Project Description: :
Tulsa County Commissioners approved January 12, 2004 the purchase of the Tulsa Union Depot, the historic Tulsa train station, for use by the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame development from Vision 2025 funds. The site was owned by Williams Companies.
"This transaction will return a beloved icon in the heart of downtown Tulsa to public use. It is the ideal location for the Jazz Hall of Fame within the growing downtown entertainment district and will serve to connect the Blue Dome and Brady Village entertainment areas," said Randi Miller, Chairman, Tulsa County Commission.
"It is a majestic facility with tremendous historic appeal,? Commissioner Miller added. This illustrates the best of what so many people voted to accomplish with Vision 2025. Not just to build stuff, but to revitalize and bring to the highest possible usage the best of Tulsa County."
Chuck Cissel, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame said "This is an exciting opportunity for the Jazz Hall of Fame. As do so many other Tulsans, I have personal stories of being in that building when it was a train station and we are delighted to help return it to public use. We have pursued this building since it came on the market."
"Our plans for the building include a performance hall, rehearsal studio, gift shop, and meeting space for seminars, corporate and private functions all with video conferencing capability. Ongoing programs include youth arts music educational efforts, spring and autumn jazz concert series, jazz keyboard concert, master class series, summer arts institute, holiday jazz concert as well as the Juneteenth Festival, the Hall of Fame Induction Banquet Gala and African American History Month celebrations" Cissel said.