Here S The Story Behind The Massive Golden Driller Statue In Oklahoma

If you’ve ever traveled to Tulsa over the years, chances are you have driven by the famous Golden Driller Statue in front of the Tulsa Expo Center. It’s a 75-foot tall oil worker made from a steel frame weighing over 43,000 pounds. It has been standing tall over Tulsa since 1966, but it has Texas roots back to 1953. Keep scrolling to learn more about the backstory of this iconic Tulsa landmark.

The original Golden Driller was built in 1952-1953 by a Texas oilfield supply company for a trade show they were attending in Tulsa. They built a second and then a third, which took a permanent home at the Tulsa Fairgrounds when they returned in 1966.

google photos/jose manuel

Tulsa adopted the third and final statue and declared it Oklahoma’s official state monument. It was reconstructed and repaired to look like the one you see today.

google photos/jorge alvarez

The statue still stands 76 feet tall and is the sixth tallest statue in the country. He’s so large his arm rests on a real oil derrick to help support it.

google photos/barbara collins

It is still the largest free-standing statue in the U.S. today. You will often see him sporting special shirts, shoes, or accessories. It’s fun to see his look change from time to time.

google photos/mark wingfield

Back in 2020 when Tulsa was trying to get Tesla to set up headquarters in the city, the belt buckle that sports “Tulsa” was temporarily replaced with “Tesla,” but unfortunately that didn’t win over Elon Musk enough to pick Tulsa over Austin.

wikipedia/u/ThaiTum

Most of the time, you can get up close to the statue and take pictures. Every once in a while, it will be blocked off for repairs or nearby renovations.

google photos/christy rios

Some fun facts about the statue: 1.) It is built to withstand up to 200 mile-per-hour tornadoes. 2.) The derrick is from an oil field in Seminole. 3.) In 2011 it was coated with a new layer of mustard paint that should last 100 years.

google photos/richard and julia keirns

Did you already know the history behind The Golden Driller in Oklahoma? He’s a great addition to our wonderful state. Looking to visit some iconic places in Oklahoma? If so, check out these fun ones!