Tulsa Union Depot

The Tulsa Union Depot was built in 1931 by a consortium of three railroads that would use the depot, the Frisco, MKT, and Santa Fe. The design fits the PWA Moderne style of Art Deco and its theme is derived from Native American art, which is common around Tulsa. Note that the Depot is actually two buildings, a larger facility on the right and a smaller one on the left. In the 1930’s the South was still segregated and so-called “Separate but Equal” Jim Crow facilities were the norm. The right side of the depot was for whites and the left side was for people of color.

Today the concourse leading out to the tracks is gone and so are the associated platforms and awnings. The main depot building has been renovated and now houses the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame.