Gilcrease Museum - A Tulsa Story Of American Heritage

You know, the Gilcrease Museum, over in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a place that really holds a lot of special things. It's a spot where you can find so many different kinds of pieces, like art, old papers, and items from different cultures. There are, actually, more than 28,000 of these items, giving you a pretty good sense of history and human stories. It's, basically, a huge collection that tells us a lot about the past. This institution, officially known as the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art, has been a significant part of the community for a long time, holding onto important parts of American experience.

This Tulsa institution, with its vast collection of American art and history, is currently going through some big changes. It closed its doors in July 2021 for a major building project, with plans to welcome everyone back into a brand new facility sometime in 2025. But even with the physical location taking a break, there are still ways to connect with all the amazing things it has to offer, which is pretty neat.

While the construction continues, you can still get a feel for the collection by exploring its online offerings. This means you can look at paintings, sculptures, prints, old archaeological finds, anthropological items, and even historical records from your own home. It’s a wonderful way to learn about the history and culture of North, Central, and South America, as well as the American West, all at your own pace, which is quite convenient.

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Table of Contents

• What Makes Gilcrease Museum So Special?
• Gilcrease Museum's Rich Collections
• The Gilcrease Museum Experience
• Is Gilcrease Museum Open Right Now?
• Gilcrease Museum's Transformation
• How Can You Connect with Gilcrease Museum?
• Supporting Gilcrease Museum's Mission
• Who Was Thomas Gilcrease, Anyway?

What Makes Gilcrease Museum So Special?

You might wonder what sets the Gilcrease Museum apart from other places. Well, it's really known for having one of the biggest and most complete collections of art from the American West anywhere in the world. But it's not just about cowboys and landscapes; it also has a growing collection of art and items from Central and South America. This gives visitors a really broad view of the entire American story, which is pretty cool.

The museum’s collection is quite unique because it takes a look at art, culture, and history all together, giving a full picture of North America. It’s not just paintings on a wall; it’s a way to understand the many different threads that make up the story of this continent. It's, frankly, a very comprehensive look at human experience across a wide stretch of land and time.

Gilcrease Museum's Rich Collections

The Gilcrease Museum holds a truly impressive number of items, with its interdisciplinary collection now containing more than 350,000 pieces. This includes a remarkable group of indigenous art and artifacts, showing the deep history and creative spirit of Native American traditions. You can also find historical manuscripts, important papers, and old maps, giving you a direct connection to the past. It's, honestly, a treasure chest of human creativity and historical records.

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The art collection at Gilcrease Museum features paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints by artists who captured scenes and people from all across North America. For example, there's a well-known portrait of Cherokee leader Cunne Shote from 1762, painted by Francis Parsons. This piece, like many others, really brings history to life, allowing you to see the faces and moments that shaped our collective story. It's, in a way, like stepping back in time through pictures.

The Gilcrease Museum Experience

Visiting the Gilcrease Museum, even virtually right now, offers a chance to see the wide scope of the Americas' history through various displays. These exhibitions bring together fine art, anthropological findings, and archival items, giving you a layered look at different cultures and times. It's a place that really tries to connect people with the past in a meaningful way, which is something special.

Beyond the indoor displays, the historic themed gardens, located in the Osage Hills, are a wonderful part of the overall experience of visiting the Gilcrease Museum. These outdoor spaces add another layer to your visit, letting you enjoy nature and history at the same time. It's, you know, a very pleasant place to spend some time, whether you are looking at art or walking through the grounds.

Is Gilcrease Museum Open Right Now?

As we mentioned, the Gilcrease Museum is currently closed for a big construction project. This means you can't walk through its doors just yet. The goal is to reopen in a brand new facility in 2025, so there's still a bit of a wait. This temporary closure is part of a major renovation that aims to bring even more exciting exhibits to Tulsa, which is pretty exciting for the future.

The building work on the Gilcrease Museum is about 70 percent finished, which is good progress, but it still needs a couple more years before it's ready for visitors. As the physical building is being made new, so too are the types of programs and activities they offer. It's a time of growth and change for the institution, getting ready for its next chapter, you know, a very transformative period.

Gilcrease Museum's Transformation

The new executive director is helping to guide the Gilcrease Museum through this period of change. There are new concept designs for the facility, which are quite interesting to learn about. You can find information about the construction process and the vision for the new building online. It's all part of making the museum even better for everyone who visits in the future, which is something to look forward to.

The idea behind this big project is to attract exhibits from all over the country, making the Gilcrease Museum an even more significant cultural spot. This means more opportunities for people to see amazing art and historical items right here in Tulsa. It's, basically, a way to bring the world of American history and art closer to home for many people.

How Can You Connect with Gilcrease Museum?

Even though the physical building is closed, there are still plenty of ways to engage with the Gilcrease Museum. You can explore the online collection, which is a great resource for anyone curious about American history and art. There's also a museum store where you can find unique items, and you can even join a membership to support the museum's work. These are all ways to stay connected, you know, while waiting for the grand reopening.

The Gilcrease Museum also has public art experiences, like "Gilcrease in Your Neighborhood," which brings art out into the community. This program is made possible with support from various groups, including Arts Alliance Tulsa, and individuals like Dan E. Frey (in memory of Phyllis Hurley Frey), Frank and Carol Mulhern, William S. Smith Charitable Trust, and the Charles and Marion Weber Foundation, along with Kathleen P. These efforts really show how the museum wants to be a part of everyday life in Tulsa, which is very community-focused.

For those who are members of the Gilcrease Museum, there's a nice perk: you can buy up to two guest passes for just $4.00 each time you visit. Also, if you have a Bank of America card, you get free admission during the first full weekend of every month. These are pretty good deals that make it easier for people to experience the museum's offerings, whenever it opens its doors again.

Supporting Gilcrease Museum's Mission

The Gilcrease Museum offers wonderful chances for both fun and learning for everyone, no matter their age. Throughout the year, it puts on a wide variety of ongoing programs and events for children, families, and adults. You can check out their classes, workshops, and special events, all designed to help visitors feel a connection with the collection. It's a great way to learn and grow, you know, through art and history.

The Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum is a key part of its educational efforts. It houses the Gilcrease Library and Archive, which is a place for serious study. Through new research, working with other institutions, publications, learning programs, digital services, visiting scholar programs, and research fellowships, this center is focused on helping us all get a better grasp of human society and culture. It's, basically, a hub for deep historical and cultural study.

Who Was Thomas Gilcrease, Anyway?

The Gilcrease Museum was started in 1949 by Thomas Gilcrease, an oilman and, importantly, a citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation. He had a deep appreciation for history and culture, and his vision was to create a place that would preserve and share these important stories. His efforts, and his strong belief in indigenous traditions, helped to show how vital these works are to American art history. It's, frankly, a very significant legacy he left behind.

Like many people from Tulsa, my own affection for the museum had a lot to do with the good times and memories made there. My late father, for example, really admired the works by artists like Frederic Remington and Charles Russell, whose pieces are part of the Gilcrease collection. It's clear that for many, the museum is not just a building; it's a place where personal connections to history and art are formed, which is pretty special.