Despite flash flooding and sticky mud, our band of intrepid explorers discovered eye-opening, mind-boggling visionary art and architecture on the prairies of Oklahoma and Kansas. "Oh my gawd," "look at that" and "what a great guide/person" seemed to be the phrases of the day.

Here's the short version: 5 days, 3 states, 1200+ miles, 4 gardens including Eden, 4 churches, 4 artists, 3 galleries, 3 Bruce Goff designs, 2 Frank Lloyd Wrights including his only skyscraper, 1 mini art car parade, the world's largest totem pole, the world's largest Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, the world's largest ball of videotape, as well as the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things. (Whew !!) In all it was a weekend reminiscent of Dorothy's travels - whirlwind, magic, wizardry and lots of "ahhs."

Here's the long version: Thursday started in Tulsa with the soaring Boston Avenue Methodist Church & the very gothic Trinity Episcopal Church. Then we did a walking tour of downtown Art Deco & a drive-by of Tulsa's premiere residences and giant golden roughneck. Mid-afternoon we hit the highway and headed for Foyil and Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park & Fiddle House. In 1937, at the age of 57, Galloway began work on a 90-foot tall, brightly painted rock & concrete tribute to Native Americans. Next door, he built a circular concrete museum to house his 300 hand-carved fiddles. The Park was restored in the 90's by volunteers from the Kansas Grassroots Arts Association. Late afternoon found us in Bartlesville at Frank Lloyd Wright's only skyscraper, now a boutique hotel where we stayed. The Inn at Price Tower has been wonderfully remodeled to embrace Mr. Wright's 19-story office/residential masterpiece. The staff kept the gift shop open late for the shoppers among us. And we all enjoyed a private tour the next morning of the original penthouse offices and the ground floor Price Tower Arts Center.