Unearth The Voyage
There is a house in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that looks like it belongs to a working-class family from the 1960s, and in a way, it still does. The rooms are set up just as they appeared on screen, the memorabilia lines every wall, and the staff will tell you stories that no behind-the-scenes documentary ever covered.
This is the real filming location of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 classic The Outsiders, based on S.E. Hinton’s beloved novel, and it has been transformed into a museum that fans travel from across the country to visit.
Whether you grew up reading the book in school or wore out a VHS tape of the film, this place is going to hit differently than you expect.
The Real Address and Setting of the Museum
The Outsiders House Museum sits at 731 N St Louis Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74106, right in the middle of the North Tulsa neighborhood of Crutchfield. The house is a modest, working-class home that blends right into the surrounding street, which is exactly why it was chosen as a filming location back in 1982.
When director Francis Ford Coppola was scouting Tulsa for locations, this neighborhood gave him the authentic, lived-in feel the story demanded. The area itself tells a story before you even walk through the door.
The contrast between North Tulsa and the wealthier Midtown neighborhoods makes the social divide between the Greasers and the Socs feel very real and very easy to understand.
The museum is open Friday through Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM, and it is closed Monday through Thursday. Admission is $10 per person, and you pay at the gift shop located in the converted garage at the back of the property.
Calling ahead at +1 918-949-1345 is a smart move before making the trip, since hours can occasionally shift for special events.
How the Museum Came to Be
The museum owes its existence to Danny Boy O’Connor, a music producer and lifelong fan of The Outsiders, who discovered that the original filming house was falling into disrepair. Rather than let a piece of film history disappear, he launched a campaign to purchase and restore the property, turning it into a tribute that fans could actually visit and experience in person.
The restoration effort was a true labor of love. The rooms were returned to their on-screen appearance, with furniture, props, and decor matching what audiences saw in the 1983 film.
O’Connor gathered authentic memorabilia, reached out to cast members, and built a staff that genuinely cares about the history of both the movie and the Crutchfield community.
The project took years of effort and fundraising, and it has since drawn thousands of visitors annually from across the United States and beyond. O’Connor himself has been spotted at the museum on multiple occasions, showing friends around and chatting with fans.
The whole operation has the unmistakable energy of a passion project done right, and that spirit is easy to feel the moment you arrive on the property.
Inside the House: Room by Room
The interior of the house is small, but every square foot is packed with meaning. The living room, kitchen, Ponyboy’s bedroom, and the bathroom have all been preserved or recreated to match their on-screen appearance, giving fans the surreal experience of standing inside scenes they have watched dozens of times.
One of the most talked-about details is the chocolate cake displayed in the kitchen, a nod to the famous breakfast scene featuring Emilio Estevez’s character. The bathroom features a green towel signed by Rob Lowe, similar to the one used in the film, kept as part of a fundraising effort the museum organized.
These small, specific details are what separate a good museum from a great one.
Three pieces of actual cast wardrobe are on display, including a shirt worn by C. Thomas Howell, Emilio Estevez’s Mickey Mouse shirt, and Tom Cruise’s rumble denim outfit.
One wall is covered entirely in cast autographs, and framed film photos fill every available surface. The tour guide walks you through each room with stories and context that bring the whole experience to a completely different level.
The Gift Shop and What You Can Buy
The gift shop at the Outsiders House Museum is not an afterthought. Set up in the converted garage at the back of the property, it is actually the first stop on your visit, since that is where you purchase your admission ticket and get oriented before heading into the house itself.
The merchandise selection goes well beyond basic movie souvenirs. You will find shirts, caps, pins, patches, stickers, and copies of S.E.
Hinton’s original novel, along with items celebrating North Tulsa’s history and culture. That local focus makes the shop feel like a real community hub rather than just a place to grab a keychain on your way out.
Prices are reasonable, and the staff in the shop are just as knowledgeable and enthusiastic as the tour guides inside the house. There are also a few snacks available, which is handy if you have been driving and need a quick pick-me-up.
The gift shop alone is worth a browse, and most visitors end up leaving with at least one item they did not plan on buying when they first arrived.
Meeting the Extras and Hearing Their Stories
One of the most unexpected and genuinely memorable parts of visiting the Outsiders House Museum is the chance to meet people who were actually in the film. Several of the museum’s staff and regular volunteers are extras from the 1983 production, and their firsthand stories add a layer to the experience that no exhibit or placard could ever replicate.
A real motorcycle cop who appeared in the film has been known to show up and share his behind-the-scenes recollections with visitors. Another extra who played a Greaser has brought personal photographs taken on set, some of which are available for purchase.
These are not polished, rehearsed presentations. They are relaxed, candid conversations that feel more like chatting with a neighbor who happens to have an extraordinary story.
The staff in general are described by nearly every visitor as warm, welcoming, and deeply knowledgeable about the history of both the film and S.E. Hinton’s work.
That combination of personal history and genuine enthusiasm is rare in any museum setting, and it turns a one-hour visit into something you will be talking about for a long time afterward.
The Surrounding Neighborhood and Film Locations
The museum does not exist in isolation. The Crutchfield neighborhood surrounding it is an important part of the overall experience, and spending time walking the area helps you understand the world that S.E.
Hinton was writing about when she created the story as a teenager growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A park just a couple of blocks away served as the rumble scene location in the film, and it is absolutely worth a short walk to see it in person. The old movie theater nearby is another recognizable landmark from the story, and it makes for a great photo stop.
The rebuilt version of Johnny’s home is also in the area, giving fans a chance to trace the full geography of the film on foot.
The contrast between this neighborhood and the wealthier parts of Tulsa is still visible today, and that context makes the themes of the book and film feel grounded in something real rather than fictional. Standing on the actual streets where scenes were filmed has a way of connecting you to the story on a level that watching the movie at home simply cannot match.
The whole area rewards a slow, curious walk.
The Outsiders: The Story Behind the Film
S.E. Hinton wrote the novel that inspired everything here when she was just 15 years old, growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Published in 1967, the book became a staple of middle and high school reading lists across the country, and it has never gone out of print. The story follows Ponyboy Curtis and his group of working-class friends as they navigate conflict, loyalty, and identity in 1960s Tulsa.
Francis Ford Coppola adapted the novel into a film in 1983, casting an extraordinary lineup of young talent that included Tom Cruise, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Matt Dillon, Diane Lane, and C. Thomas Howell.
The film was shot almost entirely on location in Tulsa, which is a large part of what makes the museum and the surrounding neighborhood so authentic and significant to fans.
The story has since expanded to a Broadway musical, keeping the characters and themes alive for a new generation of audiences. The museum honors all of these layers, from the original novel to the film to the stage production, making it a destination that resonates with fans who discovered the story in very different ways and at very different points in their lives.
Planning Your Visit and Final Tips
Getting the most out of a trip to the Outsiders House Museum starts with checking the hours before you go. The museum is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM, and it is closed the rest of the week.
The $10 admission fee is paid at the gift shop in the back, and the whole visit typically runs between 30 minutes and one hour depending on how much time you spend chatting with the staff.
Private screenings are also available for groups who want a more immersive experience, and booking in advance is recommended for those. The museum’s website at theoutsidershouse.com has current information on events and any schedule changes, and the phone number +1 918-949-1345 is the quickest way to confirm details before making a long drive.
Families, solo fans, and groups all tend to enjoy the visit equally, and the staff has a real talent for making every type of visitor feel welcome and engaged. Pairing the museum with a walk through the Crutchfield neighborhood and a stop at the nearby filming locations turns a quick visit into a full afternoon worth of genuine discovery.
Stay gold, as the saying goes, and this place will absolutely deliver on that promise.
