Tucked behind the gates of Tulsa’s coveted Trees addition, this storied estate on Columbia Circle stands as one of the city’s finest examples of timeless architecture and enduring craftsmanship. Designed in 1940 by celebrated architect John Duncan Forsyth for the prominent Howard Whitehill family, the stone-and-frame residence remains a landmark of elegance more than eight decades later.
“With its stone construction and slate roof, this home really is over the top stunning,” says Peter Walter, owner of Walter and Associates. “Forsyth’s work is remarkable.”
Photos by Vast Media
Forsyth, a Scottish-born architect whose work helped shape Oklahoma’s architectural identity, was known for blending grand scale with refined detail. His résumé includes contributions to the famed Marland Mansion in Ponca City, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and Southern Hills Country Club.
But the Columbia Circle estate remains one of his purest residential expressions — an English-style manor defined by slate roofing, native stone construction and exquisite hand-hewn limestone detailing surrounding select doors and windows.
Set on approximately 2.3 acres in midtown Tulsa near Woody Crest and the Tulsa Tennis Club, the estate is prominently featured in John Walton’s Historic Tulsa Homes, a fitting distinction for a residence many consider among the most beautiful in the city.
From the moment guests arrive beneath the drive-through porte cochere, the home reveals its sense of scale and grandeur. Inside, a dramatic entry hall opens to a series of formal spaces including an elegant dining room, expansive living room, richly detailed library and a warm den tucked near the kitchen. Large-scale rooms, seven fireplaces and original architectural detailing reflect an era when homes were designed with permanence in mind.
The residence encompasses more than 7,400 square feet, with five bedrooms positioned upstairs and additional accommodations provided by a separate guest house. A four-car garage, wine cellar and beautifully wooded grounds shaded by mature native oak trees further elevate the estate’s appeal.
Over the decades, the property has passed through a fascinating lineage of owners, including oil-era heir Jay Walker and later developer Matt Henshaw, Walter says, while maintaining the integrity of Forsyth’s original vision. The Whitehill family themselves were so impressed with the architect’s work that they later commissioned him again for another Tulsa residence.
Today, Columbia Circle remains a rare offering — a historic Tulsa estate where architectural pedigree, craftsmanship and rich local history converge in spectacular fashion.
“Architecturally, it’s just phenomenal,” Walter says. “It’s a stunning, custom-built house that is simply beautiful.”
Featured photo caption: Designed in 1940 by renowned architect John Duncan Forsyth, the Columbia Circle estate showcases native stone construction, slate roofing and timeless English-style architecture.
BONUS GALLERY:
