butterflies, there's something for everyone at Oxley. It's a hidden gem in the city's park system and a great way to spend a day outdoors.
Have you ever driven past the Cave House in Tulsa and wondered about its story? If so, you're not alone. This quirky building has a fascinating history dating back to the 1920s when it was built as the Cave Garden Restaurant. By day, the restaurant served food on picnic tables, but at night, it transformed into a speakeasy accessed through a secret tunnel in the fireplace that led to a big room under the hill. Today, the Cave House is a museum dedicated to this piece of Tulsa's past. You can schedule a guided tour to see the meandering halls and steep staircase and learn about the exciting characters that once lived there. The current owner has decorated the interior with nods to previous occupants, including a key tree for the mysterious key woman who is said to have haunted the house. Unsurprisingly, the house has been featured on HGTV's "Home Strange Home" and in the book "Weird Oklahoma."
Did you know that the Tulsa Historical Society & Museum is home to eight exhibit galleries that showcase artifacts and archives from Tulsa's rich history? Established in 1963, the museum has an extensive collection of over 400,000 still photographs, books, maps, documents, textiles, architectural elements, building furnishings, and personal artifacts. Interestingly, from 1985 to 1998, the museum was located in the Thomas Gilcrease house on the Gilcrease Museum grounds. Later, in December of 1997, THSM purchased the historic Sam Travis Mansion, which was renovated and expanded to serve as the museum's new headquarters.