Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa (must see)

The Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa is a unique blend of art, history, and architecture, nestled within 25 acres of formal and informal gardens. Opened in 1939, the museum occupies the opulent former residence of oil magnate Waite Phillips and his wife Genevieve-an Italian Renaissance-style villa known as Villa Philbrook, completed in 1927. Designed by architect Edward Buehler Delk, the mansion features ornate stucco exteriors embedded with white marble, and Kasota limestone details, and interiors showcasing teak, walnut, and oak floors, Renaissance-inspired ceilings, and a double staircase that leads to exquisitely decorated rooms including music room, library, and dining hall.

The Philbrook’s permanent collection includes over nine categories of art from around the world, with a special emphasis on Native American works-basketry, pottery, jewelry, and painting. Other notable holdings span European, American, African, Asian, and Classical antiquities. Key contributions over the years have included Italian Renaissance paintings from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, as well as modern and contemporary pieces by the likes of Picasso, Kehinde Wiley, Rachel Whiteread, and Maria Martinez. The museum is also home to the Eugene B. Adkins Collection, shared with the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, which features Native American paintings, pottery, and jewelry.

Philbrook has undergone several major expansions. In 1990, the 70,000-square-foot Kravis Wing was added, incorporating new galleries, classrooms, a library, and a performance hall. In 2013, it launched Philbrook Downtown in Tulsa’s Brady Arts District, a satellite venue for contemporary art, though this space was later repurposed as the Bob Dylan Center in 2020.

The museum’s lush gardens, originally designed by Hare & Hare and inspired by the 16th-century Villa Lante in Italy, are a highlight. Classical fountains, water rills, diagonal walkways, and sculptures like Barry Flanagan’s Thinker on a Rock add to the tranquil setting. With its rich collections, architectural splendor, and dedication to education and cultural outreach, Philbrook remains one of Tulsa’s most iconic cultural institutions.