The Tulsa Blue Dome District is now known as a nightlife hotspot with strong art and music influences. Tulsa, Oklahoma, famous Blue Dome Building is on the corner of 2nd and Elgin Streets. The district is densely packed with bars and restaurants, and numerous other downtown attractions surround it. However, it was only a gas station less than a century ago. It’s strange to think that a place that is now celebrated with murals and festivals was once a gas station. It’s also worth noting how little historical information about the Blue Dome and its surroundings is available. The Tulsa Blue Dome District we all know and love today was not appreciated in its previous incarnation.
History
The district’s heart is the iconic Blue Dome Building, built in 1924. The circular two-story building has a distinctive art deco architectural style, complemented by its well-known blue roof. It began as a White Star Service Station gas station with nine gas pumps and sleeping quarters for the station attendants. The gas station was part of the original Route 66 and was quite successful due to the high traffic volume and customers provided by the route. However, after the route was relocated to 11th Street, the gas station lost its primary source of revenue and closed in 1953.
Michael Sager bought the building soon after. He renovated and repurposed the old structure to become Arnie’s Bar. This gave the dome a new purpose, but the bar soon closed. Since then, the structure has housed an antique shop and a restaurant.
Today
The Blue Dome District consists of nine blocks with eight buildings. The local bars and restaurants make this Tulsa, OK neighborhood a great place to spend a night out. This district is well-known for its beautiful buildings and architecture, but it is also well-known for its artistic and musical influences. Mike Bailey and Pat Walters, two Tulsa entrepreneurs, have heavily invested in the area and helped to put on frequent events, such as the annual Blue Dome Arts Festival. They bought the building on the spur of the moment for $70,000 in 1999.
Arts and Music
Each May, the Blue Dome Arts Festival is held. The festival includes live music, art vendors, and food. The event aims to promote and highlight local artists and musicians. Almost 250 visual/craft artists come to show off their work. Paintings, pottery, carvings, photography, jewelry, home decor, woodcrafts, apparel, and glasswork are all handcrafted. On-stage entertainment is also made up of local singers, songwriters, and performers. The event will be held for the 13th time in 2016. Bed Bug Exterminator Tulsa
Two murals depicting the Blue Dome District are among the abundance of street art in Downtown Tulsa. The first is a brightly colored graffiti art piece featuring the Blue Dome Building (left), while the second is for the Blue Dome Arts Festival and features the Blue Dome Building made out of handprints (right).
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