Tulsa’s Golden Driller Celebrates 50th Anniversary with an Illuminated Statue
Tulsa’s Golden Driller will be celebrating its 50th birthday this coming Saturday, April 9. A celebration has been planned for Tulsans to come together to pay homage to one of the city’s greatest icons.
Named as the fifth tallest statue in the United States, the Golden Driller is modeled after an oil worker with his right hand resting on an oil derrick. Standing 76 feet high and weighing 43,000 pounds, it has become a must-see for tourists and Tulsans alike.
The Golden Driller statue was first built in 1952 for the International Petroleum Exposition. It was temporarily removed, but then re-erected for the 1959 Mid-Continent Supply Company of Fort Worth. Due to positive feedback, the statue was finally permanently installed at the site for a 1966 show, and it has been standing ever since under the care of the Tulsa Country Fairgrounds Trust Authority.
The celebration will be happening this Saturday at the foot of the Tulsa Driller at Tulsa Expo Center. Organizers are planning to light the statue with a giant LED spotlight, which will be a new, permanent addition to the statue. Don McClure, who is currently renovating the Skyride at the fairgrounds, is donating the lighting.
Tickets are currently on sale for the event, and attendees are encouraged to dress in Tulsa Driller-style costumes or in gold.
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