Route 66

By Rhys Martin, President, Oklahoma Route 66 Association

If you’ve ever driven over potholes, you can certainly appreciate the value of a good road. In the early 20th century, there was an active Good Roads movement to improve the many dirt lanes across the country to prepare for the coming of the automobile. After all, getting your fancy Model T stuck in muddy ruts didn’t do much to dissuade people from trading in their old horseand-buggy. The most famous road birthed from this progressive movement, U.S. Highway 66, has an important place in Tulsa’s history. That history is alive today through a variety of initiatives from the Tulsa Route 66 Commission and the enthusiasm of small business owners along all 28 miles of the historic highway in Tulsa’s city limits. There are dozens of new neon signs throughout Tulsa made possible by the Commission’s Route 66 Neon Sign Grant Program. The corridor is literally buzzing with the unique artistry required to fashion these beautiful signs. Inspired by the towering Meadow Gold sign, the heart of a district that bears the same name, this grant program has helped businesses bring in new goods and services while honoring old traditions. Take a drive down East 11th Street any time of the day and you’ll see folks admiring these signs. The heart of Route 66 has always been the small businesses that line the roadside, from the bustling streets of Chicago to the wide-open spaces of the Texas panhandle to the sandy beaches of Santa Monica. If you take a drive down either alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa, you’ll see that same spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well here. Our stretch of the road is made up of several districts. Aside from the aforementioned Meadow Gold District, here’s a look at the others and what sets them apart. The Gateway District is the easternmost section of the road in Tulsa. It’s where the rolling fields of Tulsa County transition into the commercial streets of the city. A beautiful gateway arch stands near the crossroads of Historic Route 66 and Interstate 44. This is also where you’ll find the first historic marker that the Tulsa Route 66 Commission has installed along the road; there are nearly 30 scattered across the alignments in town. They all tell a bit more of Tulsa’s story connected to America’s Main Street.

The University of Tulsa is the centerpiece of the appropriately named University District. This area is a melting pot of automobile-focused business and ground-floor enterprises. It’s easy to see where the road has been and where it’s going. The impressive neon display at Tally’s Good Food Cafe on the corner of East 11th Street and South Yale Avenue is postcard-perfect. The Tulsa Market District is anchored by Mother Road Market, Oklahoma’s first food hall and is undergoing a vast transformation. This area will look completely different by the time we reach the road’s centennial in 2026, so stay tuned to see what develops. The Kendall Whittier District sits on the road’s original 1926-1932 alignment at East Admiral Boulevard and South Lewis Avenue. Whittier Square is a tremendous success story thanks to the hard work and engagement of its Main Street Program. It is currently the home of the Tulsa Farmers’ Market, outdoor concerts, Tulsa’s only independent movie house and many locally owned shops. A vintage Phillips 66 station has been converted into 473, a swanky bar and outdoor space — it’s a filling station of a different kind!

A replica Phillips 66 station sits at west Tulsa’s Route 66 Historical Village.

Keeping to the original alignment, the Blue Dome District gets its name from another former filling station. The unique dome was the first 24-hour station in Tulsa; today this area provides nearly around-the-clock dining and entertainment. The walkability of downtown makes this a great starting point to tour the area’s remarkable art deco architecture or experience our vibrant Arts District. Speaking of architecture, the Cathedral District is another recommended spot to park the car and take a walk. Half-a-dozen churches sit within a few square blocks, all of them bringing a distinctive voice of faith within eyeshot of the Mother Road. A vibrant mural at East 10th and South Main streets represents the district as stained glass in stunning detail. The Red Fork District in west Tulsa embraces the city’s blue-collar roots in the oil and railroad industries. Route 66 Historical Village, which recently completed construction on a massive depot next to their Frisco locomotive, is a nexus that celebrates that vital part of Tulsa’s formative years. Stop in at the replica Phillips 66 station to learn more about the Village and the surrounding community. Further down Route 66 is Crystal City Shopping Center and the western gateway. Tulsa wouldn’t be the same without Route 66. It may not have come through Oklahoma at all had it not been for adopted Tulsan Cyrus Avery, a former County Commissioner and Good Roads advocate that helped shape the federal highway system. He championed the state-of-the-art 11th Street Bridge as the best place to cross the Arkansas River — which is why a statue of him stands proudly at the plaza on the east bank of the river along Southwest Boulevard. “East Meets West” is a sculpture that represents the new meeting the old — the story of progress. Route 66 has always been a road of the future, one that paves the way for whatever comes next. Today you’ll find QR codes and electric car charging stations sitting next to buzzing neon signs and classic American muscle cars. But remember, the true experience of Route 66 is the opposite of Wi-Fi: the slower the speed, the greater the connection. Get out there and find your own journey!

At Avery Plaza Southwest, a collection of replicated signs from notable Route 66 businesses attracts visitors day and night.