Tulsa is not the largest city in the US state of Oklahoma, but one of the ones with the best quality of life – on a national level.
According to computerminus, Oklahoma is a US state that not only delights its visitors with great landscapes and a cinematic Wild West past. Oklahoma also has cities that are worth seeing and, as the Americans themselves find, to offer. This is especially true for number two in the state, Tulsa. With around 400,000 residents, the size of it does not come close to the capital of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), but that doesn’t matter to the magnificent city. On the scale of cities with the best quality of life, it is right at the top – on a national level. Where you live well, you can also be good as a tourist. Best hotels, great restaurants, music and nightlife, lots of cultural facilities, a shopping experience and endless opportunities to do something in the fresh air. Welcome to Tulsa!
A young but proud story
Where Tulsa is today, there has long been an urban life in a comparatively modest setting. The Muskogee Indians as indigenous people gave the place the name “Tulsy”, which stands for “old town” in their language. The beginnings of a city based on the European model, on the other hand, only emerged in the late 19th century. After the establishment of a trading post and a post office, the first white settlers came in 1882. Cattle were traded, by the way, very successfully, before a large oil well was found in nearby Red Fork shortly after the turn of the century. Just a few years later, another huge oil deposit was discovered nearby. From then on, it only took two decades for Tulsa to become the vibrant oil capital of the world.
The quick rise and the big bucks changed Tulsa completely. But the city didn’t just grow. You also wanted to show that you had style and class. The best architects were just good enough to build in the Art Deco style that was trendy at the time. The city has benefited from it to this day. Only New York and Miami have more Art Deco buildings in the USA than Tulsa.
From 1930 to around 1960, Tulsa was one of the highlights for everyone who was on the famous ” Route 66 ” between California and Chicago. The legend of this route lives on, the actual road has since lost some of its importance and its actual route. Tulsa also had to accept changes and was the scene of great social and economic change. Today the city is stronger than ever in every respect. Young, well-educated people from all over the US are moving there to work and live well. And tourists? They can spend a “trip of a liftetime” in Tulsa and Oklahoma, the vacation of a lifetime.
The whole culture of the Wild West in one museum
Art and culture play an important role in Tulsa. From free open-air concerts in one of the numerous parks to festivals to “high” culture in concert halls and museums, there’s always something going on. A must for every visitor should be the Gilcrease Museum (1400 Gilcrease Museum Rd.), Which has the world’s largest collection of West American art to offer. The museum also has an impressive collection of Native American art. The founder and namesake of the museum is the oil magnate Thomas Gilcrease, who lived from 1890 to 1962. He started collecting western art as early as the 1920s. Hardly anyone was interested in it at the time. Today tens of thousands come to the museum, which by the way also has themed gardens, a beautifully landscaped park with sculptures and an outdoor area with forest.
Mountains, water, forest and outdoor vacation fun
Tulsa is not only on Route 66, but also on the Arkansas River. Promenade walks and water sports are also possible. In all honesty, these aren’t the main attractions for outdoor activists in Tulsa. Instead, you will hike and bike on the trails, for example through the River Parks or the nearby Turkey Mountains. There are over 20 public golf courses, around 130 tennis courts and well over a hundred parks where residents and visitors of all ages can feel comfortable and have a lot of fun. So-called picnic shelters, in which you can eat undisturbed in any weather condition, are part of the basic equipment.
Speaking of the weather. Summers in Tulsa can get very hot. Temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius are not uncommon. If you are not so good at dealing with the heat, you should choose the travel time carefully and maybe come in spring or autumn.
Of course, a visit will never be limited to the urban area. Great, because around Tulsa there are various highly interesting reserves, in which, for example, Powwows are repeatedly held. These are traditional dance festivals. Large rodeos are also regularly held outside the city gates.
