Tulsa Union Depot
Overview
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Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame
5 S Boston Ave, Tulsa, OK 74103
Web: http://www.okjazz.org/

Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/5bQLZg6rmJDSD3XA6

The Tulsa Union Depot (also known as the Tulsa Union Station) is the former central railway station for Tulsa. The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is currently headquartered in the former Depot.

Architecture
The Depot was built in an Art-Deco style by architect R.C. Stephens of St. Louis, MO. The Manhattan Construction Company served as the general contractor. The Art-Deco Style with machine styled elements was very popular, even a "something of a mania" in Tulsa.

History
The Depot was built in 1931 by the Public Works Administration and was considered "the single best PWA symbol of hope for economic recovery during the bleak days of the depression." It cost $3.5 million, paid for by a bond issue passed in 1927. The Depot was the first central station in the city of Tulsa, and it unified the small Frisco (St. Louis-San Francisco Railway), Katy (M-K-T), and Santa Fe depots. Upon its completion, a crowd of over 60,000 people came to see the opening ceremonies, which included speeches, singing, dancing, and Indian stomp dancing. The event was even broadcast on radio. A new locomotive was unveiled, and the locomotive said to have brought the first passenger train into the city (Frisco's "Old 94") was showcased. The depot opened "Tulsa's important front door." At its peak, the depot served 36 trains a day.

The upper floor was the concourse level, with segregated waiting rooms on the east and west, flanking a central area for ticketing and baggage check-in. Direct access was via elevated entrances connected to the Boston and Cincinnati Avenue bridges over the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway tracks. An enclosed, elevated concourse extended north over five platform tracks; stairs led down to three passenger platforms. Escalators were later installed. The lower level served postal traffic, the Railway Express Agency (train-carried mail service) and passenger baggage; trucks were able to access this area directly via First Street.

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Line: Tulsa to Kansas City, MO
Preceding station: none (terminus)
Following station: Mohawk (toward Kansas City, MO)

Decline and renaissance
Falling passenger train travel and the rise of air travel and the Interstate Highway System, the depot was abandoned in 1967, even though the Santa Fe maintained passenger service to Tulsa until 1971 from a separate station.

In 1980, the Williams Companies purchased the structure, and tasked designer Urban Design Group and contractor Manhattan Construction (the same company that built the depot in 1931) with restoring the same. In 1983 after completion, those companies leased space to make it their headquarters and offices.

In 2004 Tulsa County purchased the building from the Williams Companies for $2.2 million, and used the balance of $4 million in Vision 2025 funds for renovations. The building was turned over to the Tulsa County Industrial Authority, which then signed a 99-year lease with the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame for $1. The Jazz Hall began operations at the site in 2007, though did not formally take control of the building until 2009. The lease calls for the Jazz Hall to cover its own operating expenses. The Jazz Hall now calls the building the Jazz Depot.

With possible return of passenger train service to Tulsa (Eastern Flyer), ideas have been discussed of using a portion of the Jazz Depot, or other nearby sites, as a downtown rail terminal.

Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization that honors Oklahoma jazz, blues and gospel musicians. It is a music venue that hosts regular jazz performances. It is also a museum, displaying photographs, biographical information, artifacts, and memorabilia from musicians such as Chet Baker, Earl Bostic, Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Tommy Crook, Pat Kelley, and Jimmy Rushing.

Overview
The Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame holds an annual induction ceremony every November to recognize the contributions of individuals and groups in jazz, blues, and gospel music. To date, the Hall of Fame has inducted over 100 musicians and groups. Music instructor Zelia N. Breaux was the first inductee into the Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame also established the Jay McShann Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 to honor musicians who enriched Oklahoma's music during their lifetimes. Recipients of this award include Jay McShann, John Hendricks, Lou Donaldson, Dave Brubeck, Marilyn Maye, Ramsey Lewis, Nat King Cole, George Duke, Billy Taylor, Eddie Palmieri, Bob Wills, and Lalo Schifrin.

In 1991, guitarist Barney Kessel made a speech about improvised music here - his last recorded public appearance before a stroke forced him to retire in May 1992. Singer Joe Lee Wilson also made his last public performance at his 2010 induction into the Hall of Fame.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa_Union_Depot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_Jazz_Hall_of_Fame

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