"The Outsiders" House Museum

Information About The Outsiders Museum

If you find yourself in Tulsa, Oklahoma, make sure to visit this hidden gem! Whether you are a movie enthusiast or simply love SE Hinton's novels, I highly recommend you check out The Outsiders House Museum.

The Outsiders Movie

The Outsiders is a 1983 film adaptation of SE Hinton's novel that follows a group of teenagers navigating struggles in life. Confronted with challenging circumstances while clashing with the teens of the upper social class, we witness the bonds of friendship as they stick together to survive. This movie stars a host of popular actors, such as Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, and Patrick Swayze.

Set and Filmed in Tulsa

I appreciate that this movie was filmed on location in Tulsa, where the story took place. To me, it made walking through Tulsa feel that much more special, knowing the characters walked those streets on paper and the actors walked those streets in real life.

Salvaging the House

While once lived in, the house where filming took place sat empty for several years. It was in 2016 that Danny Boy O’Conner, a rapper, art director, and lifelong fan of The Outsiders, bought the neglected house to begin the journey of rescuing it. With the efforts of many people over the years, they saved this piece of movie history.

Our Visit to the Museum

Arriving at the location, we found ourselves in a residential neighborhood welcomed by a street sign set up in tribute to the movie. Walking through the front gate, we followed a sign in the yard leading us to the gift shop located in a separate building at the back.

As we strolled through the yard, we took a look at the intriguing treasures collected, including old gas cans, a newspaper stand, and even two cars—one featured in the movie and another generously donated as an authentic piece from that era.

It's More Than Just a Gift Shop

The gift shop offers a wide variety of merchandise, from apparel to magnets, switchblade combs, DVDs, stickers, and candy. For fans seeking an extra special item, there's even an opportunity to purchase an autographed book by Ralph Macchio.

More than just a stop to shop, there are also unique memorabilia on display, like Sodapop’s (Rob Lowe’s) screen-worn DX Gas Station uniform, Ponyboy’s (C. Thomas Howell’s) iconic hooded sweatshirt, along with both of Dallas’ (Matt Dillon’s) signature leather and denim jackets. The walls are also chock-full of posters and quotes about the movie.

The Living Room

After purchasing our tickets in the gift shop, we walked back to the front of the house. Entering the living room, we were greeted by friendly staff who were informative about the ins and outs of the house and filming. The Outsiders was playing on a TV and was highlighting two scenes.

The first was of Tom Cruise doing his own stunt toward the beginning of the movie. He did a backflip off of a car and hit his head, bouncing back up as he rubbed the back of his head with a grin. We learned that this was a candid shot. The second scene shown was of Emilio Estevez. Picking up a plate of chocolate cake and a bottle of beer, he took a seat on the floor as he watched Mickey Mouse. This was also unscripted.

Interactive Activity

To enhance our experience, we were able to take a seat on the floor like Emilo did, with a tray of fake chocolate cake and an empty bottle as we looked up at the TV.

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Secrets From the Tour Guide

The tour guide gave us info about the living room and the steps taken to make it appear as authentically as it did in the film, even down to a missing button on the couch. Something I found particularly intriguing was the backstory of a lamp that was replicated to look like the one in the movie.

In the past, houses were insulated with newspapers. The creators of this lamp decided to utilize newspapers they discovered within the walls of the house to construct its lampshade. What makes this even more interesting is that they found a news clipping that said “Curtis B” on it. This is a neat tie to the story, as Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry Curtis are the brothers in the movie who lived in this house.

The Bathroom

After leaving the living room, we walked through to view the bathroom. On display are a few different items, along with a shirt worn by Sodapop (Rob Lowe). Hung on the shower curtain rail is a towel from the movie with Rob Lowe’s signature on it.

Ponyboy's Bedroom

Next was Ponyboy’s room. Along with viewing all of the memorabilia, you are welcomed to sit at his authentic desk. There is even a replica of the letter that his friend, Johnny, gave to him, that you can hold. A fact that I thought was interesting about this room is that in order to film the scene of him writing at his desk, they needed to remove a section of the wall.

A Room for Socs

In a third room, you can view outfits worn by Cherry Valance (portrayed by Diane Lane) and other actors who played Socs and different characters in the movie, as well as a few unique items from background footage in the film. Among these interesting artifacts is a Dairy Queen menu.

A Room for Greasers

In the next room is a trove of outfits on display that the greasers wore in the movie. You can see an outfit from Steve (Tom Cruise) and Two-Bit's (Emilio Estevez's) stained Mickey Mouse shirt from the rumble scene. In this room, you could also view old yearbooks on display from SE Hinton, Patrick Swayze, and Ralph Macchio.

The Kitchen

In the kitchen, you can view more memorabilia, along with a collection of photographs that are available to purchase. These photos were taken on-set by a neighborhood local, Joe Cervantez. He played an extra in the movie and was at the museum the day that I went, graciously sharing his firsthand experiences, answering questions, and reminiscing about filming and the crew. A personal favorite artifact of mine from the kitchen is the fish that hangs above the stove.

Visiting Information

The Outsiders House Museum showcases the movie with great pride and is one to add to your travel bucket list. For only $10 a ticket, you don't really have any reason not to visit. The museum is open every Friday through Sunday.

Private screenings of the movie can be arranged upon request, offering a unique and personalized viewing experience. Come and witness all the amazing things that the museum has to offer. Stay gold!

© 2023 Addison Sherrell