Tulsa Garden Center at Woodward Park

Woodward Park is a historic site located just three miles from downtown Tulsa, spanning nearly 45 acres and surrounded by neighborhoods established in the 1920s and 1930s. Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, the park is noted for its rich cultural and architectural significance, prominently featuring The Mansion at Woodward Park, a 1919 Italian Renaissance-style villa designed by architect Noble B. Fleming. This mansion has served as the Tulsa Garden Center since 1954.

The park is celebrated for its two main garden areas: the Upper and Lower Rock Gardens, and the beautifully landscaped Tulsa Rose Garden. Both were developed in the 1930s through public funding, utilizing labor from work-relief programs. The rock gardens, designed by Arthur S. Phillips and opened in 1932, incorporate limestone structures to create scenic lily pools, walking paths, and unique features like fairy circles and terraces. Over time, additional elements were added, including sandstone terracing and vibrant azalea beds introduced in 1968.

The Tulsa Rose Garden, originally designed by landscape architect C. Burton Fox, was intended to showcase various blooming flowers in a geometric layout but soon became a municipal rose garden under the stewardship of the Tulsa Garden Club. This garden received notable accolades including the More Beautiful America Achievement Award from Better Homes & Gardens in 1937, and recognition from the American Rose Society and the New York Times in 1938 for its remarkable blooms.

In addition to its contributions to the rose garden, the Tulsa Garden Club played a key role in acquiring the David R. Travis Mansion to serve as the headquarters for the Tulsa Garden Center. Following communication with local foundations about the mansion's potential use for educational purposes, the club established a garden center committee in 1950 and incorporated the Tulsa Garden Center later that year. In 1954, the City of Tulsa purchased the mansion, providing the center with a permanent home where it could foster education about horticulture and community beautification.

Woodward Park also features additional landscaped structures, including a cobblestone driveway, a brick carriage house, and a glass conservatory. The Teaching Garden, established in 2006, aims to inspire local residents with practical ideas for their own gardens, incorporating multiple demonstration areas and outdoor classrooms.

The historic barn on the grounds, believed to be the oldest structure in Woodward Park, previously housed animals on the Travis estate. Its architectural design includes a gable roof and distinctive dormers.

In alignment with its mission, the Tulsa Garden Center emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion within the community. It acknowledges the Indigenous tribes who were the original inhabitants of the land, including the Osage, Wichita, Caddo, Muscogee (Creek), and Cherokee nations, affirming the center's commitment to enhancing relationships with Indigenous communities and honoring their legacy on the land that encompasses Woodward Park.