Rose District Art & History

Interactive Water Feature

The Interactive Water Feature is a staple of the Rose District Plaza. The perfect place to cool down on those hot Oklahoma days, and stick around for when the sun goes down, it'll light up and create a spectacular water and light show!

The feature turns on daily at 9 am. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the feature shuts off at 11 pm and while school is in session the feature shuts off at 10 pm.

Gilcrease Exhibit

The Rose District will host world-class art from the Gilcrease Museum collection starting in late October. With the museum closed for renovation through 2024, reproductions of the museum's vast collection of North American art are coming to Broken Arrow and 29 other locations with the "Gilcrease in Your Neighborhood" program. One piece of artwork will be displayed simultaneously at all 30 locations for three-month intervals, with different works on display over 12 months.

Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center

Home to the Kristin Chenoweth Theatre, the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center is the cornerstone of the arts district in downtown Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and continues to be the premier venue for major performances from across the nation.

Stop by and check out their incredible exhibit of some of Kristin's awards, costumes, marquee signs, and more.

With its doors opening in the summer of 2009, the BAPAC started on the right track in bringing Broadway tours, pop concerts, specialty shows, and various other events to the area, while also acting as the official location for Broken Arrow Public Schools fine arts programs.

Once the site of early day Cotton Gin, the site was developed as a first class bowling alley by developer Barry Dayton in the late 1950s.  After some financial difficulties, forced a closing in the late 1960s, the school district purchased the building in 1971 and remodeled the building into the Administrative Center and Central Warehouse, moving into the building in late 1972. 

Katy Depot

In mid-May of 1903, construction crews arrived in Broken Arrow to build the 24’x50’ depot with a 16’x200’ platform.  The building was placed at the end of Main Street so passengers could look down the street and view the new town.  In 1908, Katy started an addition that jutted further into Main Street.  The city halted construction and Katy moved the entire depot west to clear the street.  Cotton gins, elevators and stockyards sprang up along the tracks.  Thousands of cars of livestock and other farm produce were shipped out from here.  In 1988 the old depot was sold and moved to Discoveryland.

Grain Elevator

In the early decades after Broken Arrow’s founding, the grain elevators located near the railroad tracks were important elements of the community's then primarily agriculture-based economy. Farmers would bring their harvested grains into town to the elevators, where in turn the grain would be loaded onto railroad cars and shipped to markets throughout the U.S. The Bower and Brown Elevator (in the foreground) was owned and operated by Dr. J.W.S. Bower and George A. Brown, who also owned grain elevators in Porter, Coweta, and Alsuma. The numerous wagons pictured in the historic photo are queued up to deliver corn. Across the tracks was the Jamison and Baxter Grain Elevator and Grist Mill, later known as the Hannifer Mill and Elevator Company. The elevator still standing today on Ash Street was constructed in 1958 by the Famers Cooperative of Broken Arrow, later operated by the Hampton-Mueller Company (hence the HM logo at the top). Standing 150-feet tall, it can be seen from as far away as Tulsa. When full, it held 153,000 bushels of wheat or 205,000 bushels of oats. Courtesy of Rebekah Wood

Broken Arrow Brewing Co.

Broken Arrow Brewing Company is a Native American owned and operated craft brewery and tap room. This spot is a favorite among Broken Arrowians to unwind and enjoy each other's company. But before it was a brewery, it was:

ICE AND ELECTRIC POWER PLANT (309 W. Dallas)

J. H. Rhyne and his brother were granted a franchise to provide electricity for the town in 1906.  First lights were turned on in November.  In 1909 the Rhyne brothers installed an ice plant.  On summer days a line of wagons and farm trucks could be seen waiting in line to pick up ice at the docks.  J. D. Shubert put in an ice-deliver service.  A .B. Hubble worked for the company and became manager when Public Service assumed ownership of the electric company.  Ice manufacturing ceased in 1947.

The Museum Broken Arrow/ Kentucky Colonel Hotel

The Museum Broken Arrow is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, created by the Broken Arrow Historical Society to preserve the local history of the city and its residents and to serve as an educational opportunity for future generations. It hosts many events and traveling exhibits throughout each year for the community, as well as two very popular Museum BA fundraisers, "Pioneer Dinner" and "A Night For The Museum, The Grand Event!" There is something for locals and visitors alike to learn and enjoy at The Museum Broken Arrow. The Museum is a proud member of the Oklahoma Museums Association, Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits, Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce, and North American Reciprocal Museum Association. The first floor welcomes you into the Barbara Brown Kimbrough Exhibit Hall where rotating special exhibits are featured as well as a gift shop filled with "Made in Oklahoma" gifts such as shirts, candles, soaps, home goods, and educational books.

Marmie the Mouse on Main Street

Throughout the Rose District, you will find small bronze statues of mice. These mice are representative of the mouse Marmie from the books sold at The Museum Broken Arrow, "Marmie: A Mouse on Main Street." This children's book briefly explains Broken Arrow and provides a scavenger hunt to explore the Rose District. Books are available in the Museum Book Store for $24.95 + tax.  All proceeds benefit the Museum Broken Arrow.  Stop by today and purchase your copy!

"Binding Contract" Statue

Located on the North side of AVB Bank, this statue was sculpted by Bradford J. Williams.

"Williams – a self-taught artist – describes his western sculptures as 'symbols of our need to believe that another world exists beyond that of our experience – a world that is richer and truer, a world where hard work, trust, decency and strength without excuse aren’t just rumors, but fact.'" Source: http://larryhoefling.com/blog/a-handshake-deal-etched-in-stone/

Arts @ 302

Arts @ 302 located at 302 S Main Street within the Brown-Kimbrough Center for Art building serves as a multipurpose space hosting exhibits and classes ranging in various art mediums from paintings, pottery, sculpture and more.

Broken Arrow Centennial Mural

Mural on the South wall of Lioness Coffee Roaster celebrating the centennial of Broken Arrow. The town was founded pre-statehood in 1902.

"Strutting Thru The Rose District"

Honoring the history of Rooster Day, the longest-running annual celebration in the State of Oklahoma. Beginning in 1931, the purpose of the original Rooster Day was to establish a time every spring when the farmers culled their chicken flocks and brought their roosters into town to sell. Located on the northwest corner of Main Street Square.

Main Street Square Mural

Located on the East side of the building, this mural by Laura Thompson captures the whimsy of Main Street Square and the Rose District.

"Grace in Motion"

Bronze statue located in front of Broken Arrow's City Hall, this piece was created by Sandra Van Zandt.

Main Street Tavern

The impressive two-story building has served in a variety of capacities.  The original structure contained the First State Bank on the ground floor and the community’s Opera House (a community auditorium) on the second floor.  The community did not support three banks, and when First State closed, the presidents of Arkansas Valley Bank (K. M. Rowe) and First National Bank (F. S. Hurd), met in a friendly session to simply divide the accounts in an alphabetical distribution.  In addition to its Opera House function, in 1908, with the establishment of the new Haskell A&M College, classes for the new school were held in the Opera House while the new school was being built.  The ground floor was used as a drug store for most of its history and now houses a craft and gift shop.  The second floor later became the Masonic Hall until the Lodge purchased the former school administrative center on West Commercial in the early 1970s. 

The building is now home to a staple of the Rose District, Main Street Tavern. This restaurant is a gathering place to many with its incredible food and drinks. The second story is a venue space for weddings and other special events called the Main Street Loft.

"This Must be the Place" Mural

Located in the alley on the east side of Laurannae Baking Co., this modern mural is perfect for the Instagram worthy shot.

Centennial Park

This park was dedicated on October 19, 2002 to celebrate the 100 ^th  anniversary of Broken Arrow, Indian Territory, which was established on October 16, 1902.  The statue, by sculpture David Nunneley, represents early-day pioneers of Broken Arrow.

Wings Mural

A beautiful mural created on the south wall of Iron Tax, show your colors and spread your wings!

"Happily Ever After" Photo- Op

Just outside the Tulsa County Court Clerk Satellite office, couples get married daily at this romantic spot full of favorite music lyrics and romantic quotes. Can you name all the references?

"Welcome to Broken Arrow" Photo - Op

Welcome to Broken Arrow! We invite you to explore all the featured stops depicted in this mural. Once known as the City of Roses & Sparkling Water, this is where downtown got its name, The Rose District.

First Church in Broken Arrow

The first organized church in Broken Arrow was the Methodist Episcopal Church.  The first wooden church building was 32 by 40 feet and cost approximately $1,200.  First services were held on October 8, 1903.  The first public school was held in the church building that year.  In 1926 the Methodist Episcopal Church South and the Methodist Episcopal Church united.  In 1968 the church became the First United Methodist Church.

The First Baptist Church (which had been meeting in a railroad car on a side track at the Katy railroad) was not far behind and formally chartered a few weeks later in 1904 and had a new building under construction at First and Broadway the next year.  That site is now the home of the Assembly of God congregation.

First School

Arkansas Valley Townsite Company dedicated a block at this site for a public school building in 1904.  A two-story brick building (two rooms down and two rooms up) was completed in time to start school in November 1904.  That school year the student population swelled to 430, completely outgrowing the four rooms.  The next year the building size was doubled.  The old building was condemned and torn down in 1925.  In April 1926, the present building was completed for a grade school with a gymnasium and auditorium for the entire school system.  Later it was Central Junior High School and then Central Middle School until that school closed in December 2002.  The building is now known as Central on Main and houses a variety of school activities and a Chamber office.  Had the proposed State of Sequoyah been approved by Congress, the building would have been the County Courthouse of Coweta County, State of Sequoyah.

Military History Museum

The mission of the Military History Museum is "Promoting Patriotism Through the Preservation of Military History." We are grateful that families of veterans and patrons of Oklahoma have shared their treasured items with the museum. The story behind each artifact is the focus of the museum. A uniform or artifact will take on new meaning as you hear the story behind it - battles fought, world travels, and stories of courage. Come explore military history and promote patriotism with us!

"Country Chic"

Bronze statue by Sandra Van Zandt is located at the Broken Arrow Public Library.