Philtower Building, Tulsa

The Philtower Building is a striking architectural landmark located on South Boston Avenue in downtown Tulsa. Completed in 1928, it was commissioned by oil magnate and philanthropist Waite Phillips, who also financed the project. Designed by architect Edward Buehler Delk with construction supervision by Keene & Simpson, the building is an elegant blend of Neo-Gothic and Art Deco styles鈥攆eatures that define much of Tulsa's historic skyline.

One of its most recognizable elements is the illuminated, steeply tiled roof, which makes the Philtower instantly identifiable against the city鈥檚 evening backdrop. Inside, the building boasts a vaulted lobby ceiling adorned with large stone rosettes carved in Italy and installed by the original artisans, adding to its grandeur.

Waite Phillips maintained an office on the 21st floor, which has been preserved as a historic space. In 1941, he gifted the Philtower to the Boy Scouts of America, along with his Philmont Ranch and Villa Philmonte, using the building鈥檚 income to support scouting programs. The BSA retained ownership until 1977 when it was sold to a group of local investors鈥擳he Philtower LLC鈥攚ho continue to own it today.

Standing 323 feet tall with 24 floors, the Philtower was originally an office tower but became Tulsa鈥檚 first mixed-use high-rise when its 12th through 20th floors were converted into loft apartments in 2004. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and became part of the Oil Capital Historic District in 2010, cementing its status as a symbol of Tulsa鈥檚 oil-era legacy and architectural heritage.

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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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Philtower Building
Sight Location: Tulsa, USA (See walking tours in Tulsa)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Tulsa Introduction Walking Tour

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.

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Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, with its striking Art... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

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

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

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