Get your kicks on Route 66!

From Elk City we drove into the land of the Cheyenne-Arapaho, to the place where many innocent Native Americans were murdered in November 1868 by General Custer’s 7th US Cavalry troups: The Washita National Battlefield Historic Site. 

 It was the village of Peace Chief Black Kettle on the banks of the Washita River, they attacked in the dawn of a cold winter day. Surprised by the attack, many Native Americans were killed, among them Black Kettle and his wife. Some escaped, but women and kids were rounded up and imprisoned, ponies (which were very important for the Cheyenne!) shot and everything - tipis, clothing, objects - destroyed. It’s a long, sad and interesting story, preceded by other fights - like the massacre at Sand Creek/CO -, and, it is connected to the fiercy so-called dog soldiers and several Peace Treaties, settlers invading land which belonged to the tribes and the big ego of General Custer. 

The large Visitor Center itself is highly instructive, explains brilliantly what happened and why, with exhibitions and a film. A trail leads to the site of Black Kettle’s Village, still a sacred place for nowadays tribal members. The trail itself is interesting because it goes through typical prairieland (photo below) - Black Kettle National Grassland - with all itscritters, grasses and other plants. Unfortunately,  descriptions at several stopps on the trail were only available by mobile phone code, no text panels anymore. 

Continued to Clinton, drove from Foss on Historic Rte. 66, paralleling the modern highway. In Clinton, after lunch in the old-time, down-to-earth Rte. 66 Café (on the left photo), we visited the Oklahoma Route 66 operated by the Historical Society Museum. It is even more instructive than the one in Elk City. 

 From the construction of the road in the 1920ies into modern times, several rooms send visitors on a journey and give plenty of information about the importance, the myth and reality of Rte. 66, accompanied by fitting music of the time and original pieces like cars, a diner or other relics. Great experience!

On we drove Historic Rte. 66 to El Reno, and, passed by a couple of unexpected sights, like the Clancy Motel and remains of an openair movie theater  before we hit the original Lucille’s gas station, built in 1927!  

 

On the way to our final stop of this day, Guthrie, we stopped at another brewery on the Oklahoma Beer Trail: Expedinture Brewery  in Okarche. It was founded and built by five guys, who had the idea to design beer in a small town and went on an „expedition“ or rather an „adventure“. Modern building, appealing pub, good beer!