The Mother Road of America: Route 66

Since the beginning, Oklahoma has served as an essential piece of American automobile history. Centrally positioned on what has become known as the “Mother Road” of the United States, the state is home to a number of noteworthy events and attractions.

The inaugural AAA Route 66 Road Fest was held in June. The two-day festival takes place on two separate weekends: once in Oklahoma City, then Tulsa. The event is an ongoing celebration of the historic highway, leading up to the 100-year anniversary in 2026. The festival includes everything from car shows to art exhibits, musical acts and more.

While you wait for the festival’s return in 2023, you can experience the magic of the route right now with museums and classic landmarks lined across the state.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum, documenting the life and legacy of “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son” sits on the state’s east end in Claremore. The museum exhibits art, artifacts, movies, and more on Rogers; including rare original posters from the film star’s work.

One of the most famous works along this roadway can be found nearby in Catoosa. The Blue Whale has become one of the most photographed pitstops on Route 66. The landlocked whale was constructed in the 1970s by zoologist, Hugh S. Davis, as a place for his grandchildren to play and swim. Years later, the oversized art piece of a mammal has become a hot spot for fishing and family picnics. The landmark even houses a secret compartment in the whale’s head.

A motorcycle museum is stationed in Warwick. The Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum was built as a full-service gas station in 1921. Now, the shop serves as a commemoration to over 65 motorcycles, documenting the evolution of their designs throughout the years.

Arcadia is home to another one of the route’s most-photographed elements. The Round Barn, originally used for housing livestock, has been used as a memorial of the highway and as a community gathering space since its’ revitalization in the late 1980s. The town is also home to Pops, a more recent addition to the highway’s roadside, that incorporates a 66-foot-tall soda pop bottle structure, decorated with LED lighting.

Illuminated by the exterior neon “Route 66” sign, Clinton’s Oklahoma Route 66 Museum includes a large selection of memorabilia. The town’s Best Western Trade Winds Motel is said to have been a favorite of famous American musician, Elvis Presley, when traveling.

Overall, you can find a picture-perfect place to rest, relax, or revisit the past all over Oklahoma, thanks to the ever-evolving American highway, Route 66.