 A building boom in the early 20th century gave Tulsa one of the largest concentrations of art deco architecture in the United States . Most commonly in the zigzag and streamline styles , the city 's art deco is dotted throughout its older neighborhoods , primarily in downtown and midtown . A collection of large art deco structures such as the Mid @-@ Continent Tower , the Boston Avenue Methodist Church , and the Philtower , have attracted events promoting preservation and architectural interest . In 2001 , Tulsa served as the host city for the International Art Deco Congress , a semiannual event designed to promote art deco architecture internationally . 
