Blue Dome District

Tulsa's arts and entertainment district, named for its Route 66 landmark

Named for a 1924 blue-domed filling station that once served traffic on Route 66, the Blue Dome District is Tulsa's most concentrated nightlife and arts quarter. A few blocks of East 2nd Street and surrounding streets hold independent bars, restaurants, galleries, and live music venues that draw a mixed crowd seven nights a week.

The district is walkable and compact. The Blue Dome itself, now restored, anchors the south end; from there you can walk north to Cain's Ballroom in ten minutes. On weekend evenings the streets fill up with an easygoing crowd that reflects the city better than any single bar or restaurant can. The district hosts several street festivals through the year, including the Route 66 Marathon finish line in November.

things to do neighbourhood
A story
The Blue Dome filling station was built in 1924 with a distinctive glazed blue tile dome designed to be visible from Route 66. Its designers were inspired, rather loosely, by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. The gas station closed in the 1980s and became so decrepit that the surrounding area took on its name partly to encourage its preservation. It has since been restored and is the symbol of the district.