Timeline of Tulsa, Oklahoma facts for kids

Here's a timeline of important events in the history of Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States.

Tulsa, Oklahoma, has a rich history, growing from a small settlement into a major city. This timeline highlights key moments, from its early days as a Creek Nation town to its development into a bustling center known for its oil industry and vibrant community. You'll learn about how the city grew, important buildings that were constructed, and events that shaped its future.

19th Century: Early Days of Tulsa

Indian Territory, the eastern part of what is now Oklahoma.

• 1826 – The Creek people began to settle the area, calling their town Tulasi, after they were forced to move from their homes in the southeastern United States.
• 1861 – The Battle of Chusto-Talasah, a Civil War battle, happened north of Tulsa.
• 1878 – The first post office was set up at Perryman ranch.
• 1882 –
  • Atlantic & Pacific Railroad tracks were laid, connecting Tulsa to Vinita.
  • T. J. (Jeff) Archer built the first general store in downtown Tulsa.
• 1884 – A Presbyterian church started a mission school. This school later became Tulsa's first public school after the town became official.
• 1887 – Tulsa was officially founded.
• 1893 – The Indian Republican became Tulsa's first newspaper.
• 1896 – Tulsa became an official town.
• 1898 –
  • Edward E. Calkins became Tulsa's first mayor.
  • The town's population was about 1,100 people.
• 1899 –
  • The first church service was held at Holy Family Church.
  • Robert H. Hall built the first telephone system in Tulsa, serving 80 homes and businesses.
  • R. N. Bynum became the second mayor.
  • The Presbyterian mission school closed. Its building was bought and reopened as the first public school, starting the Tulsa Public Schools system.
• 1900 –
  • The Commercial Club of Tulsa, a business group, was formed.
  • The population reached 1,390.
  • Lewis Poe became the third mayor.

20th Century: Growth and Change

1900s-1940s: The Oil Boom and Beyond

• 1901 – Oil was found at Red Fork, near Tulsa. This discovery started a huge oil boom, bringing many people and businesses to the city.
• 1902 – Tulsa officially became a city.
• 1903 – The original Brady Hotel, a three-story building, was constructed.
• 1904 –
  • Tulsa added North Tulsa to its city limits.
  • The first bridge across the Arkansas River in Tulsa was built.
  • A plant was built to bring water from the Arkansas River to homes through pipes.
  • An accidental explosion destroyed Archer's store.
• 1905 –

The Tulsa World Publishing building in 1906.

• • The Tulsa World newspaper began publishing.
  • More oil was found at Glenn Pool Oil Reserve near Tulsa.
  • The first two public schools were built.
• 1906 –
  • Tulsa Hospital opened.
  • A trolley system began operating in the city.
  • Tulsa High School was built.
  • Oklahoma Natural Gas Company, now called OneOK, was founded.

Downtown Tulsa, looking east on 2nd Street from Main Street, 1908.

• 1907 –
  • Tulsa became part of the new U.S. state of Oklahoma. It also became the main city of the newly formed Tulsa County.
  • Henry Kendall College moved from Muskogee to Tulsa.
  • The population grew to 7,298.
• 1908 – A new form of city government, called the commission form, was adopted.

A 1909 panoramic view of Tulsa

• 1909 –
  • West Tulsa became part of Tulsa.
  • Tulsa bought land that would become Woodward Park.

Tulsa City Hall in 1909.

• 1910 –
  • The Tulsa County Court House was built.
  • The population reached 18,182.
  • Texaco built its first oil refinery in West Tulsa.
  • The Oil & Gas Journal, a magazine for the oil industry, set up its main office in Tulsa.
• 1913 – Booker T. Washington High School was established.
• 1914 –
  • The Tulsa Convention Hall was built.
  • Holy Family Cathedral was officially opened.
• 1916 – The Carnegie library opened, which was the start of the Tulsa Public Library system.
• 1917 – Orcutt Lake Amusement Park closed and became the Swan Lake residential area.
• 1918 – The Cosden Building was constructed. It was considered the city's first "skyscraper."

Map of Tulsa in 1920.

• 1920 –
  • Henry Kendall College became the University of Tulsa.
  • The Tulsa Tribune newspaper began publishing.
  • The population reached 72,075.
• 1921 – May 31 – June 1: The Tulsa race massacre caused great damage to the Greenwood area.
• 1922 – The Atlas Life Building was constructed.
• 1923 – The first International Petroleum Exposition, a big oil industry show, was held.
• 1924 –
  • The Spavinaw Dam was built to help with Tulsa's water supply.
  • St. Johns Hospital opened.
• 1925 – The Mayo Hotel was built.
• 1926 – KVOO radio began broadcasting.
• 1927 –
  • Red Fork became part of Tulsa.
  • The Tulsa Zoo opened.
  • The Tulsa Club Building was constructed.
• 1928 –
  • The Tulsa Coliseum was built.
  • Tulsa Municipal Airport was officially opened.
  • Spartan Aircraft Company started its business.
  • The Philtower Building was constructed.
• 1929 –
  • The Boston Avenue Methodist Church and the National Bank of Tulsa Building were constructed.
  • The Mohawk Park Waterworks Plant was completed.
• 1930 –
  • Cain's Dance Academy opened.
  • The population reached 141,258.
• 1931 – The Union Depot opened.
• 1932 – The Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion (arena) was built.
• 1939 – The Philbrook Art Center opened.
• 1940 – The population reached 142,157.
• 1941 – The Air Force built a bomber plant at Tulsa Airport.
• 1946 – American Airlines opened an aircraft maintenance facility at Tulsa Airport.
• 1948 – Tulsa Opera and Tulsa Philharmonic were founded.
• 1949 – KOTV began broadcasting television.

1950s-1990s: Modern Tulsa Takes Shape

• 1950 – The population reached 182,740.
• 1951 – Bell's Amusement Park opened.
• 1952 – The Tulsa Coliseum was destroyed by fire after being hit by lightning.
• 1953 – The Golden Driller statue was created and displayed at the International Petroleum Exposition.
• 1954 – KTUL-TV and KVOO-TV (television) began broadcasting.
• 1956 – Tulsa Ballet was founded.
• 1958 – The Gilcrease Museum was given to the city.
• 1960 –
  • Saint Francis Hospital opened.
  • The city's area grew to 50 square miles.
  • The population reached 261,685.
• 1961 – A new airport terminal opened.
• 1963 – The Tulsa Youth Symphony was founded.
• 1964 – The Tulsa Convention Center opened.
• 1965 –
  • Oral Roberts University was established.
  • The Tulsa City-County Library Central Library opened.
• 1966 –
  • The Tulsa Expo Center was built.
  • The Golden Driller statue was permanently installed.
• 1967 – The Prayer Tower was built.
• 1970 –
  • Tulsa Junior College was established.
  • The population reached 331,638.
• 1971 – The Tulsa Port of Catoosa opened for shipping.
• 1972 – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa was established.
• 1973 – The First National BanCorporation Tower was built.
• 1974 – Strong tornadoes and flooding caused major damage in Tulsa.
• 1975 – The Williams Brothers Tower (now called BOK Tower) was built.
• 1976 – The Woodland Hills Mall opened.
• 1977 – The Tulsa Performing Arts Center opened.

Tulsa Performing Arts Center (PAC).

• 1978 – Jim Inhofe became mayor.
• 1980 – The population reached 360,919.
• 1981 – The City of Faith Medical and Research Center opened.
• 1983 – The Swan Lake Neighborhood Association was founded.
• 1984 – The Mid-Continent Tower was built.
• 1987 – The Chili Bowl midget car race began.
• 1988 – The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame was established.
• 1989 – A new form of city government, the mayor–council system, was adopted.
• 1990 – The population reached 367,302.
• 1991 – The Urban Tulsa Weekly newspaper began publishing.
• 1992 – Susan Savage became the first woman to serve as mayor of Tulsa.
• 1998 –
  • The Tulsa Community Foundation was established.
  • The Tulsa Air and Space Museum was established.
• 1999 – The city's website went online.
• 2000 – The population reached 393,049.

21st Century: Tulsa Today

Tulsa's skyline from Central Park in 2008.

• 2001 – The White City Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• 2003 – Cain's Ballroom was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
• 2004 – The 11th Street Bridge was renamed the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge.
• 2005 – The Tulsa Symphony Orchestra was formed.
• 2006 – Bell's Amusement Park closed.
• 2007 – The Union Depot building was converted to house the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
• 2008 –
  • The University of Tulsa was chosen to manage the Gilcrease Museum.
  • The BOK Center stadium opened.
• 2009 – The Tulsa Botanic Garden opened to the public.
• 2010 –
  • The population reached 391,906.
  • The Oil Capital Historic District was created.
• 2013 –
  • The Tulsa Convention Center was renamed the Cox Business Center.
  • The Woody Guthrie Center opened as a museum and archive for the artist.

Exterior of Woody Guthrie Center in the Brady Arts District of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

• 2014 – The Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum was completed.
• 2016 – The Vision 2025 Tax plan was approved by voters to fund major city projects.
• 2017 – An EF-2 Tornado struck southeast Tulsa, causing major property damage.
• 2018 – The "Gathering Place" park held its grand opening on September 8.
• 2019 – The Tulsa Club Hotel opened for business.
• 2020 – The U.S. Census reported Tulsa's population as 413,066.
• 2022 –
  • Discovery Lab at Gathering Place held its grand opening.
  • The Warren Clinic shooting occurred.