Golden Driller on the ground before installation. Photographed on June 30, 1966.
The Golden Driller, one of Tulsa's most iconic landmarks
Published: 2/11/2013 10:49 AM
Last Modified: 2/11/2013 10:49 AM
Seen is a weekly feature showcasing the work of a Tulsa World photojournalist. Here's what Tulsa World Photo Editor wrote in this week's column about the Golden Driller that stands on 21st street between Harvard and Yale in south Tulsa.
The Golden Driller is one of Tulsa's most iconic landmarks. Over time he has gone from a symbolic figure for what built this city to one of Tulsa's hippest brands.
You can find the big guy gracing hipster threads and even becoming a delivery vessel for beer.
I can remember being fascinated with the concrete and fiberglass giant as a kid. Now my son is equally thrilled to see him every time we pass on 21st Street.
Part of being an icon is being well-documented, and the Driller is no exception. The Tulsa World recently rediscovered photos of the Golden Driller being installed. It prompted us to take a look back at the ways we've shot the beloved giant.
Early version of Tulsa golden driller on the ground archive photos from Woody Gaddis/Tulsa World for centennial issue. Photographed in 1959.
Pigeons land on the head of the Golden Driller statue at the Tulsa Fairgrounds in Tulsa, OK Feb. 3, 2011. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
Golden Driller on the ground before installation. Photographed on June 30, 1966.
Fireworks light up the night sky behind the Golden Driller at the Tulsa Exposition Center during the Bell's Amusement Park Fireworks show, Tuesday, July 4, 2000. STEPHEN HOLMAN/Tulsa World file photo
Tulsa's early version of the Golden Driller is hoisted up onto an oil derrick in 1959.
A commemorative Golden Driller filled with beer during the Tulsa State Fair at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. JOHN CLANTON/Tulsa World
Written by
John Clanton
Multimedia Producer
