Tulsa’s Gilcrease Museum is one of the country’s best facilities for the preservation and study of American art and history. The museum’s charm, beauty, and art collections draw thousands of visitors from around the world to the hills just northwest of downtown Tulsa for a glimpse into the past.

Gilcrease Museum has something for everyone - ancient Mayan pottery, Frederic Remington’s stunning tributes to the American west, and letters penned by historic luminaries such as Diego Columbus and Thomas Jefferson. Those are just a few examples of the great exhibits at the museum.

Thomas Gilcrease loved collecting art. He purchased his first oil painting in 1922, but most of his collecting was done after 1939. The first Gilcrease Museum opened at his oil company headquarters in San Antonio in 1943. Within a few years, Gilcrease returned to Tulsa with his oil company and his growing collection. He opened a gallery for public viewing on his Tulsa estate in 1949. Thomas Gilcrease deeded his collection to the city of Tulsa in 1955.

“Gilcrease strives to be a family museum, and a place where art can be appreciated by all ages,” says Museum Executive Director Joe Schenk.

“We try to make the museum experience less intimidating – and more friendly to our visitors.”

The Kravis Discovery Center is just one example of how Gilcrease has created an educational and interactive experience for visitors. Research can be done on thousands of pieces in the Gilcrease collection that have been catalogued into the Kravis Center’s database. Visitors can enjoy replicas of artifacts that may be touched and experienced. Gilcrease Museum is excited about a brand new exhibition from the museum’s own collection that will begin its journey in Tulsa in January, and then continue its travels across the land later in 2006.

After Lewis & Clark: The Forces of Change, 1806-1871 chronicles the stylistic and thematic changes in art that swept the nation after the two brave explorers’ epic journey to the American west from 1804-06. The collection consists of 115 works, including images of fur traders in the Rockies, the magnificent cultures of Native Americans, and the beautiful vistas found throughout the rugged frontiers of the American continent.

This spectacular exhibition proudly opened to the public on January 14 and continues through April 9, 2006. It profiles a turning point in American art. “Historic events, technological developments, and cultural changes culminated in the large landscapes that began to appear in American art after the Civil War,” says Gilcrease Museum Senior Curator Gary Hood.

Hood says the artists who encountered the unique subjects of the American West gave birth to a new age of art and gave us a new way of looking at portraiture, lifestyle, landscape, and history. As curator of this exhibition, Hood has written a companion book that will be available in the Gilcrease Museum Shop after the art goes on display.

One of the representative works in this exhibition is Fort Laramie, by Alfred Jacob Miller. Miller visited the military outpost in 1837 – the only artist to visit the original structure.

He then painted his recollections of the fort in 1851. Fort Laramie became an important stop on the Oregon Trail is now on the national register of historic places.

Another fabulous work being shown in the exhibition is Indian Encampment on the Big Bend of the Missouri River, by Carl Wimar. Wimar was born in Germany, but became an American citizen. He was fascinated by the new subject matter presented by the wondrous American West. This painting is one of the first large panoramas to focus on the majestic landscape of the American West instead of the usual subjects of the time - animals or people. Wimar painted this groundbreaking work in his St. Louis studio from sketches he made when he visited the region in June, 1859.

“After Lewis & Clark: The Forces of Change, 1806-1871 will highlight the style of art and expression that has made the Gilcrease Museum famous throughout the world,” says Joe Schenk. “We are so pleased that the opening date has arrived, and we believe the subject matter of the exhibition is so important both in the history of America and American art.”

In addition to Wimar and Miller, the 42 artists featured in After Lewis & Clark include Karl Bodmer, Charles Bird King, George Catlin, John Mix Stanley, John James Audubon, Thomas Moran, and Albert Bierstadt.

The first stop for the exhibition after its debut in Tulsa will be Corpus Christi, Texas to open the expanded Art Museum of South Texas.

What else can you do at the Gilcrease Museum? Osage Restaurant The Osage restaurant at Gilcrease Museum is dedicated to providing the best quality regional cuisine. The restaurant’s chefs employ traditional methods with creative combinations of ingredients to produce a great dining experience. Enjoy soups, salads, sandwiches, or try the exotic buffalo burger, a catfish filet, or roasted pork loin. And of course, enjoy the beautiful view, and enjoy a rendezvous with Thomas Gilcrease’s favorite bird - the cardinal - which can be seen flying above the Osage hills. Gilcrease Gardens Historical themed gardens have been developed on twenty-three of the museum’s 460 acres. These gardens enhance the museum’s collections by reflecting gardening styles and techniques from four time periods in the American west:

pre-Columbian, Pioneer, Colonial, Victorian, as well as a rock garden. Gilcrease is the only known art museum to have these educational and inspirational gardens on one site. Special care of the grounds began with the museum’s founder, Thomas Gilcrease, who encouraged the growth of native plants, and introduced numerous exotic specimens including the southern magnolia. Today, the horticulture section of the city of Tulsa’s park and recreation department maintains these magnificent grounds. Nestled in the Osage hills, the historic themed gardens are a wonderful component of the total “Gilcrease Experience.”

Vista Room The Vista Room at Gilcrease museum is one of Tulsa’s destinations for special events. Whether it’s for a formal gathering, a reunion, weddings or a speaking engagement, the Vista Room is unparalleled in its views of the beautiful Osage Hills. Contact the museum for availability and rates.

Gift Shop Looking for the perfect gift for the art lover in your family? Have a visitor from out of town with an interest in art and collectibles from the American West? Then visit the Gilcrease museum shop, open during normal business hours of the museum and during some special events. The shop features items for all ages and interests.

By Jeff Yowell Museum Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m Every Day (Closed Christmas Day) Address: 1400 North Gilcrease Museum Road Website: http://www.gilcrease.org Phone: 918/596-2700 (or for tickets to special events, 918/596-1400) Ticket Prices: Free, except for special exhibitions and events.