Essential Educational Experiences in Tulsa

Offering behind-the scenes stories, memorabilia and more, The Outsiders House Museum just northeast of downtown Tulsa is a time traveling experience that’s worth a trip even if you’ve never seen the movie or read the book. Owned and restored by music legend Danny Boy O'Conner, The Outsiders House Museum is a space for fans and former actors and crew alike to pay homage to the iconic coming-of-age movie. Frequently hosting watch parties and other events, this museum is typically open on the weekends. 

A fun fact you might not know is that author Susan Eloise Hinton debuted her novel “The Outsiders” in 1967, when there wasn’t a market for young-adult literature. The book skyrocketed the popularity of the young-adult genre and opened the door for many more classics to be written. 

Discovery Lab provides unique programming for children in middle-school and younger geared toward developing their. creativity, critical-thinking, problem-solving and collaboration skills. 

With a plethora of tunnels, a slide made from packing tape, science demos, The WorkShop, Science Lab, and so much more, Discovery Lab is a place where kids and their families can make, learn, explore, and design things using real stuff in new and different ways. 

Inspired by best practices in informal learning, multidisciplinary experiences and exhibits are designed to encourage process skill development and support current classroom curricula with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) content.
 

The Bob Dylan Center offers unprecedented access to the creative life of one of America’s most important and influential artists, the facility houses and exhibits more than 100,000 exclusive cultural treasures created and owned by Bob Dylan. The center provides programming, performances and special displays showcasing the artist’s message and impact.

The Woody Guthrie Center is dedicated to preserving Woody Guthrie's body of work and celebrating his life and the continuation of his legacy. This educational facility provides resources to students, teachers, and academics about Woody Guthrie's important role in American history and his advocacy for social justice. 

The Woody Guthrie Center is more than a museum; instead, it is a center of investigation for inspiration. By providing examples of Woody’s ability to use his creativity as a way of expressing the world around him, the Woody Guthrie Center hopes to encourage others to find their voices and the power that lies within the creative process.
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Formerly Grace Methodist Episcopal Church founded in 1915, Church Studio was purchased by legendary musician Leon Russell in 1972 who transformed the building into a recording studio. 

The birthplace of the Tulsa Sound was recently restored by owners Ivan Acosta and Teresa Knox, which opened in 2021 as world-class recording studio and event space on the vibrant Studio Row.

You can follow along in the footsteps of iconic musicians like Leon Russell, see incredible memorabilia and maybe even jam out in a real recording session! 
 

Once serving as the home of oilman Waite Phillips, Villa Philbrook was given to the city of Tulsa and restored to preserve the grandeur of the 1920s. The Philbrook Museum exhibits more than 8,500 works of art at the original location and now boasts a second location downtown, featuring contemporary art. 

The museum has 23 acres of exquisite English gardens and serves as many as 150,000 visitors annually. On a lot of Tulsa weekends, you can catch a view of a gorgeous wedding ceremony happening. 

You can also grab a delicious brunch of elevated classics at Kitchen 27, led by Chef James Shrader of Palace Cafe. 

At Tulsa Air & Space Museum, you can experience Oklahoma’s rich aerospace history by exploring aircraft, artifacts, and interactive exhibits. Discover what it’s like to pilot a plane and use a robotic arm like an astronaut.  Encounter the depths of the universe and enjoy a trip to the outer limits of the universe in the planetarium. Take an informative tour of the MD-80 Discovery Center and learn about the history of flight.

Take your family on this fun and affordable adventure to connect and learn. Located in Mohawk Park, the Tulsa Zoo’s beautiful 85-acres are home to more than 400 species–many rare and endangered in the wild. 

Visit immersive exhibits like the Mary K. Chapman Rhino Reserve; learn more about your favorite animals during daily keeper chats; or enjoy the scenery during a trip on the train.

The Vintage Sewing Center and Museum is a historical hands-on museum with over 700 vintage sewing machines on display, with many set up for use by visitors of all ages. The collection includes a variety of displays from treadle machines to mid-century modern machines, and dainty hand crank machines to heavy-duty industrial machines.

Guided tours by curator W.K. Binger or trained docents are educational and entertaining, evoking the deep reverence and nostalgia felt for each machine. The museum also offers sewing classes, workshops and quilting parties, machine repair and restoration, as well as onsite rental of sewing machines and unique specialty machines.

Visit this state-of-the-art history center located at the heart of the historic Greenwood District honoring the legacy of Black Wall Street before and after the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. 

Greenwood Rising allows visitors to explore and connect with Greenwood District history through an immersive journey using projection mapping, holographic effects and environmental media.

Located in Southwest Tulsa on iconic Route 66, this open-air museum offers a unique experience educating visitors about Tulsa's history in the oil, refining and transportation industries. The Route 66 Historical Village's Visitor Center is a replica of a 1920’s Phillips 66 gas station, which pairs nicely with their towering 154-foot-tall oil derrick–the tallest oil derrick in North America.

See the biggest bull sharks in captivity through a unique, walk-through tunnel! It's the safest way to see 20 sharks swimming not just in front of you, but also overhead. Send the kids through the tunnels of the extreme Amazon to come face-to-fish from under the water's surface and discover thousands of other finned, flippered and furry friends around every turn. 

Don't miss interactive experiences like feed shows, touch tanks and behind-the-scenes tours. The Oklahoma Aquarium is an all-indoor facility, so it's great family fun no matter what the weather!
 

Whether you’re from Tulsa originally or you’re just visiting for a period of time, there’s always more you can learn about the city. Dive into Tulsa’s architecture with the Self-Guided Art Deco Walking Tour. 

For the history of Tulsa’s buildings during the oil boom days, check out Tours of Tulsa or Tulsa Tours. Don’t forget to dive into one of America’s most prosperous neighborhoods, Greenwood, with the Real Black Wall Street Tour. It’s not like any other tour. You’ll get to experience Black Wall Street during its rise, hardships and ultimate triumph.