Boston Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Tulsa’s Boston Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church has been turning heads since 1929. Its 225-foot tower, geometric stonework and stained glass give visitors plenty to admire before reaching the doors.

Designed by Rush, Endacott & Rush, with contributions from Bruce Goff and Adah Robinson, it combines Art Deco styling with prairie wildflower motifs. The church became a National Historic Landmark in 1999. Be sure to look up while exploring downtown. 08-17

UPDATE: Boston Avenue remains an active church, with architectural tours offering a closer look at this distinctive Tulsa landmark. 06-26

Trinity Episcopal Church
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

With its pointed arches, stone tower and intricate detailing, Trinity Episcopal Church brings a little English Gothic character to downtown Tulsa. Completed in 1926, the building looks ready to welcome visitors arriving from another century. 08-17

Founded in 1903, Trinity is Tulsa’s oldest Episcopal congregation. Inside are vaulted ceilings, carved woodwork, an impressive pipe organ and colorful stained-glass windows. One particularly unusual window depicts “He Descended into Hell,” giving visitors something more to consider than the architecture.

UPDATE: Trinity remains an active parish, welcoming worshippers and visitors beneath its Gothic arches nearly a century after the building’s dedication. 06-26

First Methodist Church
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

First United Methodist Church traces its Tulsa beginnings to 1886, when the congregation met beneath a brush arbor. The sandstone church completed in 1928 provided considerably more substantial accommodations.

Designed by Charles W. Bolton and Sons, the building combines Oklahoma sandstone with Indiana limestone in a grand Tudor Gothic design. Inside, vaulted ceilings and massive oak roof trusses continue the impressive display. Quite a change from those early outdoor gatherings. 08-17

UPDATE: The historic building continues serving a downtown congregation while retaining the Gothic details that have made it a familiar Tulsa landmark. 06-26

Church
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The three soaring spires of Holy Family Cathedral make this one of the most recognizable landmarks in downtown Tulsa. Built between 1912 and 1914, the French Gothic cathedral was designed by architect A.F. Wasielewski and originally stood as the tallest building in the city. The three spires symbolize Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, while the central tower rises 251 feet above the streets below. Inside are 163 beautiful stained-glass windows, including several crafted from glass salvaged from the congregation's original 1899 church.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, Holy Family Cathedral continues to serve as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tulsa. Whether you're interested in architecture or simply enjoy exploring historic churches, it's well worth stopping by to admire one of Tulsa's most impressive Gothic landmarks. 08-17

UPDATE: Following severe storm damage in 2023, the cathedral underwent an extensive restoration that included replacing its aging roof with new copper and installing a newly fabricated cross atop the central spire. The work ensures this Tulsa landmark will remain part of the city's skyline for generations to come. 06-26

Sandusky Church
Tulsa, OK
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

The angular lines of Sandusky Avenue Christian Church offer a different kind of church architecture along Tulsa’s Route 66. This modern building on 11th Street trades Gothic towers and elaborate stonework for a bold silhouette that catches the eye from the road.

The church also serves its neighborhood through a food pantry and meeting space for community organizations and recovery groups. There’s more happening here than the unusual exterior might suggest. 08-17

UPDATE: Sandusky Avenue Christian Church continues its community work while remaining a distinctive architectural sight along the Mother Road. 06-26