Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Tulsa (must see)
The Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in downtown Tulsa stands as a towering icon of American Art Deco ecclesiastical architecture. Completed in 1929 and reaching 15 floors high, it is considered one of the finest religious examples of the style in the U.S. Recognized for its significance, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1999.
The church鈥檚 design is attributed to a unique collaboration鈥擜dah Robinson, a Tulsa art teacher, and Bruce Goff, her former student and rising architect. While Robinson sketched the original ideas and is officially credited by the church, Goff, who was with the firm Rush, Endacott, and Rush, developed the architectural plans. The debate over authorship remains unresolved, but the result is universally admired.
The structure features a 225-foot tower, a semi-circular auditorium, and an educational wing. Embracing verticality in the spirit of both Gothic cathedrals and Art Deco鈥檚 upward thrust, the church is adorned with stylized praying hands, a motif rooted in Robinson鈥檚 original sketches. Materials like limestone, granite, terra cotta, glass, and metal are masterfully integrated, while sculptor Robert Garrison鈥攁lso a former student of Robinson鈥攃ontributed detailed terra cotta figures that depict religious scenes and Oklahoma flora.
Above the south entrance, equestrian sculptures honor the early Methodist Circuit Riders, including Bishops Francis Asbury and William McKendree. The north entrance features idealized statues of John, Charles, and Susanna Wesley, anchoring the church鈥檚 Methodist identity.
Inside, the building features a M枚ller pipe organ with 105 ranks, expanded multiple times since its original 1962 installation. A columbarium, completed in 2000 and featuring a stained-glass window by Richard Bohm, now offers interment for church members and their families. In 1993, murals by Angelo Gherardi were added for the congregation鈥檚 centennial, continuing the Art Deco aesthetic.
Even beyond Tulsa, the church has left its mark鈥攍iterally. A stone from its structure is embedded in the Chicago Tribune Tower, joining stones from iconic buildings worldwide.
The church鈥檚 design is attributed to a unique collaboration鈥擜dah Robinson, a Tulsa art teacher, and Bruce Goff, her former student and rising architect. While Robinson sketched the original ideas and is officially credited by the church, Goff, who was with the firm Rush, Endacott, and Rush, developed the architectural plans. The debate over authorship remains unresolved, but the result is universally admired.
The structure features a 225-foot tower, a semi-circular auditorium, and an educational wing. Embracing verticality in the spirit of both Gothic cathedrals and Art Deco鈥檚 upward thrust, the church is adorned with stylized praying hands, a motif rooted in Robinson鈥檚 original sketches. Materials like limestone, granite, terra cotta, glass, and metal are masterfully integrated, while sculptor Robert Garrison鈥攁lso a former student of Robinson鈥攃ontributed detailed terra cotta figures that depict religious scenes and Oklahoma flora.
Above the south entrance, equestrian sculptures honor the early Methodist Circuit Riders, including Bishops Francis Asbury and William McKendree. The north entrance features idealized statues of John, Charles, and Susanna Wesley, anchoring the church鈥檚 Methodist identity.
Inside, the building features a M枚ller pipe organ with 105 ranks, expanded multiple times since its original 1962 installation. A columbarium, completed in 2000 and featuring a stained-glass window by Richard Bohm, now offers interment for church members and their families. In 1993, murals by Angelo Gherardi were added for the congregation鈥檚 centennial, continuing the Art Deco aesthetic.
Even beyond Tulsa, the church has left its mark鈥攍iterally. A stone from its structure is embedded in the Chicago Tribune Tower, joining stones from iconic buildings worldwide.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Tulsa. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Boston Avenue United Methodist Church on Map
Sight Name: Boston Avenue United Methodist Church
Sight Location: Tulsa, USA (See walking tours in Tulsa)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Tulsa, USA (See walking tours in Tulsa)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Create Your Own Walk in Tulsa
Creating your own self-guided walk in Tulsa is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
University of Tulsa Walking Tour
Located on the historic U.S. Route 66, America's "Mother Road", the University of Tulsa campus centers on a wide, grassy, quad-like space, known as Dietler Commons. Formerly called "The U", it is found not far from the downtown area and is dominated by English Gothic architecture.
At the top of Deitler Commons sits one of the campus' most notable landmarks, the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
At the top of Deitler Commons sits one of the campus' most notable landmarks, the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Tulsa's Historical Churches
Tulsa, Oklahoma is home to an array of remarkable churches, cathedrals, chapels, and other religious sites collectively reflecting the city's diverse religious heritage. A good number of these sanctuaries are located downtown. By far more than just places of worship, they are also architectural marvels and cultural landmarks.
Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, with its striking Art... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, with its striking Art... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Tulsa Introduction Walking Tour
Straddling the Arkansas River in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, the city of Tulsa is deeply rooted in the Native American history and, more recently, in the oil industry too.
The area of modern Tulsa is considered an Indian Territory, and has been formally settled by Native Americans since 1836. The tribesmen named their settlement Tallasi, which means "old town" in the Creek language,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
The area of modern Tulsa is considered an Indian Territory, and has been formally settled by Native Americans since 1836. The tribesmen named their settlement Tallasi, which means "old town" in the Creek language,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles