Tulsa was once known as "The Oil Capital of the World," and revenue from its oil fields created great commerce, a vibrant central business district with ornate Art Deco buildings, and many acts of philanthropy that continue to benefit Tulsa, nearby communities, and visitors. In 1923, Tulsa oilman J.E. Crosbie donated a 240-acre lot one-half mile south of this intersection for public use, and it later became known as Expo Square. The first major project there was the Pavilion, built in 1931 as an arena with seating for several thousand spectators. Its terra-cotta roof line features Art Deco ornamentation reflecting agriculture, with livestock scenes mounted on a background of flowers. In 1935, with its vast acreage and new Pavilion, Expo Square became the new home of the Tulsa State Fair. The International Petroleum Exposition Center, built in 1966, represented Tulsa's oil heritage and was then one of the world's largest clear-span buildings, with more than 10 acres of space under a single roof. That same year, the 76-foot-tall Golden Driller was permanently erected in front of the center and dedicated to the visionaries and workers of Tulsa's oil industry who strove in many ways to make a better life for others.
