By The ArtistHappy 50th Birthday to Tulsa’s Golden Driller!
The O.D. “The Original Driller” (1959) Kodachrome Slide Scans
The Golden Driller was originally called “The Roustabout” ….
The first International Petroleum Exposition after World War II was held in 1948. The event was planned to occur every 5 years. In 1953, the O.D. made his first appearance in Tulsa. The Mid-Continent Supply Company commissioned the Golden Driller statue.
He proved so popular that he reappeared at the 1959 I.P.E. In 1966, the Golden Driller as we now know it was installed at the Tulsa fairgrounds. The I.P.E. was held in Tulsa until 1979.
The Golden Driller in 1966. He’s been standing ever since.
The Golden Driller as he stands today in Tulsa, Oklahoma. You might say the O.D. is the father of Tulsa’s beloved and iconic Golden Driller.
You may visit this tall gentleman at the Tulsa Expo Center (Fairgrounds). The address is 4145 East 21st Street in Tulsa.
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