NEWS

Price Tower marks 65th anniversary Wednesday

Special to the E-E
The line of visitors stretched down Dewey Avenue as hundreds of people waited to finally see inside the Price Tower on Feb. 10, 1956.

The building stood in complete contrast to its surroundings.

Dust Bowl-styled homes, flat utilitarian city buildings and mid-century car dealerships covered the prairie landscape that gave way to a 19-story tower breaking from the earth like a mighty oak squeezing through a crack in the sidewalk.

It took four years for that tree to mature, bringing Frank Lloyd Wright’s lifelong dream to fruition on Feb. 10, 1956.  

Price Tower opened to the public 65 years ago, welcoming huge crowds made up of a mix of curious local citizens, architecture aficionados and national press. Hundreds waited in line to get a peak inside the much-anticipated skyscraper on the prairie, as well as a view of the famous architect himself.

Price Tower Executive Director Rick Loyd said Feb. 10, 1956, was not only a memorable day for the local community, but also the architectural community at large.

“It was on this cold winter day 65 years ago, the world became aware of ‘The Tree That Escaped the Crowded Forest’ and saw firsthand why it was both an architectural and engineering marvel for the time,” Loyd said. “It was a long-awaited day for for residents who had watched what the workers endured and witnessed the daily construction of this amazing structure. To finally be able to see inside the building was well worth the hours-long wait.”

As part of the celebration of this historic anniversary, the City of Bartlesville has proclaimed Feb. 10, 2021, as “Price Tower Day” to formally honor the memory of the day in which the iconic structure first opened.

“It is an honor for the city to recognize this date, and to help everyone celebrate and remember,” Loyd said. “We've been planning a celebration of this historic day for quite some time, but with COVID-19 we had to scale back considerably. So, this is great way to celebrate with our supporters and Bartlesville residents."

Visitors get a view Frank Lloyd Wright perched on his tower as they await words from the famous architect on Feb. 10, 1956.

Price Tower Curator Deshane Atkins presented the idea for a proclamation to the City Council and is grateful “Price Tower Day” will bring a spotlight to the occasion.

“This historic day is important to our community as it brings appreciation for our unique treasure, Wright’s only realized skyscraper,” Atkins said. “ With Feb 10, 2021, marking Price Tower's 65th year in our wonderful community, we wanted to celebrate. We hope our awesome supporters and people that are curious about Price Tower will join us that day and come experience this one-of-a kind building.”

As part of the 65th anniversary on Wednesday, Price Tower will offer tours each hour of the day at the discounted price of $6.50. Docent-led tours give visitors inside stories into the tower’s history and operations, including a view into the newly decorated hotel rooms and suites. While onsite, $6.50 will also buy visitors a “1956-style burger & fries” lunch created by Wright Chef Jordan Keen inside Copper Restaurant + Bar.

Visit Bartlesville’s Maria Gus says the anniversary is a good time to remember the importance of the tower and its impact on the community as a cultural magnet.

“Bartlesville is a small city with big-city amenities, and having a structural icon like the Price Tower in the heart of downtown truly highlights the importance we place on arts and culture,” Gus said. “Sixty-five years later it’s still a sight to behold. The views are incredible, the structure is awe-inspiring and the experiences we have inside the building give it even more life. Oklahoma is a wonderful tourism destination because it perfectly pairs the countryside with beautiful works of art like our Price Tower.”

More information on the 65th anniversary events can be found at price tower.org or by calling 918-336-1000.

“This is such a great way for us to mark the importance of this day together," Loyd said. "Many of our visitors throughout the year are from around the world, and Wednesday’s celebration is for the supporters and residents of Bartlesville. So we hope residents will come see what visitors from around the world go out of their way to see and join the fun this week.”