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Gilcrease Museum is temporarily closed for construction.

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OngoingGilcrease Closes to Rebuild

Ongoing

Overview

Updated April 15, 2021

Gilcrease Museum will close its doors at end of day July 4 as the City of Tulsa prepares to demolish the current structure and begin construction of a new museum on the same site five minutes from downtown.

The current museum structure – a collection of several aging buildings pieced together over many decades – is scheduled to be demolished later this year. Construction of a new structure that can better protect the priceless and vast collection and deliver a 21st century visitor experience to Gilcrease visitors will begin in early 2022 and is expected to take 3-4 years.

“We’re excited about this next step toward building the new museum. The structure and its galleries will provide great new experiences for Tulsans and the entire region as well as a much safer environment to protect Tulsa’s asset,” said Gilcrease Museum Executive Director Susan Neal. “The new building will integrate its beautiful setting into the visitor experience. And even though our doors won’t be open during construction, Gilcrease will continue to serve the community by offering various programs online and in locations throughout the city in partnership with many local and regional organizations.”

Stay tuned for more announcements, updates, and videos as the museum embarks on a journey to create a world-class building worthy of the collection it houses.

 

Media Coverage and News Releases

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Gilcrease Museum

1400 N Gilcrease Museum Rd Tulsa, OK 74127

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Gallery

In June 2021, Gilcrease Museum unveiled its concept design for an entirely new facility, reimagining the museum from the ground up. The 83,500-square-foot building will create new opportunities for Gilcrease to explore broad, complex stories of American history, art and culture. The re-envisioned museum will present a much-improved visitor experience and state-of-the-art exhibition space meeting today’s standards for care of the collection and touring exhibitions.

Images courtesy of SmithGroup

Gilcrease Closes to Rebuild
John Mix Stanley, Scouts in the Tetons, ca. 1855, detail, oil on canvas, GM 0126.1143
This arial view overlooking the new Gilcrease Museum, showcases the entire property on the backdrop of the downtown Tulsa skyline.
A view from the East shows the visitors' new approach to the museum.
A framed view of Tulsa's great American landscape will be the standout in the multi-level lobby.
Roof terraces will offer museum visitors expansive views of the Osage Hills.
The sun court will be an internal space for reflection that frames a view toward The Gilcrease Mausoleum, North Tulsa, and Downtown Tulsa.
The Orientation space will provide a welcoming multimedia experience, offering visitors an overview of the two-floor core exhibition as well as introducing the interpretive lenses and tools that will help them explore the galleries at their own pace.
The extensive art, archival, and anthropology collections of the Gilcrease will be united in the galleries in dynamic ways, allowing the Museum to tell important American stories from multiple perspectives.
Thematic galleries, exploring fundamental concepts like American identity and place, will offer visitors opportunities to consider renowned artworks in new ways and from different perspectives.