Downtown Tulsa is divided into a series of entertainment districts which are home to numerous restaurants, nightclubs, bars and retail shopping establishments. The Blue Dome District is the closest of these areas to the downtown Tulsa Hyatt, and that's where we ate most of our meals on this trip to Tulsa, since it was an easy walk from the hotel.
Oil was discovered in Tulsa in the early 1900s, and wealthy oilmen such as Waite Phillips, William G. Skelly, and J. Paul Getty poured millions into the local economy, and left behind their stately mansions, beautiful modern high rises, and Art Deco architecture, some of which can still be seen in the Blue Dome District.
The famous Rte. 66 highway which connected Los Angeles to Chicago, also passes through Tulsa, and a section of that roadway carves through the Blue Dome District of downtown. In fact, the Blue Dome building is actually a beautiful old 1920s gas station located along Rte. 66, and it is the centerpiece for this entertainment district. Watch for the Rte. 66 markers along the sidewalk to help you follow the path of the highway.
The Blue Dome District seems to be an up-and-coming, hipsters section, on the north east side of downtown. There were numerous restaurants lining 1st, 2nd and 3rd Streets, and in the warmer months you'll find of lot of street festivals. We saw lots of construction for lofts and condos in this same general area. read more