Timeline of Tulsa, Oklahoma


The following is a timeline of the [History of Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa, Oklahoma|history] of the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States.

16th century

  • 1540 – Hernando de Soto becomes the first European to visit present-day Tulsa.

19th century

  • 1836 – Creek people begin to settle the town of Tulasi after their expulsion from the Southeastern United States.
  • 1861 – Battle of Round Mountain and Battle of Chusto-Talasah – Civil War battles occur north of Tulsa.
  • March 25, 1879 – First post office established at Perryman ranch.
  • 1882 –
  • * Atlantic & Pacific Railroad tracks laid from Vinita.
  • * T. J. Archer builds first mercantile store in downtown Tulsa
  • 1884 – Presbyterian church founded a mission day school that became the first public school after Tulsa was incorporated.
  • 1886 – First Methodist Episcopal Church organized in December in Tulsey Town, Creek Nation.
  • 1887 – Tulsa founded.
  • 1893 – The Tulsa Review is the first newspaper published in Tulsa.
  • 1895 – The New Era newspaper opens. It later renames to the Indian Republican and Tulsa World.
  • 1898
  • * Town is officially incorporated on January 18.
  • * Edward E. Calkins becomes first mayor.
  • * Population reported as 1,100.
  • 1899
  • * First mass said at Holy Family Church.
  • * Robert H. Hall built the first telephone system in Tulsa, serving 80 subscribers.
  • * R. N. Bynum becomes second mayor.
  • * Presbyterian mission school closed permanently after 1898-99 session; building purchased by J. M. Hall and 3 other men and reopened as first public school, beginning Tulsa Public Schools system.
  • 1900
  • * Commercial Club of Tulsa formed.
  • * Population: 1,390.
  • * Lewis Poe becomes third mayor

20th century

1900s-1940s

1950s-1990s

21st century

Published in 20th century

  • James M. Hall, The Beginning of Tulsa.
  • Angie Debo, Tulsa: From Creek Town to Oil Capital, 1943. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
  • Nina Dunn, “Tulsa’s Magic Roots: An Early History of Tulsa,”
  • The Tulsa Historic Preservation Plan.

Published in 21st century

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