The Tulsa Garden Center is housed in the former David Travis Mansion on Peoria Avenue.
It was built in the early 1920’s by David Travis (formerly Rabinowitz) an early day Tulsa Oilman and immigrant from Russian who in true wildcatter fashion didn’t get live in for very long and lost it because of an oil price crash (I have to say that he wasn’t a wildcatter but he was in the oilfield supply business). It had various owners, finally ending up with another oilman who sold it to the City of Tulsa.
It’s a busy place as it hosts thirty gardening groups plus countless weddings and fundraisers during the year. My wife during her Master Gardener phase worked in the library and then later taught children during weekend programs. I have been all through the mansion while helping her carry stuff here and there including the attic servants quarters where the children’s supplies were kept. Supposedly there is a ghost present and if I were ghost I would haunt this place as it is absolutely beautiful.
Mr. Travis was Jewish and the first Jewish services in Tulsa were held in the basement. Also in the basement is the mikvah in the basement right next the ballroom. If you catch a staff member or volunteer with a key in the right mood they might show you the mikvah and the attic where the female servants slept.
This is the back side of the Conservatory of the Garden Center. The front of the building gets all the attention but I find it rather bland. I much prefer the rear. Mainly because of the red tile roof of the building attached to it.
Four years ago in that same corner, Heather and I built a Children’s Garden for the Garden Center. It doesn’t look like much but it was a lot of work. They didn’t have a place for the kids to work with soil and Heather didn’t think that it didn’t make too much sense teaching kids about gardening if they didn’t have a place of their own to plant and tend plants.
It took off and grew though!! Heather left the program and moved on to other things and so did the Garden Center and all that she put in got taken out. Which, if you know anything about gardening, is the way things go.
The Tulsa Garden Center is a great organization and a great place check it out.
Linking with Our World Tuesday
Previous Posts on Tulsa Garden Center: here, here, and here.
Beautiful place and an interesting history!! Heather has done so many great things, I do hope she is appreciated by the community!! Hope you’ve all had a lovely weekend!! Thanks for hosting with us!! You are appreciated!!
The architecture of the building lends itself well to the a conservatory.
What a clever idea to have a children’s garden. No doubt Heather is greatly missed.
Fascinating and informative post and neat shots! Love seeing the green grass! Still snow white here in New England ~
Happy Week to you,
artmusedog and carol
Great way to preserve Tulsa history and a lovely building. I’m glad it’s being used for such a good and happy purpose.
It’s a beautiful place!
Looks like a beautiful place. Too bad the original owner lost it due to an oil crash. I’m afraid history might repeat itself for a lot of oil magnates who didn’t save up for the oil glut days.