How to Tour the Greenwood Rising History Center Exhibits

The Greenwood Rising History Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, stands as a powerful monument to resilience, memory, and the enduring legacy of one of America’s most prosperous Black communities before its destruction in 1921. More than a museum, it is a living narrative space that invites visitors to walk through history—not as passive observers, but as engaged witnesses to the triumphs, tragedies, and truths of Black Wall Street. Touring the exhibits at Greenwood Rising is not simply an educational outing; it is an emotional, intellectual, and moral journey that connects the past to the present. Understanding how to effectively navigate its exhibits ensures that visitors leave not only informed but transformed. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap to maximizing your experience at the Greenwood Rising History Center, from pre-visit preparation to post-visit reflection. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student, a educator, or a curious traveler, this tutorial will help you engage deeply with the stories preserved within these walls.

Step-by-Step Guide

Touring the Greenwood Rising History Center requires more than showing up—it demands intentionality. The exhibits are meticulously curated to convey complex historical narratives through immersive design, multimedia installations, and first-person accounts. To fully absorb their depth, follow this structured approach.

1. Plan Your Visit in Advance

Before arriving, visit the official Greenwood Rising website to review current operating hours, admission policies, and special events. While general admission is free, timed entry tickets are required to manage crowd flow and ensure a meaningful experience for all visitors. Booking online in advance avoids long lines and guarantees your preferred time slot. Consider visiting on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds, especially if you plan to engage with docents or participate in guided programs.

Check for any temporary exhibits or guest speakers scheduled during your visit. These often provide additional context or fresh perspectives on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and its long-term impacts. If you’re bringing a group—students, community organizations, or family members—contact the center to arrange a private orientation or tailored educational packet.

2. Arrive Early and Set Your Mindset

Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled entry time. Use this window to gather your thoughts. The exhibits deal with intense subject matter—including violence, loss, and systemic injustice—so entering with emotional readiness is crucial. Take a few deep breaths. Consider setting an intention: “I am here to listen. I am here to learn. I am here to honor.”

Leave large bags, backpacks, and food at the designated storage area near the entrance. Phones are permitted but should be set to silent. Avoid taking selfies in areas dedicated to memorialization; this is a space for reflection, not social media content.

3. Begin at the Welcome Gallery

Your journey begins in the Welcome Gallery, where you’ll encounter a large-scale mural depicting Greenwood before 1921. This space is intentionally designed to contrast the vibrancy of Black prosperity with the devastation to come. Pay close attention to the details: the names of businesses, the architecture, the clothing styles, the signs in windows. These are not decorative—they are evidence of economic self-sufficiency.

Look for the interactive touchscreen that allows you to explore the Greenwood district through historical maps. Click on key locations such as the Stroud’s Building, the Diamond Theatre, and the Tulsa Star newspaper office. Each point opens a short audio clip or oral history from descendants or historians. Don’t rush this section. Spend at least 10–15 minutes absorbing the scale of what was lost.

4. Move Through the Historical Narrative Wing

The core of the experience lies in the Historical Narrative Wing, a chronological progression divided into three thematic zones: “The Rise,” “The Burning,” and “The Rebirth.”

The Rise showcases the founding of Greenwood in the early 20th century, driven by Black Oklahomans seeking opportunity after emancipation. Interactive displays include digitized property deeds, photographs of entrepreneurs like O.W. Gurley and J.B. Stradford, and replicas of storefronts. A highlight is the “Dollar Sign Wall,” where visitors can press buttons to hear stories of how $100 in 1921 could buy a home, a car, or a year of education for a child.

The Burning is the most emotionally intense section. Using immersive lighting, sound design, and projected archival footage, the exhibit recreates the chaos of May 31–June 1, 1921. Audio recordings from survivors—many of whom were children at the time—describe the smoke, the gunfire, the fleeing families. A memorial wall lists known victims, many of whom were never officially documented. Here, silence is expected. Take your time. Sit on the benches provided. Let the weight of the history settle.

The Rebirth does not shy away from the long aftermath: the erasure of records, the denial of reparations, the decades of silence. But it also celebrates resilience. You’ll find artifacts from the 1970s and 80s civil rights efforts in Tulsa, including protest signs, legal documents, and interviews with activists who fought to keep the story alive. A timeline extending into the 21st century connects past injustice to modern movements like Black Lives Matter.

5. Engage with the Oral History Theater

Located at the center of the Historical Narrative Wing, the Oral History Theater is a circular, dimly lit space with seating for 20. Every 30 minutes, a 12-minute film plays featuring descendants of Greenwood residents recounting family stories passed down through generations. These are not scripted performances—they are raw, unfiltered testimonies. Some speakers cry. Others laugh. All speak with honesty.

Choose a seat facing the center. Close your eyes for a moment and just listen. The voices are layered—some in English, some in African American Vernacular English, some with Southern inflections. This is not history from textbooks. This is history from the heart.

6. Explore the Interactive Learning Stations

Scattered throughout the exhibit are touchscreens and kiosks designed for deeper exploration. These are not children’s games—they are sophisticated digital archives. One station lets you compare property values in Greenwood versus white neighborhoods in 1920. Another allows you to read digitized newspaper articles from the Tulsa Tribune and the Tulsa Star, highlighting the stark contrast in reporting. A third lets you trace the legal battles for reparations from 1921 to today.

Use these stations strategically. Pick one or two that intrigue you most. Don’t try to do them all. Quality of engagement matters more than quantity. Take notes if you wish. The center provides free notepads and pens at the entrance.

7. Visit the Memorial Garden

After exiting the main exhibits, step into the Memorial Garden—a serene outdoor space designed as a place of quiet contemplation. The garden features 39 stone markers, each representing a known victim of the massacre. Beneath each is a small plaque with a name, age, and, where known, occupation. Some markers are blank—symbolizing those whose identities were lost to history.

There is no signage here telling you what to feel. No audio. No crowds. Just wind, trees, and silence. Many visitors leave flowers, notes, or small tokens. You are welcome to do the same. This is where the emotional weight of the tour often becomes most personal.

8. Participate in the Reflection Wall

Before leaving, visit the Reflection Wall—a large, blank canvas mounted on the exit corridor. Visitors are invited to write or draw their thoughts, reactions, or commitments on sticky notes and attach them to the wall. This evolving collage becomes part of the exhibit itself, a collective response to the history shared inside.

Don’t feel pressured to write something profound. Even a simple “I didn’t know this,” or “Thank you for telling this story,” carries weight. Your voice becomes part of the legacy.

9. Take the Exit Pathway and Receive Your Keepsake

The final stretch of your tour is the Exit Pathway, lined with quotes from civil rights leaders, poets, and Greenwood descendants. One quote by activist and educator Dr. Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham reads: “To forget is to betray. To remember is to resist.”

At the exit, you’ll receive a small keepsake: a laminated card with a QR code linking to a curated list of recommended books, documentaries, and local organizations working toward racial justice. Keep this. It’s your roadmap for continuing the learning beyond the museum walls.

10. Reflect and Share Responsibly

After leaving, take time to process. Journal your thoughts. Talk with a friend. Watch one of the documentaries listed on your keepsake card. Avoid the urge to immediately post about your visit on social media without first sitting with what you’ve experienced.

If you do share, do so with care. Use accurate language. Avoid sensationalism. Cite the sources you encountered at Greenwood Rising. Share the QR code. Encourage others to visit—not as tourists, but as witnesses.

Best Practices

Visiting the Greenwood Rising History Center is not a typical museum experience. It requires ethical engagement. Follow these best practices to honor the integrity of the space and the people whose stories are told within it.

1. Prioritize Listening Over Speaking

The exhibits are designed to let the voices of survivors, descendants, and historians lead. Resist the urge to interrupt, correct, or dominate conversations with your own interpretations. Listen more than you speak. If you’re with a group, designate one person to ask questions during guided sessions so others can remain present.

2. Avoid Performing Empathy

It’s easy to fall into the trap of “I feel so sad” or “This is so unfair” as a way to signal moral alignment. But true engagement is not about your emotional reaction—it’s about understanding the structural realities that created and sustained the conditions of the massacre. Focus on learning, not performing.

3. Don’t Assume You Know the Whole Story

Many visitors arrive with fragmented knowledge from school textbooks or documentaries. Greenwood Rising deliberately challenges oversimplified narratives. For example, the massacre was not a “riot” as some early reports claimed—it was a coordinated attack. The center uses precise language: “massacre,” not “riot.” Pay attention to word choice. It matters.

4. Respect the Silence

There are designated quiet zones throughout the exhibit. These are not just for rest—they are sacred spaces. If you hear others in silence, join them. Don’t snap photos. Don’t whisper loudly. Don’t check your phone. Silence is a form of reverence.

5. Support Black-Owned Businesses Nearby

The Greenwood District is still home to a thriving community of Black entrepreneurs. After your visit, consider dining at a local restaurant, shopping at a Black-owned bookstore, or attending a performance at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Your economic support continues the legacy of self-determination that Greenwood Rising celebrates.

6. Bring a Notebook, Not Just a Camera

Photography is permitted in most areas, but it should never replace deep observation. A notebook allows you to record questions, quotes, or personal insights that photos cannot capture. Write down what surprised you. What confused you? What made you angry? What gave you hope?

7. Educate Yourself Before and After

Visiting Greenwood Rising is not a one-time event—it’s the beginning of a lifelong learning journey. Before your visit, read a chapter from “The Burning of Black Wall Street” by Hannibal B. Johnson or watch the PBS documentary “Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten.” After your visit, explore the center’s recommended reading list. Engage with local historians. Join a book club focused on racial justice.

8. Be Prepared for Emotional Discomfort

This is not a feel-good exhibit. You will feel anger, grief, shame, and confusion. That’s okay. These emotions are part of confronting historical trauma. If you feel overwhelmed, step into the Quiet Room near the exit. It’s a designated space with calming lighting, soft seating, and grounding materials like textured fabrics and essential oils.

9. Don’t Rush

The average visit lasts 90 minutes, but many visitors spend three hours or more. There is no “correct” time. Let the exhibit guide you. If a story moves you, linger. If a question arises, revisit a kiosk. The center is designed for depth, not speed.

10. Advocate Beyond the Visit

Knowledge without action is incomplete. After your visit, consider writing to your local representatives about truth and reconciliation efforts, supporting legislation for reparations, or volunteering with organizations that preserve Black history. Greenwood Rising doesn’t just tell history—it calls you to participate in its continuation.

Tools and Resources

Maximizing your experience at the Greenwood Rising History Center is enhanced by using the right tools and resources before, during, and after your visit.

Official Mobile App

The Greenwood Rising mobile app (available for iOS and Android) is an essential companion. It includes:

• Audio guides in English and Spanish
• Interactive maps of the exhibit layout
• Extended oral histories not featured in the physical exhibits
• Archival documents with searchable transcripts
• A “Personal Journey Tracker” that lets you bookmark exhibits and return to them later

Download the app before your visit and sync it with your timed entry ticket. The app also sends gentle reminders when you’re approaching a high-impact exhibit so you don’t miss key moments.

Recommended Reading List

Deepen your understanding with these authoritative texts:

• The Burning of Black Wall Street by Hannibal B. Johnson
• Black Wall Street 100 by Anthony J. Martin
• Tulsa 1921: Reporting a Massacre by Randy Kamen
• Reparations: A U.S. Primer by William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen
• From the Mississippi Delta to Tulsa by Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham

Many are available as free PDFs through the Greenwood Rising website or through public libraries via Libby or OverDrive.

Documentaries and Films

These films provide critical context:

• Tulsa: The Fire and the Forgotten (PBS, 2021)
• Black Wall Street: A Forgotten History (Netflix, 2020)
• The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: An American Tragedy (BBC, 2021)
• Descendants of Greenwood (Independent Film Festival, 2022)

Several are available with closed captions and transcripts for accessibility.

Online Archives

For researchers and curious learners:

• Oklahoma Historical Society Digital Archive – Free access to over 12,000 photographs and documents related to Tulsa 1921
• Tulsa Library’s Greenwood Collection – Digitized newspapers, court records, and oral histories
• Library of Congress: African American History Portal – Broader context on Black economic development in the early 20th century

Classroom and Educational Kits

Teachers and homeschooling parents can request a free Educational Kit from the center’s website. Each kit includes:

• Lesson plans aligned with state and national history standards
• Student workbooks with primary source analysis prompts
• Discussion guides for sensitive topics
• Virtual tour access code for remote learning

These kits are designed for grades 6–12 and have been used in over 200 schools nationwide.

Accessibility Tools

The center is committed to universal access:

• ASL interpreters available by request for guided tours
• Tactile models of key buildings and artifacts for visually impaired visitors
• Audio descriptions for all video content
• Low-sensory hours on the first Tuesday of each month
• Wheelchair-accessible pathways throughout

Contact the center in advance to arrange accommodations. No one should be excluded from this history.

Real Examples

Real visitor experiences reveal the transformative power of the Greenwood Rising History Center. Here are three authentic stories that illustrate how different people engage with the exhibits.

Example 1: A High School History Teacher from Chicago

Ms. Latoya Reynolds brought her 11th-grade American History class to Tulsa after realizing their textbook devoted only three paragraphs to the massacre. “We read the same chapter every year,” she said. “But nothing prepared us for the sound of a child crying in the Burning Wing.”

Her students spent 45 minutes in silence after watching the survivor testimony. One student wrote in their reflection: “I thought racism was about hate. Now I know it’s about economics. They burned a bank.”

Ms. Reynolds now leads an annual class project where students interview elders in their own communities about forgotten histories. “Greenwood Rising didn’t just teach us history,” she said. “It taught us how to listen.”

Example 2: A Descendant from Oklahoma City

James Carter, 68, had never visited Greenwood Rising. His grandmother survived the massacre but never spoke of it. “She’d cry if you mentioned it,” he said. “I thought it was just family trauma.”

When he finally visited, he stood before a photo of a woman in a 1918 dress—his great-aunt, Eliza Carter, who ran a boarding house on Archer Street. He didn’t know her name was recorded in the archives. He didn’t know she had been paid $100 in reparations in 1922—money that was later taken by the city.

He spent two hours at the Memorial Garden. When he left, he placed a single red rose on the marker for Eliza. “I didn’t know I was carrying her,” he told a docent. “Now I know I’m carrying her story.”

Example 3: A University Student from Japan

Yuki Tanaka, a graduate student studying racial justice in global contexts, traveled to Tulsa as part of a research fellowship. “In Japan, we study the atomic bombings,” she said. “But we rarely learn about state-sanctioned violence against Black communities in America.”

She was struck by the parallels between the erasure of Greenwood and the suppression of Okinawan history under U.S. military occupation. “This isn’t just an American story,” she wrote in her journal. “It’s a global story about power, silence, and memory.”

Yuki later co-founded a student group at her university that hosts annual screenings of Greenwood Rising documentaries with Japanese subtitles. “History belongs to those who remember it,” she said. “I want to be part of that remembering.”

Example 4: A Family from Alabama

The Williams family—parents and two teenage children—visited on Father’s Day. “We came because my dad’s uncle was in the National Guard in 1921,” said 16-year-old Maya. “We never talked about it.”

As they walked through the exhibits, Maya’s father became quiet. At the Reflection Wall, he wrote: “I didn’t know my family was part of this. I’m sorry I didn’t ask sooner.”

That night, the family held a dinner and invited Maya’s great-uncle, now 92. He spoke for the first time about seeing the smoke from the horizon. “I thought it was a fire,” he said. “I didn’t know it was our town.”

The Williams family now hosts monthly “History Nights” at home, inviting neighbors to share their own family stories. “Greenwood Rising didn’t just show us the past,” Maya said. “It gave us permission to talk about it.”

FAQs

How long does it take to tour the Greenwood Rising History Center?

Most visitors spend between 90 minutes and 3 hours. The center does not enforce time limits, so you may stay as long as you need. If you’re short on time, prioritize the Welcome Gallery, Historical Narrative Wing, and Memorial Garden.

Is the center suitable for children?

Yes, but parental guidance is strongly recommended for children under 12. The content includes depictions of violence and trauma. The center offers a Family Guide with age-appropriate discussion questions and a simplified exhibit map. Children under 18 enter free.

Can I take photos inside?

Photography is permitted in most areas, except in the Oral History Theater and Memorial Garden. Flash photography and tripods are prohibited. Please respect the dignity of the space.

Are guided tours available?

Yes. Free guided tours are offered daily at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. No reservation is required, but space is limited. Docents are trained historians and descendants of Greenwood residents. Group tours can be arranged by request.

Is there a gift shop?

Yes, the center’s shop features books, art, and merchandise created by Black artists and authors. All proceeds support the center’s educational programs. You’ll also find locally made honey, candles, and crafts from Greenwood District entrepreneurs.

Can I volunteer or donate?

Yes. The center welcomes volunteers for exhibit interpretation, archival digitization, and community outreach. Donations fund educational programs, preservation efforts, and the expansion of oral history collection. Visit their website for details.

Is the center wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All exhibits, restrooms, and public spaces are fully accessible. Elevators and ramps are available throughout. Tactile models and audio descriptions are provided upon request.

What should I wear?

Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. The center is climate-controlled, but the Memorial Garden is outdoors. Layered clothing is advised for seasonal changes.

Are there restrooms and water fountains?

Yes. Clean, accessible restrooms are located on every level. Water fountains and bottle-filling stations are available near the entrance and exit.

Can I bring food or drinks?

Food and drinks are not permitted inside the exhibit areas. A café is located in the lobby, offering coffee, tea, and light snacks made with ingredients sourced from Black-owned farms.

How is Greenwood Rising funded?

The center is a nonprofit institution funded through private donations, federal grants, corporate partnerships, and community fundraising. It does not receive state or municipal tax dollars for operations.

Conclusion

Touring the Greenwood Rising History Center is not a passive experience. It is an act of remembrance, a confrontation with truth, and a call to responsibility. The exhibits do not exist to comfort—they exist to awaken. They remind us that history is not confined to textbooks or monuments. It lives in the stories we choose to tell, the spaces we choose to preserve, and the justice we choose to pursue.

By following this guide, you do more than walk through a museum. You become part of a living tradition of truth-telling. You honor the names etched in stone, the voices captured in audio, the dreams buried under ash. You carry forward the legacy of those who built, who survived, and who refused to be erased.

When you leave Greenwood Rising, you carry more than a keepsake card. You carry a question: What will you do with this knowledge? The answer begins with listening. It continues with learning. And it culminates in action.

Visit. Remember. Speak. Act. That is how to tour the Greenwood Rising History Center—not as a tourist, but as a witness.