If you’re a history lover looking for an accessible weekend in Tulsa, you’re in the right place!
Friday

Start your trip with coffee and doughnuts at Hurt’s Donuts. They are always open and imaginative donut flavors are their specialty. A perfect place for either an early breakfast or to snack and chill once you arrive in Tulsa before your reserved time at Greenwood Rising.

Greenwood Rising tells the history of Black Wall Street and the eventual Tulsa Massacre. You will want an advance reservation with a timed-ticket that reflects your arrival in Tulsa. They start groups at specific intervals but will allow you to continue to explore on your own. They do have areas that can be bypassed if the content is overwhelming.

Let me point you to Wanda J’s New Generation for a late lunch after Greenwood Rising. Follow up the museum visit with a walk or roll over to Wanda J’s. Watch for the bronze markers placed in the sidewalk along your way, indicating original Black Wall Street business locations. It is practically across the street and they have a long history with the Greenwood Community. Their fried chicken is famous and the sides include fried corn, candied yams, and collard greens. I absolutely love everything about Wanda J’s.

If it is still daylight when you leave, take a quick drive over to see the Aviator’s Arrow near the Tulsa airport. These arrows were used before radar guidance to visually navigate from the sky. If it is dark by the time you leave Wanda J’s, just check this out on Sunday before you head home.
Saturday

Start off your Saturday with an early coffee/breakfast at Coffee House on Cherry Street. Their pastry case is full of treats you can take to go and you can’t beat their coffee.

Then head off to Tahlequah and the Cherokee National History Museum. You will be using toll roads to and from Tahlequah, so pack some smaller bills and change. The Oklahoma toll booths do not accept cards. Once you are off the toll road, keep your eyes open for interesting vintage neon signs for motels along the right side of the road. For wheelchair users, the restrooms here are particularly accessible.
Getting hungry for some lunch? Boomerang Diner is right across the historic town main street and has family-friendly diner classics. Breakfast is served all day and they have burgers, grilled cheese; reuben, fish, and dagwood sandwiches. An order of The 50/50 will get you a half basket of their pickle-o’s and a half basket of breaded mushrooms. If you have room for something sweet, order a basket of their boom-a-yays. They remind me of little bite-sized beignets.

But don’t spend too long indulging at the diner, the John Ross Museum in Park Hill is a quick 15-minute drive away. They close at 4 PM and while it is a very small museum, you will want to allow enough time to explore it. Housed in a restored 1913 rural school, these exhibits with interactive features take you through John Ross’ life as he was the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation for over 30 years. Consider checking out the small Park Hill Cemetery behind the museum where John Ross is now buried. This museum has nice wheelchair-accessible restrooms as well.

Head back to Tulsa and choose from Mexican classics at Mexicali Border Cafe, or enjoy an Irish pub ambiance with dinner at Kilkenny’s where you might choose Coolroebeg Cod, meatloaf, a steak dinner, or Kylemore Abbey Chicken. They have a long list of appetizers, quite a few gluten-free dinner options, and a children’s menu. The Mexicali Border Cafe will be the easiest to navigate with a larger power wheelchair.
Sunday
Sunday morning is perfect for a low-traffic drive through downtown Tulsa enjoying all the Art Deco Architecture or along historic Route 66 checking out the storefronts, signage, and even a recreated muffler man. The Meadow Gold sign has informational displays in a small plaza below.
If attending a Christian service is part of your Sunday routine, consider Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. The building is considered a remarkable example of art deco architecture and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ready for some breakfast or brunch? I suggest heading over to Dilly Diner, in the Blue Dome District. Dilly Diner is a modern upscale take on a diner. Breakfast is served all day so you can sleep in as late as you want. Their breakfast burrito features locally made Fassler Hall chorizo or maybe choose their chicken & waffles or chicken-fried steak and eggs breakfast.

If you slept in and headed to breakfast before exploring the downtown architecture, you might like to pop in at Rose Rock Microcreamery after your self-tour. They are nestled right between interesting buildings downtown.
NOTE: Both the Cherokee Nation museums and Wanda J’s restaurant are closed on Sunday, so this will need to be a Friday and Saturday weekend.
Let me know how your accessible weekend in Tulsa goes, did it satisfy the history lover in you? What other places would you add to this trip? Explore my full list of Tulsa reviews or Visit Tulsa for more ideas!