Where the west lives on

Woolaroc in Oklahoma’s Osage Hills reflects Frank Phillips’s rise and passion for preserving Western art, wildlife, and history for all to enjoy.

Nestled in the rugged Osage Hills of northeast Oklahoma, within Verdigris Valley Electric Cooperative’s territory, lies Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife Preserve. Just 45 minutes north of Tulsa, visitors find bison grazing the prairie, trails once walked by Native leaders and cowboys and a museum filled with Western art and history reflecting the spirit of its founder, Frank Phillips.

From potatoes to petroleum

Frank Phillips’s rise itself is arguably one of Woolaroc’s greatest exhibits. Kevin Hoch, CEO of the Frank Phillips Foundation and operating officer of the museum and wildlife preserve, describes Frank as a humble man with bold vision and ambitious drive.

“He grew up picking potatoes for 10 cents a day in Iowa. Then he became a barber, and within a few years, he ended up owning all the barber shops in his town,” Hoch says.

Some time later, Phillips went into banking and began doing very well for himself. But when he heard oil was being discovered, he took a risk and threw all his money into it.

“They had drilled several dry wells and were essentially on their last funds, planning on retreating with their tails tucked between their legs,” Hoch says. “Then they hit a big gusher. Then they hit 100 more gushers in a row.”

From near-failure, Phillips Petroleum — today’s ConocoPhillips — was born. By the 1920s, Frank was a titan of industry, dividing his time between New York and Oklahoma. But his heart remained in the Osage Hills. He had good relationships with people of all backgrounds — Native American leaders, cowboys, outlaws, politicians — and he wanted to create a retreat to host his vast network. He purchased land in what’s now Osage County and the rest is, literally, history.

“He started building out his lodge home and a museum,” Hoch says. “Frank had a deep passion for the West, and he realized that he was experiencing, living and interacting with the last chapter of the West. That drove him to start collecting because he knew that future generations would never be able to properly understand that period if he did not assemble a collection that reflected it.”

A wonderland of history and wildlife

Woolaroc opened in 1925. Today, the museum spans 50,000 square feet, and it’s home to a 3,700-acre wildlife preserve.

“It’s truly a full experience from the moment you go through the gate,” says Meral Jones, a former history museum director who currently lives in Bartlesville. “The main museum is like a wonderland, especially for someone like me who loves history. The preserve is amazing with all sorts of animals. It was fun for my kids to roll down the windows and see the animals as we drove in.”

Phillips’s spirit of service to community and placing history as a beacon for future generations shines through each exhibit.

“Frank always wanted children to be able to visit for free, so over the last 100 years, we’ve welcomed millions of children, regardless of their background with free admission to Woolaroc,” Hoch says. “He never forgot his humble roots, and through Woolaroc, he wanted to inspire the next generation of leaders.”

A full century after Frank Phillips built his retreat in the Osage Hills, his vision persists: that history, when cared for, can keep inspiring those who carry it forward.

“It’s such a special place,” Hoch says. If you have an interest in art or history or culture or wildlife or recreation, we have something for you at Woolaroc, and we’d love to host you.”