Tulsa Union Depot

Coordinates: 36°09′20″N 95°59′26″W / 36.155523°N 95.990652°W / 36.155523; -95.990652

Tulsa Union Depot
Tulsa Union Depot, 2009
Other names Tulsa Union Station
Location 111 East 1st St, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Other information
Status School and Museum
History
Opened May 13, 1931
Closed May 13, 1967
Key dates
1980 Reopened

The Tulsa Union Depot (also known as the Tulsa Union Station) is the former central railway station for Tulsa, Oklahoma. It has since been turned into an office building. The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is currently headquartered in the former Depot.[1][2]

History

The Depot was built in 1931 by the Public Works Administration and was considered "the single best PWA symbol of hope for economic recovery during the bleak days of the depression."[3] It cost $3.5 million, paid for by a bond issue passed in 1927.[4] The Depot was the first central station in the city of Tulsa, and it unified the small Frisco, Katy, and Santa Fe depots. Upon its completion, a crowd of over 60,000 people came to see the opening ceremonies, which included speeches, singing, dancing, and Indian stomp dancing. The event was even broadcast on radio. A new locomotive was unveiled, and the locomotive said to have brought the first passenger train into the city (Frisco's "Old 94") was showcased.[1] The depot opened "Tulsa's important front door." At its peak, the depot served 36 trains a day.[3]

The upper floor was the concourse level, with segregated waiting rooms on the east and west, flanking a central area for ticketing and baggage check-in. Direct access was via elevated entrances connected to the Boston and Cincinnati Ave. bridges over the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway tracks. An enclosed, elevated concourse extended north over five platform tracks; stairs led down to three passenger platforms. Escalators were later installed. The lower level served postal traffic, the Railway Express Agency and passenger baggage; trucks were able to access this area directly via First St.

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Tulsa Union Depot interior, under renovation

Because of declining passenger train travel and the rise of air travel and the Interstate Highway system, the depot was abandoned after hosting its last passenger train in 1967.[1] In 1980, the Williams Companies purchased the structure, and tasked designer Urban Design Group and contractor Manhattan Construction (the same company that built the depot in 1931) with restoring the same.[4] In 1983 after completion, those companies leased space to make it their headquarters and offices.[4]

In 2004 Tulsa County purchased the building from the Williams Companies for $2.2 million, and used the balance of $4 million in Vision 2025 funds for renovations. The building was turned over to the Tulsa County Industrial Authority, which then signed a 99-year lease with the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame for $1.[5] The Jazz Hall began operations at the site in 2007, though did not formally take control of the building until 2009.[6] The lease calls for the Jazz Hall to cover its own operating expenses; and, some controversy has arisen on occasions when bill payments have been late.[7] The Jazz Hall now calls the building the Jazz Depot.

With possible restoration of passenger train service to Tulsa, Tulsa city councilors have discussed the likelihood of using a portion of the Jazz Depot for its original purpose, serving as a downtown rail terminal for the city.[8]

Architecture

The Depot was built in an Art-Deco style by architect R.C. Stephens of St. Louis, MO. The Manhattan Construction Company served as the general contractor. The Art-Deco Style with machine styled elements was very popular, even a "something of a mania" in Tulsa.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Curtis, Gene (May 2, 2007). "Only in Oklahoma: By any name, Tulsa's rail facility was a jewel". Tulsa World.
  2. 1 2 "Tulsa Union Depot". Tulsa Preservation Commission. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 Wallis, Michael (2007). Way Down Yonder in the Indian Nation: Writings from America's Heartland. Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 133–134. ISBN 978-0-8061-3824-4. Retrieved June 25, 2010 – via Google Books.
  4. 1 2 3 Underwood, Bill (March 19, 1997). "Union Depot Train Station Rescued by Williams Companies After Years of Neglect". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  5. ↑ Hylton, Susan (May 18, 2004). "Jazz hall to call depot its home". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  6. ↑ Canfield, Kevin (May 30, 2010). "Deal near for jazz nonprofit to run depot". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  7. ↑ Canfield, Kevin (October 15, 2012). "Jazz Hall pays bills, will remain at Union Depot". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
  8. ↑ Wade, Jarrel (December 5, 2014). "Council discusses potential train station for downtown Tulsa". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 10, 2015.
Preceding station   Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe   Following station
TerminusTulsa – Kansas City
Mohawk
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