"This is not a conventional building," Gilcrease executive director and CEO Brian Lee Whisenhunt told the Tulsa Flyer last spring. He was talking about the galleries and the security built around the collection. The museum's September 28 announcement points to something larger. When Gilcrease reopens in March 2027, it will bring together the new museum, the Helmerich Center for American Research, the historic Thomas Gilcrease House and the surrounding land "as a single destination for research, learning and public engagement."
Most coverage has treated the news as one building reopening after five years. The bigger change for north Tulsa is that a museum and a 460-acre trail system in the Osage Hills are opening in the same season. Tulsa will have a combined museum and outdoor campus on a scale the city has never had in one place.
Four Pieces, One Address
The official announcement lists the parts that make up the new Gilcrease. Each one is on a different schedule:
- The museum. It has 14 permanent collection galleries built for self-guided visits. They draw on more than 300,000 items covering 12,000 years of history across the Western Hemisphere. SmithGroup designed the building with the experience studio G&A. It is set to open in March 2027. The museum has not named a day.
- The Helmerich Center for American Research. It is open now on weekdays for a single exhibition, which runs through Dec. 17.
- The Thomas Gilcrease House. It is named as part of the combined destination. The museum has not posted hours or public access details for it yet.
- The land. That means 460 acres linked by 14 miles of trails for hiking and biking. The trails are under construction and are expected to open in early 2027.
The four pieces will not open on one ribbon-cutting day. But the museum and the trails have been funded, built and timed to arrive close together, and that pairing shapes the whole project.
Why March, and Why the Building Changed
The date has moved before. In November 2024, the City of Tulsa said the museum was expected to open in fall 2026. By April 2026, the Tulsa Flyer was reporting a spring 2027 opening, "a year later than expected, smaller than before and nearly 70% over its original budget."
The Flyer's reporting gave three reasons. The delay came from the time it took to fabricate exhibit fixtures, plus concerns about winter weather and keeping the right climate for the collection. Cost increases came from pandemic-era supply chain problems and rising prices. The building got smaller because education space was cut to save money. The same article said the cuts drew complaints about the missing classrooms, and that officials say a separate classroom building may be added later.
Gilcrease puts the project at $140.9 million. The museum has been closed since July 4, 2021, for the demolition of the original facility and construction of the new one. The Flyer's announcement-day story gives the closing date as July 5, 2021. The Flyer also describes a six-story, 95,000-square-foot building with a floating staircase, views toward the Osage Hills and downtown, native-plant gardens and an amphitheater.
So the building is smaller indoors than first planned. The gardens, the amphitheater and the trail system move much of the visit outside, and that is the part of the campus that grew.
The Trails Run on a Separate Budget and the Same Clock
The trail system has its own funding. Ground was broken on April 8, 2026, for more than 13 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails across 460 acres, on both the east and west sides of 33rd West Avenue. The newer museum announcement uses 14 miles.
The $3.5 million trail project is paid for entirely with private money. Donors include the Zink Family Foundation, the William S. Smith Charitable Trust, The Helmerich Trust and dozens of individuals. The partners are Bike Club Tulsa, Gilcrease Museum and the University of Tulsa, working with Humble Sons Bike Company and Rogue Trails. Tulsa Parks will handle long-term maintenance.
According to the City, construction starts on the west side of the property. Phase one includes a gravel visitor parking area, and later phases move to the east side. The full system was expected to open "early in 2027." Gilcrease's own trail update says the trails should be ready in spring 2027. Both estimates fall close to the museum's March date.
At the groundbreaking, District 1 City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper spoke about what the trails mean for the area around the museum:
"Investing in trails and outdoor spaces in this community helps close the gaps created by years of unequal infrastructure and amenity investments. Every neighborhood deserves safe, high-quality places to connect with nature and community, and I'm glad to see this area finally receiving the attention it deserves."
Tulsa Parks director Anna America noted that the city already has more than 100 miles of trails. The Gilcrease network adds to that total next to a museum with a collection the Flyer values at $2 billion. A morning ride and an afternoon in the galleries will soon share one parking area.
No official source has posted current access details for the grounds, the trails or the Thomas Gilcrease House, so plan on those opening in 2027.
The Calendar From Here
Here is the order of events, past and coming, using dates the museum and the City have published:
- July 2021. The original museum closes for demolition and rebuilding.
- November 2024. The City projects a fall 2026 opening.
- April 8, 2026. Ground is broken on the trail system.
- June 15, 2026. "Indigenous Independence: America at 250" opens at the Helmerich Center.
- September 28, 2026. Gilcrease announces a March 2027 reopening and opens memberships.
- November 4, 2026. Members' day trip to Crystal Bridges.
- December 17, 2026. Last day of the Helmerich Center exhibition.
- Early to spring 2027. The trail system is expected to open.
- March 2027. The museum reopens.
The One Door Open Before March
From today, Oct. 4, the Helmerich Center exhibition has about ten weeks left. It is the only part of the campus with posted public hours. "Indigenous Independence: America at 250" tells the story of the American Revolution through rare books, manuscripts and art from the Gilcrease collection. It treats the Revolution as part of a long struggle over land and independence between American colonists and Native nations. The gallery shows copies of treaties between Indigenous nations and Great Britain, peace medals from key diplomatic events, and historic maps that name Native peoples and places.
The Flyer reports that the exhibition opened in June and was quickly extended through the end of the year. A visit also gives you a look at the exterior of the new museum. Details for planning a visit:
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Guided tours: Thursdays at 2 p.m.
- Closed: Nov. 26 and 27 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Registration: Through the exhibition page. Guest services can be reached at 918-596-2700.
Because the gallery is open only on weekdays, a Thursday afternoon with the 2 p.m. tour is the easiest way to get a guided visit before the exhibition closes.
What Membership Buys Before Opening Day
Gilcrease started selling annual memberships the day it announced the date. The announcement promises "exclusive preview days" before the public opening but gives no dates. The membership page lists annual levels of $70 for an individual, $100 for dual, $130 for a family, $365 for the Gilcrease 365 tier and $1,000 for the Collection Circle. The Gilcrease 365 tier adds reciprocal benefits, discounted guest admission and expanded access. Public admission prices and the exact opening day have not been announced. The museum says opening-weekend details will come later.
The first membership event happens away from the hills. On Nov. 4, Gilcrease and Philbrook are leading a day trip to Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It includes a guided tour, lunch and free time in the museum, the grounds and the store.
The opening of a museum and a trail system next to each other will change how people use the area around 33rd West Avenue and the Osage Hills. If you'd like to talk through what new amenities like this mean for your part of Tulsa, Matthew Simms and the Simms Realty team are glad to share what we're seeing locally. Schedule a complimentary consultation.
