Photo by Samantha Barnes
The dagger necklace set is one of the newer designs at Native Uniques.
Travel
Bartlesville Beckons Fans of Frank Lloyd Wright
Bartlesville, Oklahoma is home to the only skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and a variety of restaurants, shops and Native American culture.
By Juliana Goodwin
Jul 2018
By Christian M. KorabThe Inn at Price Tower is a 19-room boutique hotel housed in the only skyscraper realized by Frank Lloyd Wright. A history tour of the property is a must, but sign up in advance because space is limited.
Stay
Inn At Price Tower (510 S. Dewey Ave., Bartlesville, Oklahoma; 918-336-1000; pricetower.org) is a 19-room boutique hotel located within Frank Lloyd Wright’s only realized skyscraper. The Price Tower houses a contemporary art gallery and Copper Restaurant + Bar, a trendy venue located on the 15th floor, which provides beautiful views of the city at sunset. Sign up for one of the historic tours, Tuesday through Sunday, which includes a visit to the 19th floor executive office of H.C. Price, who commissioned Wright to design the building. There are so many fascinating Wright stories intertwined with the design. Advance reservations highly recommended due to limited spaces per tour.
Dine
Samantha’s Restaurant (601 E. Fourth St., Bartlesville, Oklahoma; 918-876-1591; samanathasbartlesville.com) is a charming spot for lunch or dinner. There’s outdoor seating, a gazebo and a beautiful waterfall feature. The food and desserts are homemade and range from tapas and sandwiches to seafood and pasta. At lunch, order the grilled cheese sandwich with chicken and pesto served with tomato soup for dipping.
Carnivores head to Sterling’s Grille (2905 S.E. Frank Phillips Blvd., Bartlesville, Oklahoma; 918-335-0707; sterlingsgrille.com), which has been in business since 1992. The old-school restaurant is popular with locals. The steak menu includes prime rib, rib-eye steak and Bison tenderloin filet. The soups are great, too, as are the homemade desserts.
Photo by Samantha Barnes
The braided wraps are one of Native Unique's most popular products.
Shop
At Native Uniques (101 S.E. Frank Phillips Blvd., Bartlesville, Oklahoma; 918-214-3142; nativeuniques.com), you’ll find stunning one-of-a-kind beaded jewelry designed by Samantha Barnes, who is Cherokee and Delaware Indian, and her team of three designers. Barnes takes inspiration from her Native American heritage.
Explore
The Phillips Petroleum Company Museum (410 S. Keeler St., Bartlesville, Oklahoma; 918-977-6166; phillips66museum.com) tells the fascinating story of a small-town business that rose to become an energy giant. Iowa natives Frank and L.E. Phillips came to Bartlesville in 1904 in search of oil. They hit a gusher and oil kept coming. You’ll learn the history of the company and interesting tidbits. Admission to the museum is free.
Photo courtesy Woolaroc Museum & Wildlife PreserveThe Woolaroc Museum houses a variety of Native American artifacts and Southwestern art.
Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve (1925 Woolaroc Ranch Road, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; 918-336-0307; woolaroc.org) is the estate and lodge of Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum Company. Tour the lodge and museum, which house a world-class collection of southwest art, taxidermy, Native American artifacts and more. The estate is a 3,700-acre working ranch where many varieties of wildlife roam freely. Check website for summer hours.
Be sure to check the Bartlesville Community Center (300 S.E. Adams Blvd., Bartlesville, Oklahoma; 918-336-2787; bartlesvillecommunitycenter.com), a performing arts center that hosts a Broadway in Bartlesville series and many other great acts throughout the year.
Drive time and route:
Three hours via I-44 W and US 60
Length of recommended stay:
2 nights, 3 days
Something fun to bring:
A notebook to take notes during the Price Tower tour because you’ll be peppered with so many interesting facts, there’s no way you can remember them all. Photography is restricted on parts of the tour.
