It is a bittersweet time at Gilcrease Museum. As we’ve continued work on the new museum, our future has come more into focus. I am excited to share news with you of Gilcrease’s closing, so that we can pack and move our extensive collection in preparation for demolition of the museum building.
Gilcrease Museum will close its doors at end of day July 4. As staff continue their work, the City of Tulsa is finalizing plans to demolish the current structure and begin construction of a new museum on the same site, just five minutes from downtown.
The current museum structure – a collection of several aging buildings pieced together over many decades – will be completely rebuilt to modern museum standards, giving our $2 billion collection a more uniform and secure home that will serve it (and Tulsans) for generations to come. With the new building will come a new interpretive plan that will bring the collection to life like never before and deliver a 21st century visitor experience. Construction will begin in early 2022 and is expected to take 3-4 years.
Watch our news page for more details, and make sure to follow us on social media for additional information about special events, new programs and the reveal of architectural renderings of the new building in the months ahead!
We are excited to be at this important threshold, but we also acknowledge the many memories made at Gilcrease Museum over the past 72 years. We are grateful for the support of our members and our community and look forward to sharing the journey ahead with you. The museum remains open for the immediate future and I welcome you to revisit some of your Gilcrease favorites. Spring at Gilcrease is beautiful and I hope you will participate in some of our upcoming programs and activities.
In gratitude,
Executive Director
Gilcrease Museum and the Helmerich Center for American Research
Read the full FAQ here:
