A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TULSA GARDEN CENTER VILLA
- The entire parcel of land from 21st Street to 25th Street, that is now the
Woodward Park Complex, was originally a 160 acre Creek Indian land allotment
belonging to Helen Woodward Slemp, for whom Woodward Park is named.
- The Italianate-style villa was designed by noted Tulsa architect Nobel B.
Flemming. The house was built with 21 rooms and 10 bathrooms.
Construction was begun in 1919 and completed in 1921 at a cost of more than
$100,000.00. It was one of the most elegant homes in Tulsa, sitting on 13 country acres within the city.
- It was built by David R. Travis (originally known as David Rabinowitz), a
Russian immigrant. Mr. Travis and his family moved to Tulsa in 1913
from Ohio where he had been successful in the scrapmetal business. Mr.
Travis became quite wealthy in the oil field equipment salvage business.
- The estate was comprised of the main house, two greenhouses and a solarium, a swimming pool, two five-room cottages and two barns.
- The Arboretum parking lot is now where the swimming pool once was.
- The Ballroom (lower level) was the location for Jewish services during the time the Travises were in residence.
- The
ceiling in the original library on the first floor is gold leaf. The
stained glass ceiling was originally a skylight.
- Mr. Travis and his brother Samuel built the cobblestone driveway
themselves.
- Samuel Travis built the house immediately south of this one, which is
currently headquarters for the Tulsa Historical Society.
- In 1923 J. Arthur Hull purchased the home and built the "Lord & Burnham"
Conservatory and its accompanying sunken garden between 1924 and 1926.
- In 1934 Mr. George Snedden purchased the distressed mansion and his family
remained in the home until 1949. Along with interior decorator Louis Perry, George and his wife Geraldine renovated the mansion.
- Mr. W.G. Skelly bought the property in 1950, though he never resided here.
He sold the home in 1954 to the City of Tulsa, providing an educational resource center and a
meeting place for horticultural and environmental organizations in Tulsa and
surrounding communities.
- Since 1954, well over a million people have visited Tulsa Garden Center
from all 50 states and 71 foreign countries.
