NEWS

Price Tower one of 'Top 16 Famous Buildings in the South'

Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
Bartlesville's Price Tower was included on CNN.com’s list of “Famous Buildings in the American South”.

The Price Tower in Bartlesville received national attention recently when it was one of 16 structures included on CNN.com’s list of “Famous Buildings in the American South”.

The website featured an architectural tour of must-see buildings and landmarks and touted Frank Lloyd Wright’s world-renown Price Tower as one of his most influential designs.

Price Tower Executive Director Rick Loyd said the team at Price Tower was elated about the designation.

“We are so pleased to hear the tower is part of this impressive list,” Loyd said.  “When a national media giant such as CNN identifies the uniqueness and important aspects of Price Tower, it’s a great reminder to visitors near and far that it’s worth your time to see what the tower is all about.”

Price Tower is listed alongside many well-known buildings and attractions in the southern part of the U.S. The list includes:

• The Mercedes Benz Superdome in New Orleans

• The Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas

• The Alamo in San Antonio

• National Aquarium in Baltimore

• Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee -- original home of the Grand Ole Opry

• National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama

• Nemours Estate in Wilmington, Delaware

• Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida

• Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia

• Mercer Williams House Museum in Savannah, Georgia

• Humana Building in Louisville, Kentucky

• Elvis Presley Birthplace in Tupelo, Mississippi

• Biltmore in Asheville, North Carolina

• St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina

• The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia

“First of all, these are some amazing buildings to be associated with, and secondly, this is such a unique and eclectic list of buildings to be part of. … It includes an aquarium, major sports arena, castles and The Alamo … so Price Tower is in great company,” Loyd said.

At the beginning of his article, CNN writer Forrest Brown encourages travelers to explore the highways and byways of the American South to best view its architecture. Brown says sojourners will discover the “true nature” of the South to be a region of the U.S. that’s “far more diverse than many imagine.”

In the portion of the story featuring Price Tower, Brown refers to the building as the only skyscraper designed by noted “horizontalist” Frank Lloyd Wright. He outlines the tower’s original intended location in New York City and its coming to life in the mid 1950s as headquarters for a pipeline construction company located in Bartlesville.

Brown then enlightens readers on Wright’s poetic, nature-based tree design with the tower’s “trunk” (elevator shafts and structural walls) serving as support for “branches” (concrete slabs) that extend outward -- and the Tower’s “leaves” being the copper panels and sun louvers.

Loyd said this national publicity reinforces the widespread appeal Price Tower holds across the U.S. and beyond.

“I’m amazed where our guests come in from. In just November and December of 2020, even with it being an off year and not a peak time period, we had guests staying in our hotel from 43 states and Canada,” Loyd said. “That’s incredible to me. I doubt there are many communities our size that can tout that. Of course, tourism brings revenue to our area, and we are all very proud to show off Bartlesville.”

Price Tower houses a 19 guest room boutique inn, Copper Restaurant + Bar and and a free art gallery open seven days a week. Historic tours of the iconic Tower are offered daily and more information can be found at PriceTower.org.

“It’s easy for all of us to take for granted the amazing aspects of our own community – but we hope recognition like this from CNN will be a good motivation to bring friends and family when they come to town to appreciate all the awesome things Price Tower brings to our great city,” Loyd said.