Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Oklahoma – History & Haunting
Nestled on a sprawling 460-acre landscape in the northwestern reaches of Tulsa, Oklahoma, stands the Gilcrease Museum, a repository of unparalleled significance. This institution safeguards one of the world’s most comprehensive and esteemed collections of Native American and Western art, artifacts, and historical documents. Beyond its tangible treasures, the Gilcrease Museum is also steeped in local lore, whispered to be inhabited by several spectral residents, adding an intriguing layer to its rich history.
The story of the Gilcrease Museum begins with William Thomas Gilcrease, an oilman, art collector, and philanthropist whose vision and passion shaped the museum into what it is today. Following his death in 1962, his estate was thoughtfully preserved and opened to the public, allowing generations to appreciate the cultural heritage he so meticulously amassed. To truly appreciate the museum, one must first understand the life of the man behind it.
William Thomas Gilcrease’s life began in Robeline, Louisiana, on February 8, 1890. He was the son of William Lee and Mary Elizabeth (Vowell) Gilcrease. His mother’s Creek Indian heritage would profoundly influence his life and passions. Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma, settling on Creek Nation tribal lands near Eufaula.
His father established a home built of logs, and he also ran a cotton gin in the nearby community of Mounds. Thomas received his early education in a one-room schoolhouse, guided by the insightful Creek poet Alex Posey. Posey’s influence provided Thomas with a well-rounded education that would ignite his imagination and shape his intellectual pursuits for the remainder of his days.
As the 20th century dawned, the federal government initiated the dissolution of the Indian Nations’ communal land holdings. The government divided the land into 160-acre parcels, granting them to individual tribal members. At the young age of nine, Thomas, possessing 1/8 Creek heritage, received his allotment, situated approximately twenty miles southwest of Tulsa. Initially, this land appeared to be a dry, dusty expanse within the Osage Hills. However, this perception dramatically shifted in 1905 when oil drillers struck black gold in the area.
His land, situated atop the vast Glenn Pool Reserve, catapulted Gilcrease to millionaire status by the time he reached 20. Despite facing early challenges, he rapidly demonstrated a keen aptitude for business, navigating the competitive world of oil tycoons with skill and determination.
On August 22, 1908, Gilcrease married Belle Harlow, a member of the Osage tribe. The couple welcomed two sons into the world: Thomas, Jr. in 1909, and Barton Eugene in 1911.
By 1913, Thomas began searching for a suitable home for his growing family. His search led him to a striking stone house northwest of the burgeoning boomtown of Tulsa. The property belonged to Flowers Nelson, a Tulsa lawyer, and his wife, Carrie. The Nelsons had acquired the land in 1909 and constructed the house using native sandstone, strategically perched atop a hill offering panoramic views of Tulsa. Gilcrease was captivated by the stone house, with its expansive wrap-around porch, and promptly made an offer. On December 26, 1913, the offer was accepted. Encompassing approximately 80 acres, the property became affectionately known as "Toms Place" and "The Little Stone House on the Hill." A garage and a barn were also included on the property.
Following the purchase of his home, Gilcrease embarked on extensive travels, particularly to Europe. He was deeply impressed by the historical museums he encountered, inspiring him to establish his own collection. The year 1922 marked a turning point in his life. He officially founded the Gilcrease Oil Company to manage his holdings, acquired his first oil painting, and faced the dissolution of his 14-year marriage.
Two years later, in February 1924, Gilcrease entered into an agreement with W.O. Ligon and his wife to sell 13 acres of his land under a "contract for deed." Gilcrease allowed the Ligons to reside in the rock house while he traveled abroad. However, the Ligons defaulted on their payments, and the land reverted back to Gilcrease in 1928.
While Thomas traveled, he hired "Chief" Cephas Stout in 1927 to begin remodeling and updating the rock house property. A year later, he remarried Norma Smallwood on September 3, 1928. Smallwood, the first Oklahoman to be crowned Miss America in 1926, was only 19 years old. Though the couple had a daughter named Des Cygne in 1929, the marriage was not to last, ending in divorce on October 3, 1933.
Gilcrease continued to expand his operations, establishing his company headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, in 1937, while maintaining an office in Europe. In the meantime, he was also expanding his art collection, the bulk of which would be amassed in the years after 1939. When few others were interested in Native American art or artifacts of the American West, Gilcrease sought out single works of art as well as large groups of material from dealers and other collectors.
In 1941, Tom instructed "Chief" Cephas Stout, who had previously remodeled the stone house, to convert the barn and garage into storage spaces for his growing collection of artwork and artifacts. Once completed, he affectionately referred to the barn as "His Gallery" and the garage as "His Library."
In 1943, Thomas opened the Museum of the American Indian in San Antonio. With his stone house sitting vacant, he decided to repurpose it as an orphanage for Indian children. He renovated the second floor, adding more rooms for the girls, and constructed a separate structure for the boys. The garage was transformed into a technical training center for the children.
During this period, Thomas supported numerous Oklahoma Indian artists, including Crumbo, Acee Blue Eagle, and Willard Stone, acquiring their works for his collection. In 1946, the tribal members of the Sioux Nation honored Gilcrease by making him an honorary tribal member, bestowing upon him the name Wicarpi Wakatuya, meaning "High Star."
Although the American Indian Museum in San Antonio did not attract the anticipated number of visitors, it did not deter the avid collector. In 1947, he made what is considered the shrewdest acquisition of American art in the century, purchasing the entire collection of the late Dr. Phillip Gillette Cole, an avid art collector in New York. The sum paid by Gilcrease at the time would not be enough to buy a single work in the collection today.
Soon, 63 boxes and 11 crates were delivered to Tulsa, containing twenty-seven bronzes and 46 paintings by Charles Russell, 17 bronzes and 12 paintings by Frederic Remington, and numerous documents and correspondence of well-known characters in the American West.
With these new additions and his existing collection, Gilcrease commissioned architect Alexandre Hogue to design a museum on his property to showcase his treasures. In 1949, Thomas returned to Tulsa with his oil company and opened the Thomas Gilcrease Institute of American History and Art on his expansive estate. Thomas continued to reside in the rock house, surrounded by a garden showcasing plants used by Native Americans.
Throughout the early 1950s, Gilcrease continued to acquire art, artifacts, and documents. However, this period also marked the beginning of a decline in oil prices, making it increasingly challenging for the art collector to finance major acquisitions.
As his debt continued to mount, Gilcrease offered to sell his entire collection to ensure its preservation as a whole. In 1954, fearing the loss of the Gilcrease Museum from Tulsa, a group of concerned citizens organized a bond election. The following year, Tulsans overwhelmingly approved the bond issue, which covered Gilcrease’s outstanding debts. Gilcrease then deeded the collection to the City of Tulsa, pledging oil property revenue to assist in maintaining the museum until the $2.25 million bond was repaid.
In 1958, the Gilcrease Foundation conveyed the museum buildings and grounds to the City of Tulsa.
After transferring his collection, Gilcrease continued to fund archaeological excavations and acquire additional material for the museum. Thomas died of a heart attack in 1962 and was honored with a funeral service incorporating traditional Indian rituals. His remains were interred in a mausoleum on his estate, and his remaining art and artifacts were bequeathed to the museum.
During his lifetime, Gilcrease amassed a collection comprising over 10,000 artworks, 250,000 Native American artifacts, and 100,000 rare books and documents, including the only surviving certified copy of the Declaration of Independence.
The Gilcrease Museum is renowned as the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of fine art, artifacts, and archives that narrate the story of the American West. The grounds also feature 23 acres of thematic gardens showcasing the gardening styles of different periods in the American West. The museum offers free guided tours, a gift shop, and the elegant Osage Restaurant.
Beyond its historical significance and artistic treasures, the Gilcrease Museum has also garnered attention for its alleged paranormal activity. Legend has it that Thomas Gilcrease, deeply attached to his collection, continues to wander the grounds. The philanthropist’s ghost is frequently spotted in the gardens, his favorite place during his lifetime, and in his former home, now used for Art Education classes by the Museum Education Department. Security guards have reported sightings of him at night, contributing to a high turnover rate.
Other accounts describe ghostly children roaming the historic grounds. Paranormal investigators have captured electronic voice recordings of a woman singing, sounds of men arguing, and faint whispers.
Additional phenomena reported by staff and guests include loud banging noises emanating from the museum’s second floor, significant temperature fluctuations, doors slamming shut on their own, unexplained technical malfunctions, and items mysteriously disappearing only to reappear later in unusual places.
Some estimate that as many as seven different spirits may reside on the property, all believed to be harmless and lingering simply because they enjoy being there.
Today, the museum is managed by Tulsa University but remains owned by the city.
Gilcrease Museum
1400 North Gilcrease Museum Road
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74127-2100
918-596-2700 or 888-655-2278