Exploring Tulsa’s Civil Rights History in 11 Iconic Landmarks

The Civil Rights History of Tulsa, Oklahoma

If you want to understand Tulsa’s civil rights story, these 12 important places tell it best, from the restored buildings of Greenwood – once known as “Black Wall Street” – to the moving exhibits at John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park.

The Greenwood Cultural Center

The Greenwood Cultural Center at 322 N. Greenwood Avenue opened in October 1995. Inside, you’ll find exhibits showing the district’s early success, with items and photos from businesses like Williams Dreamland Theater and J.B. Stradford’s Hotel. The Greenwood Cultural Center also showcases historical displays that celebrate the contributions of influential figures such as O.W. Gurley and A.J. Smitherman to its legacy.

John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park

John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park opened in 2010 near where the historic Black Wall Street once thrived. The park’s Tower of Reconciliation, a 26-foot bronze sculpture with bas-relief details shows the journey of African Americans to Tulsa.

Three bronze statues on a granite structure created by sculptor Ed Dwight, show scenes from the massacre. Meanwhile, bronze markers throughout the grounds narrate events leading up to and following the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Vernon AME Church

Vernon AME Church is recognized as the oldest continuously operating Black church in Oklahoma since 1919. The main church building was completed between 1925 and 1928 but the basement survived the massacre. During the violence, 150 people found safety in the church’s basement, which still has its original foundation.

The stained glass windows, added in 1925 by people who survived the massacre, show Bible stories about hope and strength.

Original Black Wall Street Legacies

Today, you’ll see signs marking the 600 businesses that once operated across 40 blocks. Local historians lead educational walks showing where Black entrepreneurs like O.W. Gurley ran shops and hotels.

You’ll even come across digital displays showing old photos and newspaper stories about the district’s impact on the local economy. The Black Wall Street Legacy Festival along North Greenwood Avenue’s 100 block (called “Negro Wall Street” by Booker T. Washington) is another tribute.

Greenwood Rising History Center

Greenwood Rising History Center opened at 21 N. Greenwood Avenue in June 2021. This newly updated $30 million building uses holograms and interactive displays to show what Black Wall Street was like.

One section shows how racism affected the community, while another uses survivor stories to recreate the night of May 31, 1921. The museum also shows how many businesses had reopened by 1925, and through virtual reality, you can explore the history in detail.

Mount Zion Baptist Church

Mount Zion Baptist Church started in 1909 was originally a one-room framed schoolhouse in the 300 block of North Rockford. It became a civil rights activity center after the massacre destroyed its first building.

The current church, built in 1952 by Reverend J.H. Dotson, keeps ashes from the original building in its cornerstone. Every month, they host educational programs and community events on its historical legacy and ongoing commitment to social justice initiatives.

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame

The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame sits in the old Union Depot building from 1931.

It features various performance spaces that host local musicians who perform weekly in the Barney Kessel Hall (named after a famous Tulsa guitarist).

The museum displays items from performers like Erroll Garner and Eddie Durham, who played at the Dreamland Theater and Big Ten Ballroom.

Recorded interviews tell how jazz brought people together during segregation.

The Pathway to Hope

The Pathway to Hope, a pedestrian walkway approximately 10 feet wide, aims to reconnect the Greenwood District with John Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park.

Signs feature old photos that connect to survivor stories, including plaques and artwork that honor historical figures.

The path follows routes that Black Tulsans used to escape during the massacre while evening walks show how far the original Black Wall Street stretched.

Memorial Art Gallery

Memorial Art Gallery features local exhibits and educational workshops that focus on the historical context of civil rights movements in Tulsa.

For instance, Crystal Z Campbell’s Lines of Sight illuminates the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, where hundreds of Black residents were killed in the predominantly Black Greenwood district (a.k.a. Black Wall Street).

The Helmerich Center

The Helmerich Center (located on the OSU-Tulsa campus) contains over 100,000 rare books, including copies of the Tulsa Star newspaper and property maps.

Explore The Eddie Faye Gates Tulsa Race Massacre Collection, which contains a wealth of eyewitness accounts, photographs, and recorded survivor stories of the Race Massacre.

The Greenwood Chamber of Commerce

The Greenwood Chamber of Commerce (99 years old) at 301 N. Greenwood Avenue stands where Black-owned businesses once operated.

Current initiatives include maintaining the ten remaining original buildings of Black Wall Street and creating a welcome center and exhibition space.

The Faces of Greenwood Walk, a curation made possible by donations and NEH support, is also a project by the Greenwood Chamber.