Philbrook: The Museum That Has Something for Everyone!

April 3, 2024

Diane Morrow-Kondos,

Way back in the dark ages (the 1960s), we walked uphill both ways to school, and we took a total of two field trips during our TPS elementary years. The most memorable of the two was the trip to Philbrook. We were instructed to be quiet and orderly, keeping our voices to a whisper and our hands to our sides. It was an adult museum, and we felt lucky to visit. Philbrook continues to be a beautiful place, but some things have changed for the better in the intervening fifty-odd years since I was a fourth grader.

Philbrook has become a family-friendly place with activities that appeal to all ages. Last summer, my grandson attended and enjoyed two weeks of summer camp at Philbrook. My three-year-old granddaughter has been doing the Friday morning nature hikes with her mom. On a recent Friday, her brother and I went along also. Fortunately, it was a perfect day for a nature hike, and the tulips greeted us with colorful blooms.

Friday: Nature Hike

The Friday family nature hike begins at 10 a.m. with a garden walk. A Philbrook employee leads the group and gives the kids clippings to put in their bags. After the nature walk, there is a craft activity using the clippings. My three-year-old granddaughter loves this part! The nature walk and art activity are structured yet allow freedom for roaming toddlers and pre-schoolers with limited attention spans.

The surroundings are inspirational for artists of all ages!

Thursday: Storytime and Feeding Koi

Thursday mornings are also a good time for families with young kids to visit Philbrook! Storytime is held outside, beginning at 10 a.m. and moving inside during inclement weather. Immediately after storytime is the fish feeding at 10:30 in the Reflecting Pool. Watching the brightly colored Koi come to the surface for food is an exciting experience for all ages!

Daily Fun in the Gardens

My six-year-old grandson loves what he calls “The hidden playground,” which is tucked away in the southwest part of the grounds. He loves the tightrope walk and the tires. The play area is shady and quiet, providing a pleasant respite for a tired grandparent. The 25 acres of Philbrook gardens and grounds are worth the price of admission, but there are always interesting things going on inside!

Callister loves “The Hidden Playground!”

Collidoscope

The current special exhibit is Collidoscope, which will run through April 28. Collidoscope is a play on the words kaleidoscope and retrospective and is a blown glass and mixed media collection created by brothers Einar de la Torre and Jamex de la Torre. The Mexican-born siblings have collaborated to create multi-dimensional and multi-sensory pieces that appeal to adults and children alike. There are also some hands-on activities for kids in the exhibit.

The special exhibit has a hands-on element for kids!

Dining at Philbrook

After hours of walking, learning, looking, and creating, we needed food and a drink. Elote Restaurant is at Philbrook until August, which couldn’t make me happier. It’s one of my favorite restaurants, but the downtown location often deters me from making the long trek from South Tulsa. They have a limited menu but still plenty of choices for a feast of delicious food. We took it to the tables downstairs, which was perfect. After the kids finished eating, there were fun activities to keep them happy while we finished eating. Delicious food and entertainment for all!

This kept the kids entertained while we finished eating!

Philbrook has a rich history in Tulsa as a private home turned into a museum with expansive grounds and gardens. It’s a rare gem that has improved with age and is now perfect for a family field trip. We spent about three hours there and still didn’t see it all. The kids could have kept going, but I was ready for a nap after consuming all the yummy food and walking around the museum grounds. The kids didn’t fuss about leaving because they know from experience that we’ll return soon!