1920 to 2008: private residence and set for The Outsiders film Located in North Tulsa's Crutchfield neighborhood at 731 North St. Louis Ave on the corner it shares with East Independence Street, surveying of the area date back to 1919, and is estimated to have been built in 1920 due to a newspaper clipping discovered in the walls during its 2016 renovations. The house served as a private residence except for the time it became a set for the Curtis Brothers' home during the filming of the movie
The Outsiders (1983) circa 1982. The film was directed by
Francis Ford Coppola and based on
the 1967 novel of the same name by
S. E. Hinton. The film is notable for casting young actors before their rise to fame, which includes
C. Thomas Howell,
Ralph Macchio,
Matt Dillon,
Patrick Swayze,
Rob Lowe,
Emilio Estevez,
Tom Cruise, and
Diane Lane. Furthermore, since its release it retains a fanbase. After the filming the house returned to its original purpose. The house is noted to be their first location. Afterward O'Connor would continue to visit the location while stopping in Tulsa. O'Connor said he bought it sight unseen and when he first went inside that it was in a dire condition. With the help of his friends Zachary Matthew and Donnie Rich, the renovations started shortly after with the goal of making it as authentic as it was in the film. Also, the Oklahoma Film and Music Office and the City Council lent their support. Local business and individuals volunteered to help including leveling the foundation, mowing the lawn, Part of the
restoration efforts, the renovation team worked to make sure that the house looked as it did in the film, such as remaking the front door, A
GoFundMe was set up for additional funds, notable donors include
Jack White who donated $30,000 and
Billy Idol. Also to raise funds, screenings of the film were organized that actor
C. Thomas Howell attended. On August 5, the street signs on the corner were changed to "The Outsiders Way" and "The Curtis Brothers Lane".
2019 to present day: opening and aftermath On August 9, 2019, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the official opening of the museum. Aside from Howell, between its restoration and opening, other stars of the films that have visited include
Rob Lowe,
Ralph Macchio, and
Matt Dillon. In September 2022, in
Sperry, Oklahoma, the group Upward Sperry completed the restoration of the now un-operational DX gas station seen in the film. The group's president Gary Coulson said, “It’s really growing. I almost hate to say it, but it’s almost like a cult following. They stream through here - what that does is get people here.” With O'Connor they are planning to revitalize
The Outsiders nostalgia in Sperry. In October 2022, O'Connor with The Outsiders House Museum published the book
The Outsiders ‘Rare and Unseen’, which contains 148 photos by
David Burnett who was the set's photographer. O'Connor said: “We originally got the first lot of photos and then [Burnett] said there may be more,” said O’Connor. “They found the rougher photos, and for me, that’s where the rubber meets the road because they’re unpolished, their guard’s down, they’re not posing". By the end of 2022, O'Connor estimated that he had received approximatively 20,000 visitors. On April 14, 2023, as part of a 40th anniversary celebration of the release of the film, the institution installed a plaque commemorating the film, which was installed at the Admiral Twin Drive-In where a scene was shot. Also in 2023, a Tulsa edition of the
Monopoly board game was made, where toy manufacturer
Hasbro choose the museum as a landmark feature. In May 2024, O'Connor with The Outsiders House Museum published the book
The Outsiders on Set, which contains 254 pages of photos by Nancy Moran a photographer who visited
The Outsiders's set while they were shooting. O'Connor explained that when he discovered that this additional slew of photos existed, he approached Moran, who he didn't know, and to his surprise she let him have the negatives so that he could develop them. On December 14, 2024, the 98th annual Tulsa Christmas Parade celebrated The Outsiders House Museum with its theme, "Stay Gold, Merry, and Bright," and O'Connor served as Grand Marshal. == Design ==