Stately, Gilded Age Mansion with Manicured Grounds
In the early 1920s, Tulsa was in the midst of its second oil boom, and the city—like much of the country—was prospering. Prominent Tulsa citizen Dr. Samuel Kennedy struck it rich on the oil fields northwest of the city. He built himself a Federal-style estate that captures the spirit of those affluent times, with soaring ceilings, a grand staircase, and a pair of second-floor terraces that overlook carefully manicured lawns. Today, innkeepers Francoise and Darrell Christopher maintain the Kennedy Mansion and its sprawling grounds, set in the country on the outskirts of Tulsa.
The inn features a handful of guest rooms, and each possesses an individual character. In the indigo-hued Gilcrease room, white curtains are draped over three picture windows and a door that leads to the terrace; it faces east, set up for views of the sunrise over the Tulsa skyline. Both the Gilcrease and the Osage rooms have private baths, outfitted with antique soaking tubs and old-fashioned racks to dry removable handlebar mustaches.
In the morning, Francoise employs her French culinary expertise to prepare an à la carte gourmet breakfast, which you order at check in. Breakfast entrees include crepes, omelets, quiche lorraine, and french toast. In the manicured backyard, an oval-shaped, in-ground pool sits outside a freestanding cottage, which Groupon customers can upgrade to for an additional $50 per night.
Tulsa, Oklahoma: Renowned Art-Deco Architecture and World-Class Art Museums
The oil booms of the early 20th century created an influx of wealth in Tulsa, and the downtown skyline reflects that prosperity. The city is peppered with art-deco-style buildings, which emulate the French-born architecture style that swept the nation in the 1920s.
Aside from the urban infrastructure, Tulsa is a green city, with a prime location along the banks of the Arkansas River. Twenty-six miles of paved, riverfront trails wind through River Parks past playgrounds, sculptures, and fountains.
Near the hotel, the Brady Arts District neighborhood is home to Cain's Ballroom, Tulsa's legendary dance-hall-turned-music-venue. Cain's rose to fame as the favored spot of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, who pioneered the musical genre of western swing in the late 1930s.
Across town, a touch of the cowboy era lingers at the Gilcrease Museum, which is lined with paintings by Frederic Remington depicting the Wild West. Tucked in the Osage hills, the museum also strives to preserve Native American art and artifacts.
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