The Active Historian

Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to show you around the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Let’s get started!

Visiting the Philbrook has been on my ‘Museum Bucket List’ for a few years now, but I never had driven up there. While I was in Tulsa for a work trip at the beginning of December, I decided I was going to stop on my way home no matter what… I’m so glad that I did!

When I walked up to the front of the museum I was greeted by the most beautiful red trees! I figured all of the fall colors would be gone, but I was wrong. The red trees popped against the cream colored facade and it was stunning!

Museum History

The Villa Philbrook was the Tulsa home of Waite and Genevieve Phillips. The Phillips had commissioned Edward Buehler Delk to design and build the Villa Philbrook in 1926. He finished the Italian Renaissance style home a year later. Delk was also commissioned to build the Villa Philmonte and Philtower in addition to Villa Philbrook.

In 1938, Waite Phillips announced he would donate his mansion and 23 acres of his estate for an art center for the city of Tulsa. The Philbrook Museum of Art opened to the public on October 25, 1939.

The Philbrook Museum of Art was installed around the details of the home. You can see the intricate details carved into every surface of the home. The wood and stone are absolutely stunning and the photos included below don’t do it justice. The Villa Philbrook is truly a masterpiece of architecture.

The Philbrook Museum of Art features a large collection spanning American, Native America, and European art. Walking through the halls of this museum allows you to see the diversity of the collection. There are pieces from Egypt, Rome, Spain, the Americas, and more. I was truly impressed with the span of the collection.

War Club (Traveling Exhibition)

Selfie Station

I just wanted to say, “Great job!” to the staff at the Philbrook for coming up with this selfie station! Y’all know, I travel for my blog quite often and am not usually able to take photos of myself inside of a museum because of the ‘no tripod rule’ that protects the items on exhibition. A very important rule, I will add!

So, imagine my shock and surprise to see this selfie stand in the parlor area of the Philbrook. I was so excited to try it out! You set your cellphone camera on a timer or video mode and then place it on one of the slots on the stand. It wasn’t heavy and you could reposition it to get whatever background you wanted in the room! It was definitely neat. As soon as I finished using it another family hopped right in.

Thinking outside of the box doesn’t have to be complicated. Take a note from the Philbrook, grab a couple pieces of lumber and make a selfie stand. You never know whose day you might make and what memories you might capture!

Philbrook Gardens

The gardens at the Philbrook were beautiful with all of the fall colors on the day I visited! The pond and water features were so peaceful. You could hear the bubbling creeks, birds chirping, and families playing. I wish I lived closer because I would spend lots of time in this garden!

Concluding Thoughts

I loved visiting the Philbrook Museum of Art! There aren’t enough words or photos that could do this museum justice. I hope you will visit this museum the next time you are in Tulsa!

Happy Traveling! I’ll talk to ya soon 🙂

Visit

2727 S Rockford Road

Tulsa, OK 74114

Sources

Philbrook Museum of Art – website