Feb 19--Tulsa Savenger Hunt and Penguin Hunting

We planned to go penguin hunting this month. The Tulsa Penguins on Parade are a 2002 fundraiser to celebrate the Tulsa Zoo's 75th anniversary and the addition of an African Black Footed Penguin exhibit. While on-line searching for a list of the penguins, so we know how many we had to find. I ran across a downtown Tulsa scavenger hunt. This scavenger hunt was created by Tulsa Community College, for Geographical Informational Systems Day 2011.

Here is what we had to find:

1. Tulsa’s first church, located between 7^th and 8^th on Boston Avenue.
2. Billy Joel, Elton John, KISS, and Bruce Springsteen sang here.  This event location is locally known as the giant roll of duct tape, located at 3^rd & Denver.
3. The professional society is located at 15^th & Boulder.  It is part of the legacy from when Tulsa was the Oil Capitol of the World.
4. This church has some of the most beautiful stained glass windows in Tulsa; located at 8^th & Boulder.
5. Look for the sign on Boston between 3^rd & 4^th.  The sign references the Titan that supports the heavens, brother of Prometheus, son of Iapetus.
6. This historic building is a beautiful example of Tulsa’s neo-gothic and art deco architecture.  It is registered in the National Register of Historic Buildings. You can enter Tulsa underground tunnel system from here. Take a moment to look at the beautiful interior while you are here.  You will find it at 4^th & Boston.
7. This church founded the Iron Gates Ministry that feeds breakfast to the homeless every day for many decades.  Tulsa is one of the most philanthropic cities in the world.  A person in need of food can find good food for every meal of the day, every day of the week.  This iconic building is located at 5^th & Cincinnati.
8. A great place to see various forms of visual arts, located at 3^rd & Cincinnati.  Ask to visit the art display, which is changed monthly.
9. “Take me home to the ball game” at North Elgin and East Archer.
10. Everyone should visit the Old Lady on Brady at least once, located at the corner of Brady and Boulder.

We decided to continue with the penguin hunt too because we could not find a list on-line and just wanted to know how many there are/were.



DOWNTOWN TULSA SCAVENGER HUNT
We began our journey by looking for Tulsa's First Church (#1 on list above). Because we were exploring on a Sunday and church was still in session we did not go inside but here are some pictures from the outside.

First Presbyterian Church at
709 Boston Ave  Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119

 

 Here is a panorama that I created after getting home.

The church is also currently under construction to add  a new sanctuary on the south side, offices and classrooms on the north side, and a courtyard shaped like a Celtic cross in the middle.

Atlas Life Building at 415 S. Boston Ave. Tulsa, OK

Next we went to find the Atlas Build Sign (#5)...

The Atlas Life Building was built in 1922 for Tulsa's own Atlas Life Insurance Company. In 1991, Atlas Life was sold and moved to Georgia. Over the next few years the building was owned by several different people. In 2008, the Atlas Building was adapted for reuse as a Marriott hotel, opened in 2010.

Atlas at the top of the Atlas Life Building

We then went next door to the Mid-Continent Tower (#6)...

 These are both located just outside of the Mid-Continent Tower at 401 South Boston Avenue # 325
The sign denoting this building is on the National Register of Historic Places is what told us we were in the correct place. We were not able to find the entrance to Tulsa's underground tunnels inside the building.

A sculpture inside the Mid-Continent Tower.

The clock next to the entrance to the elevators.

The ceiling above the elevator pod.

A stained glass window of the Tulsa Skyline as it was just prior to the buildings completion.

We turned the corner and found our first penguin!!!!

Two-Faced Penguin

Two-Faced Penguin's Name Tag

Mid-Continent Tower mini

Next to the Mid-Continent mini.

Tulsa 1927; Photo by Ward. This is located on the landing of a stair case

Mid-Continent Tower from the corner of SE corner of 4th and Boston

Next we walked north on Boston headed to the PAC (#8)
On the way there we stumbled upon the Farmer's Market at 3rd and Boston and a park in the making with a GIANT globe in the middle of it (just west of the Farmer's Market).

The Tulsa Clock at the Farmer's Market

Huge Globe at a new park downtown

Preforming Arts Center at 110 E 2nd St, Tulsa, OK 74103

Tulsa PAC

Sculpture outside of the Tulsa PAC

Unfortunately, I am unable to tag more than 200 characters. So this will be continued in another post.