Gilcrease Museum

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Last Updated: December 25, 2025

Gilcrease Museum is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is known for its extensive collection of Native American art and artifacts, as well as its collection of American art from the colonial period to the present day.


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Summary

The museum was founded by oilman Thomas Gilcrease in 1949 and has continued to grow and expand its collection over the years.

One of the main reasons to visit Gilcrease Museum is to see its impressive collection of Native American art, which includes pottery, beadwork, baskets, and textiles from tribes across North America. The museum also has a large collection of paintings and sculptures by renowned Native American artists, including Allan Houser and George Morrison.

In addition to its Native American collection, Gilcrease Museum has a wide variety of American art, including works by famous artists such as Thomas Moran, Frederic Remington, and Charles Russell. The museum also has an extensive collection of documents and artifacts related to the history of the American West.

Some specific points of interest to see at Gilcrease Museum include the Helmerich Center for American Research, which houses the museum's archives and special collections, and the gardens and grounds surrounding the museum, which offer beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Interesting facts about the area include that the museum is located on land that was once part of the Creek Nation and that the building itself was designed in a style inspired by the historic architecture of the Southwest.

The best time of year to visit Gilcrease Museum is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the gardens are in bloom. The museum is open year-round, however, and offers a variety of events and programs throughout the year, including art classes, lectures, and concerts.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
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Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
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Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
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BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
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Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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