With more than 16 museums and galleries to choose from, the Gilcrease Museum caught my attention, with their new exhibit, Machu Picchu - Unveiling the Mystery of the Incas, running through July 10, 2005. The $7 admission was cheaper than tuition and surpassed anything from my Latin American cultural studies.
An introductory film describes the Inca civilization and how they fell to Spanish Conquistadors in the 1500s. It's believed the quest for silver distracted Europeans from ever finding Machu Picchu, tucked away in the Andes. The ancient city was forgotten until a Yale archaeologist rediscovered the overgrown ruins in 1911. Unknowns and speculations still dominate history, but this largest exhibit ever assembled was certainly enough to land Peru on my travel dream list.
Event organizers were numerous on only their second day since opening. A detailed brochure guided patrons through various galleries featuring reconstructed Inca villages, 500-year-old excavated artifacts, and photos and artwork representing the ancient civilization. Numerous interactive displays included self-guided virtual tours of Machu Picchu and the Peruvian Andes. A reconstructed modular of the city was alone worth admission fee, with a 12-minute presentation inside a darkened corridor. A video narrates the purpose of various sectors, while spotlights highlighted the model.
Upon entry to the museum, all personal belongings must be checked, including cameras. Suggested donation admission is $3 if not planning to see special exhibits. The main floor has two elongated wings showcasing artwork from The American West, with a heavy emphasis on Native Americans. Artists likely won't be recognizable but rank as some of the best in their field. Vivid oil paintings were clear enough to be photos. Some dating more than 150 years back.
Scenes from how the west was won, the central plains' great bison population, and indigenous life were spectacular; mural-sized paintings of nature made you feel like you were staring through a huge plate-glass window. In the lower level, at the Kravis Discovery Center, are research resources for the histories of Oklahoma and the American West. Collectors of arrowheads will be astounded by endless banks of index drawers, containing what has got to be one of the largest compilations in the world.
The museum's Osage Restaurant had quite the mid-Sunday afternoon crowd, with a standard menu in a cafeteria setting. Grounds surrounding the museum are worth a ramble if the weather's decent. The Gilcrease Estate has been turned into yet another Tulsa park. The small mansion appeared to be under renovation. A wide front porch encircles the lower level overlooking a Victorian garden. The tomb of Thomas Gilcrease is on the front lawn, with glimpses of Tulsa's skyline beyond. Meandering paths encircle the grounds, with statues, sculptures, and ample benches in secluded spots. Off the northern parking lot is a trail winding its way to a small lake that has a gazebo on the far side.
The museum is easiest found heading west on Pine Street, following signs until it dead ends at Gilcrease Museum Road. Take a left. On maps, Admiral looks like it provides a direct route, but it jogs through downtown before becoming Edison Street.