Tulsa Joins Preservation List

Tulsa joins Ardmore, Durant, Newkirk, Ponca City and Shawnee as the only Oklahoma cities on a special nationwide preservation list.

An official Preserve America certificate, signed by First Lady Laura Bush, went to Mayor Taylor on Thursday in a ceremony at Tulsa's historic Philtower.   

The designation recognizes the city's efforts to preserve its heritage and highlights how private and public funds helped restore the Philtower.

"When I travel around the country and I tell people that we have one of the largest concentration of the art-deco architecture, they're very surprised.  So, having this designation will allow us to better promote that and bring more people to Tulsa, Oklahoma," said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.

The recognition also means the city is eligible for grant money that can help save other aging buildings in downtown Tulsa.