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Timeline of Tulsa, Oklahoma

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The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States.

Contents

1800s

  • 1826 - Creek Indians began to settle town of Tulasi after their expulsion from the Southeastern United States.
  • 1861 - Battle of Chusto-Talasah - Civil War skirmish to north of Tulsa
  • 1878 - First post office established at Perryman ranch.
  • 1882 - Atlantic & Pacific Railroad tracks laid from Vinita.
  • 1884 - Presbyterian church founded a mission day school that became the first public school after Tulsa was incorporated.
  • 1893 - Indian Republican began publication as first newspaper.
  • 1887 - Tulsa founded.
  • 1896 - Town incorporated.
  • 1898 -
  • Edward E. Calkins becomes first mayor.
  • Population reported as 1,100.
  • 1899 -
  • First mass said at Holy Family Church.
  • Robert H. Hall built the first telephone system in Tulsa, serving 80 subscribers.

    • 1900s-1940s

  • 1900
  • Commercial Club of Tulsa formed.
  • Population: 1,390.
  • 1901 - Oil discovered at Red Fork, near Tulsa, starting oil boom.
  • 1902 - Tulsa chartered as a city.
  • 1903 - Telephone system sold to Indian Territory Telephone Company.
  • 1904
  • Tulsa annexed North Tulsa.
  • First Tulsa bridge built across Arkansas River.
  • Pumping plant built to deliver Arkansas River water to consumers via piping system.
  • Indian Territory Telephone Company bought by Pioneer Company
  • 1905
  • Tulsa World newspaper begins publication.
  • Oil discovered at Glenn Pool near Tulsa.
  • First two public schools built.
  • 1906
  • Tulsa Hospital opens (would close after WWI).
  • Trolley begins operating.
  • Tulsa High School built.
  • Oklahoma Natural Gas Company, now named OneOK, founded.
  • 1907
  • Tulsa becomes part of the new U.S. state of Oklahoma, and county seat of newly formed Tulsa County.
  • Henry Kendall College moved from Muskogee to Tulsa.
  • Population: 7,298.
  • 1908 - Commission form of government adopted.
  • 1909
  • West Tulsa becomes part of Tulsa.
  • Tulsa buys land that would become Woodward Park.
  • 1910
  • Tulsa County Court House built.
  • Population: 18,182.
  • Exchange National Bank founded after failure of Farmers' National Bank.
  • Texaco builds first oil refinery in West Tulsa.
  • Oil & Gas Journal headquartered in Tulsa.
  • Area of city: 3.5 square miles.
  • Hotel Brady annex and Tulsa Hotel were built.
  • 1913
  • Booker T. Washington High School established.
  • Joshua Cosden builds second oil refinery in West Tulsa.
  • 1914
  • Tulsa Convention Hall built.
  • Holy Family Cathedral dedicated.
  • Temple Israel congregation founded.
  • 1915
  • Oklahoma Hospital established.
  • Chamber of Commerce active.
  • 1916 - Carnegie library opens, forerunner of the Tulsa Public Library system.
  • 1918
  • Morningside Hospital opened.
  • Cosden Building constructed, considered first "skyscraper" in city.
  • 1920
  • Henry Kendall College becomes University of Tulsa.
  • Tulsa Tribune newspaper in publication.
  • Population: 72,075.
  • 1921
  • May 31 - June 1: Tulsa race riot devastated Greenwood.
  • All Souls Unitarian Church founded.
  • 1922
  • Tulsa Little Theater founded.
  • Atlas Life Building constructed.
  • 1923
  • First International Petroleum Exposition.
  • Major flood of Arkansas River heavily damages Tulsa water purification plant and causes its relocation to a site near Mohawk Park.
  • 1924
  • Spavinaw Dam built.
  • Tulsa Community Fund established.
  • St. Johns Hospital opened.
  • Southwestern Bell Telephone Company constructs Main Dial System Building.
  • 1925 - Mayo Hotel built.
  • 1926 - Tulsa State Fair grounds in use.
  • 1927
  • Red Fork becomes part of Tulsa.
  • Tulsa Civic Symphony active.
  • Goodwill Industries of Tulsa incorporated.
  • Tulsa Zoo opens.
  • 1928
  • Carbondale becomes part of Tulsa.
  • Tulsa Municipal Airport dedicated.
  • Spartan Aircraft Company in business.
  • Spartan School of Aeronautics established.
  • Philtower Building constructed.
  • 1929
  • Boston Avenue Methodist Church and National Bank of Tulsa Building constructed.
  • Mohawk Park Waterworks Plant completed.
  • Tulsa annexed Carbondale.
  • 1930
  • Cain's Dance Academy in business.
  • Population: 141,258.
  • 1931
  • Union Depot opens.
  • Philcade Building constructed.
  • 1932
  • Tulsa Fairgrounds Pavilion (arena) built.
  • Waite Phillips donated his home to become Philbrook Art Museum.
  • 1934 - National Conference of Christians and Jews Tulsa chapter founded.
  • 1938 - Webster High School opens.
  • 1939
  • Morningside Hospital reorganized and renamed as Hillcrest Hospital.
  • Philbrook Art Center opens.
  • Will Rogers High School built.
  • 1940 – Population: 142,157.
  • 1941 - Air Force builds bomber plant at Tulsa Airport.
  • 1943 - Oklahoma Hospital becomes Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital.
  • 1946 - American Airlines opens aircraft maintenance facility at Tulsa Airport.
  • 1948 - Tulsa Opera and Tulsa Philharmonic founded.
  • 1949
  • Dawson becomes part of city.
  • KOTV begins broadcasting.

    • 1950s-1990s

  • 1950 – Population: 182,740.
  • 1951 - Bell's Amusement Park opens.
  • 1952 - Lake Eucha and second pipeline from Lake Spavinaw to Tulsa constructed to supplement city water supply.
  • 1953
  • Golden Driller statue created for and displayed at the International Petroleum Exposition.
  • Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission established.
  • 1956
  • Highland Park becomes part of Tulsa.
  • Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Baptist Association founded.
  • 1958
  • Apache Drive-In cinema opens.
  • Gilcrease Foundation conveyed Gilcrease Museum to the city.
  • 1960
  • Saint Francis Hospital opens.
  • Area of city: 50 square miles.
  • Population: 261,685.
  • 1961 - New airport terminal opened.
  • 1963 - Tulsa Youth Symphony founded.
  • 1964 - Tulsa Convention Center opens.
  • 1965
  • Oral Roberts University established.
  • Tulsa City-County Library Central Library opened.
  • 1966
  • Area of city expands.
  • Tulsa Expo Center built; Golden Driller statue permanently installed.
  • James M. Hewgley, Jr. becomes mayor.
  • 1967
  • Prayer Tower and Fourth National Bank of Tulsa built.
  • Union Depot abandoned after passenger train service ceases.
  • 1970
  • Tulsa Junior College established.
  • Robert J. LaFortune becomes mayor.
  • Population: 331,638.
  • 1971 - Tulsa Port of Catoosa opened to shipping via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System.
  • 1972
  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa established.
  • Area of city: 175.71 square miles.
  • 1973 - First National BanCorporation Tower built.
  • 1974 - Tulsa Area United Way active.
  • 1975
  • Westhope added to NRHP.
  • Tulsa Municipal Building added to NRHP.
  • Williams Brothers Tower (now named BOK Tower) built.
  • 1976
  • Memorial Day flood causes major damage along Mingo, Joe and Haikey creeks.
  • Woodland Hills Mall in business.
  • 1977 - Tulsa Performing Arts Center opens.
  • 1978
  • Tulsa Signature Symphony founded.
  • Jim Inhofe becomes mayor.
  • Boston Avenue Methodist Church added to NRHP.
  • Philbrook Museum of Art added to NRHP.
  • William G. Skelly House added to NRHP.
  • 1979
  • Convention Hall (Brady Theater) added to NRHP.
  • McFarlin Building added to NRHP.
  • Philtower added to NRHP.
  • Pierce Block added to NRHP.
  • Final occurrence of International Petroleum Exposition.
  • Mike Synar becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 2nd congressional district.
  • 1980
  • Tulsa Oklahomans for Human Rights group formed.
  • Brady Heights Historic District added to NRHP.
  • Mayo Hotel added to NRHP.
  • Population: 360,919.
  • 1981
  • City of Faith Medical and Research Center opens.
  • Tulsa Community Food Bank and Heller Theatre founded.
  • 1982
  • Gillette Historic District added to NRHP.
  • Holy Family Cathedral, Rectory and School added to NRHP.
  • Tulsa Pride begins.
  • 1983 - Swan Lake Neighborhood Association and Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Tulsa founded.
  • 1984
  • Mid-Continent Tower built.
  • Oklahoma Natural Gas Company Building added to NRHP.
  • Public Service of Oklahoma Building added to NRHP.
  • 1986 - Philcade Building added to NRHP.
  • 1987
  • Chili Bowl midget car race begins.
  • Jim Inhofe becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district.
  • 1988 - Tulsa Preservation Commission and Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame established.
  • 1989
  • Osage Expressway opens.
  • Mayor-council form of government adopted.
  • 1990
  • Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce formed.
  • Population: 367,302.
  • 1991 - Urban Tulsa Weekly newspaper begins publication.
  • 1992
  • Tulsa receives 1992 Outstanding Public Service Award from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its flood management program.
  • Tulsa Tribune goes out of business.
  • Susan Savage becomes first woman to serve as mayor of Tulsa.
  • 1996 - Camille's Sidewalk Cafe in business.
  • 1997 - Conestoga science fiction convention begins.
  • 1998
  • Tulsa Community Foundation established.
  • Tulsa Air and Space Museum established.
  • Swan Lake Historic District added to NRHP.
  • 1999
  • City website online (approximate date).
  • Eleventh Street Arkansas River Bridge added to NRHP.
  • Hindu Temple of Greater Tulsa founded.

    • 2000s

  • 2000 - Population: 393,049; metro 859,532.
  • 2001 - White City Historic District added to NRHP
  • 2002
  • Diversafest begins;
  • Yorktown Historic District added to NRHP.
  • 2003 - Cain's Ballroom added to NRHP
  • 2004 - 11th Street Bridge renamed as Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge.
  • 2005
  • Tulsa Symphony Orchestra formed.
  • Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice headquartered in Tulsa.
  • 2006 - Bell's Amusement Park goes out of business.
  • 2007
  • Union Depot building converted to house Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.
  • Will Rogers High School added to NRHP.
  • Buena Vista Park Historic District added to NRHP.
  • Ranch Acres Historic District added to NRHP.
  • 2008
  • University of Tulsa selected to manage the Gilcrease Museum.
  • Tokyo in Tulsa anime convention begins.
  • BOK Center stadium opens.
  • Mt. Zion Baptist Church added to NRHP.
  • Opening of Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Plaza
  • 2009
  • Tulsa Botanic Garden opens to public.
  • Dewey F. Bartlett, Jr. becomes mayor.
  • Atlas Life Building added to NRHP.
  • 2010
  • This Land Press begins publication.
  • Population: 391,906; metro 937,478.
  • Area of city: 196.75 square miles.
  • Oil Capital Historic District created on December 10, 2010.
  • Brady Historic District added to NRHP.
  • 2012 - Oklahoma Defenders football team active.
  • 2013
  • Tulsa Convention Center renamed as Cox Business Center.
  • Center of the Universe Festival (music fest) held.
  • Jim Bridenstine becomes U.S. representative for Oklahoma's 1st congressional district.
  • 2014
  • Woodward Park and Gardens Historic District established
  • Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum completed.
  • 2015
  • Frontier news begins publication.[5]
  • Oklahoma Defenders football team ceased operating.
  • 2016 - Vision 2025 Tax plan approved by voters to provide funding for planned major projects

    • References

    Timeline of Tulsa, Oklahoma Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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