Gilcrease Museum Nears Completion, Offers Sneak Peek Of New Facility

The Gilcrease Museum construction project is nearing completion, and the city is celebrating by offering a sneak peek of the museum to a few people on Friday.

The project, years in the making, began with demolition in 2022. The city of Tulsa has been overseeing the funding to keep the construction on schedule.

Some people will have the opportunity to tour the new Gilcrease Museum building after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m.

The re-envisioned 91,000-square-foot building will offer a much-improved space that meets modern standards for the care of Gilcrease's collection and touring exhibitions.

According to the city, the new design incorporates references to Osage culture. The museum was also intentionally designed to offer panoramic views of Gilcrease Hill and downtown Tulsa. The building’s large size will allow the museum to host major traveling exhibits and attract visitors from across the U.S.

While no art or exhibits will be displayed during the tour, News On 6 will preview the reimagined space before the art is installed and the museum officially opens.

Art exhibits are expected to be installed in late 2025, with the new museum set to open to the public in fall 2026.