Broken Arrow celebrates the cupola’s return to the Rose District

Private funds are bringing a part of history back to downtown

A cupola once adorned the former Opera House at 200 S. Main Street, making it the crown jewel of early Broken Arrow's downtown from 1904 until the mid-1960s. Now, private funding is bringing the cupola back to the Rose District on Thursday, July 24.

Unveiling July 24, 7:45 pm

A public unveiling event celebrating the return of the cupola will be held beginning at 7:45 p.m. with a performance by the Tulsa Opera and the band Fat Cat.

The return of the cupola has been a dream of former Broken Arrow Public Schools Superintendent, author, and historian Dr. Clarence Oliver. He has been advocating for its return for more than 40 years. Oliver asked longtime Broken Arrow resident and businessman Larry Pennington to lead the charge to bring the cupola back to the historic Broken Arrow landmark.

Pennington says when Dr. Oliver asks, you deliver. Pennington formed the Bring Back the Cupola Committee of private donors wanting to see the historic structure return to its former architectural significance.

The Return of the Cupola

"Our goal is to bring back a little bit of history and restore the Broken Arrow Rose District as a historic venue," Pennington said. "The building is incomplete without the cupola at its peak."

Pennington says it's been an honor to be a part of this project and looks forward to driving down Main Street, knowing he had a part in bringing back a little bit of history to Broken Arrow. For more on the history of the cupola and the significance of the former Opera House and its part in Broken Arrow's history, go to The Return of the Cupola.

The installation of the cupola will begin at 8 a.m. and is expected to last two to three hours. It is important to note that Main Street will be closed at 7 a.m. on July 24, from Dallas Street to Commercial Street, and will reopen once the installation is complete. Once installed, it will be covered until the unveiling ceremony later in the evening.