
The Pythian: Built for the Boom, Abandoned by the Bust
Planned as a 13-story Art Deco tower in the heart of Tulsa, the Gillette-Tyrell Building was halted at just three floors when the 1929 stock market crash brought construction to a standstill. Designed by architect Edward W. Saunders, this unfinished landmark, now known as the Pythian Building, remains a striking reminder of Tulsa’s oil-era ambition and architectural innovation.