exploretulsa
Welcome to the City of Tulsa — with a population of 987,201, Tulsa is an important center of commerce and industry with a thriving arts community. Tulsa’s entertainment options include pro sports, fine and performing arts, festivals, zoos, a water park, bike and hiking trails, rivers and lakes.
Districts.
Tulsa boasts one of the nation’s most extensive collections of Art Deco architecture. Beyond our Deco District, downtown offers several other micro-districts — each with its own sense of place and things to do.
Concerts.
Tulsa has a rich local music history, literally pioneering genres from western swing in the 1930s to the “Tulsa Sound” in the 1970s to pop and alternative music today. Tulsa has outstanding venues to hear live music and everyone plays Tulsa.
Festivals.
We have a lot to celebrate, and we do it in grand style with many community-building festivals — from Tulsa Oktoberfest with authentic German musicians, beer and wursts to Tulsa International Mayfest, a four-day arts festival with great food and local and regional musical acts.
Restaurants.
From homegrown barbecue and Tex-Mex to fine French and Italian cuisine, Tulsa has restaurants to fit every taste and budget. Fresh sushi, independent coffee shops and vegan delicacies line Brookside while food trucks are a staple around Guthrie Green.
Nature.
The Tulsa Zoo and Living Museum features more than 1,500 animals representing 436 species. Animal exhibits include the Giraffe Experience, the Chimpanzee Connection, the Penguin Exhibit and the Helmerich Sea Lion Cove. Across town at the Oklahoma Aquarium, you can get up close to thousands of saltwater and freshwater fish and animals.
Theater.
Whether it’s classic, contemporary, locally produced or touring Broadway shows, you’ll find a variety of performing arts in Tulsa. For decades, Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Opera have been regarded as among the best in the nation.
Museums.
The world’s largest collection of art and artifacts of the American West are found at Gilcrease Museum, which also features an outstanding Native American collection. The legacy of Thomas Gilcrease is owned by the City of Tulsa and managed by TU.
Sports.
The Tulsa Drillers baseball team draws legions of fans to our sleek new downtown stadium: ONEOK Field. A few blocks away is the BOK Center, which is home to the Tulsa Oilers and our Central Hockey League team.
Movies.
Foreign films and documentaries are always on tap at the independent Circle Cinema just a few blocks from the TU campus. Tulsa is filled with movie houses that offer IMAX experiences, heated recliners or the latest in picture and sound technology.
Shopping.
From fashionable to funky, Tulsa offers a multitude of shopping experiences. Explore eclectic boutiques and pop-up shops near campus and downtown. Woodland Hills Mall is more than 1 million square feet of retail heaven with 165-plus stores.
