Historic Rte 66 - from Tulsa to OKC

Route 66 – "The Mother Road" was established in 1926, and became one of the most famous roads in the USA, running all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica/California over almost 2,450 mi/3,940 km. Its myth was reenforced by the song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" and by  John Steinbecks novel "The Grapes of Wrath" (Früchte des Zorns), refering to the times of the so-called Dust Bowl, when the route became a migration and escape route. 

Cyrus Stevens Avery (1871–1963) from Tulsa/Oklahoma is the "Father of Route 66", he created the Highway system and took care of pavement and promotion.  The route was removed from the Highway System officially in 1985, but there are still sections kept original and under protection, also, in Oklahoma. 

We  drove on Historic Rte 66 - or, rather, what left of it, from Tulsa to Oklahoma City. The road itself isn't really impressive on that stretch, but there are a couple of interesting sights and museums on the way: First stop was the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sepulpa, a collection of gorgeous polished historic cars (see pics). 

The Skyliner Motel in Stroud is another remain of historic Rte 66 and there are several murals in Davenport depicting the history as well:

Chandler is seat of the Route 66 Interpretive Center, which brings together unique Route 66 memorabilia from the 1930s to present day. It offers video experience and interactive and nostalgic trips down memory lane, not just of the "good times" of the car culture, but also of the Dust Bowl years.  There are vintage billboards and virtual hotel rooms as well.

 

For lunch we chose Butcher BBQ Stand in Welleston, a diner on Rte 66, and had a wonderful lunch with ribs - falling off the bone! - and potato salad.

Famous Round Barn in Acadia was built by local farmer William Harrison Odor in 1898 using native bur oak boards, forced into the curves  for the walls and roof rafters. A truly unique roof construction!

POPS, not far away, was packed on this Saturday. It became an iconic landmark on Rte. 66, restaurant, gas station, soda store and eyecatcher in one. Especially the 66 ft. tall bottle outside is an eyecatcher at night with its multicolor LED lights.

Arriving in Oklahoma City, the new Oklahoma Contemporary, was our first stop. Opened in March 2020 it's first of all the spectacular modern architecture, exhibitions are changing.

For our last night we stayed in the hyper-modern, chic 21c Hotel & Museum in OKC's Film District (pic below). It occupies  the former home of a Ford Motor Company assembly plant, rooms are "loft-like", spacious and modern, and, the unique thing is that there is contemporary artwork everywhere! After a nice last dinner and a visit to our last brewery in OK - the newly opened "Skydance Brewery"(Native-American operated! pic beleow, right) - we felt almost sorry that we had to leave Oklahoma this morning (left pic). Weather was so great (hot), food and beer were excellent, and, people extremely friendly.

Which is not so much the case anymore here in NYC. We are staying in the South Bronx, a still predominantly industrial neighborhood. The Wingate by Wyndham Hotel here, is new and modern, well equipped and, though rooms are small (about half size of what we had in OK!), they are cleverly planned, with fridge, coffeemaker, safe, etc. Weather is gray and rainy, but not too cold. It's supposed to get better tomorrow.