Boston Avenue Methodist Church in Tulsa was built in ecclesiastical art deco style, Photo courtesy of Tulsa Regional Tourism.
Tulsa John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park, Photo courtesy of Tulsa Regional Tourism.
events that have profoundly shaped American history. Along with the shimmering geometric art deco architecture and meandering downtown tunnels, there’s another component—albeit calamitous and tragic—of Tulsa’s legacy. This year is the 100th anniversary of the Black Wall Street Massacre, also known as the Greenwood Massacre, where angry mobs fueled what some have called the single worst incident of racial violence in American history. It stemmed from rumors of a black teenage boy assaulting a white girl in an elevator and resulted in angry white mobs burning—with firebombs dropped from airplanes—and decimating a few dozen city blocks of what once was one of the wealthiest African American communities in the country. Up to 300 people were killed, with hundreds injured. Today, John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park with its circular courtyards, water wall and statues pays tribute to the massacre’s victims. Greenwood Rising, a new and long-awaited history center memorializing this tragedy, opened this anniversary year. Taking part in the new center’s development was the same firm involved with the September 11 Memorial & Museum. “This rich, cultural experience (of Greenwood Rising) vividly highlights the legacy of Black Wall Street and
the prominent African Americans who lived and worked here 100 years ago,” says Ray Hoyt with Tulsa Regional Tourism. “The 1921 Race Massacre is likely Tulsa’s most regrettable point in history. But it’s history that needs to be shared, and we are encouraged by the way it’s spreading across the world and sparking courageous conversations.” History buffs will also delight in the fact that historic Route 66 passes through downtown Tulsa, where there are many examples of the city’s extensive art deco architecture resulting from the booming oil business a century ago. Zigzag and streamlined styles emblazon lobbies and facades of office towers including the Philcade Building financed by oilman Waite Phillips. Another stunning example—my favorite—is the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church built in ecclesiastical art deco style. Its soaring tower adds a distinctive touch to the city’s skyline. First built to provide security for the rich oil barons, Tulsa’s downtown tunnel system later expanded and today connects office buildings with garages and hotels, also providing a great way to explore art deco lobbies. “Linked to big money from Tulsa’s oil boom, the tunnels were created for Waite Phillips’ safety to maneuver around Tulsa’s downtown during the Great Depression
OKLAHOMA CITY TO LITTLE ROCK
COAST TO COAST SUMMER MAGAZINE 2021
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