Lawyer Flower Nelson brought some land of the Mackey’s in 1909; in 1913 he built a one story sandstone mansion with veranda on this land. Thomas Gilcrease saw and fell in love with the mansion he offered the Nelsons a good deal and brought it from them. He lived there with his first wife belle Harlow and their two sons, this marriage ended in divorce in 1926, he married again in 1926 to Norma Smallwood and had a daughter, again it ended in divorce in 1933. Gilcrease had made his fortune when he had established his own business The Gilcrease Oil Company. In 1943 it became a home for orphaned Indian children, in that same year a second floor was added with bedrooms for the girls and another building was done for the boys. In 1849 Gilcrease moved back to his home after moving for a short while to San Antonio. 

For years he had been collecting art and learning about the American West, whilst in San Antonia he opened his own museum for the public to see his collection. He took all his collection back to Tulsa with him; he eventually built a museum there in his grounds and opened it to the public. In the 1950’s oil prices began to drop and Gilrease found it difficult to keep his museum going due to increasing debts and considered selling his collection. The people of Tulsa got together and voted 3 – 1 to pay of his debts with a bond. Thomas then deeded the collection to the city of Tulsa and committed oil revenue to help in the running of the museum until the bond was paid off. In 1958 the Gilcrease Foundation gave the museum building and the ground to Tulsa as well. Thomas continued to live in his house up until his death in 1962, he bequeathed the rest of what he had collected in his final few years to the museum, and his house and garden also became part of the museum and grounds.

Thomas now in spirit still likes to look around his art collection and potter around his house. Due to this many security officers came and went until one was found that did not mind the night time visitor. Footsteps are heard and doors open and close by themselves, this is thought to be Thomas’ doing. Also a few Indian children have been seen in the house and in the garden.