The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton features the “Mother Road,” the most famous historic roadtrip experience in the U.S.
Back in the day, Route 66 was the main road to head west to the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, and the beaches of Southern California.
Linda’s Pick of the Exhibits
When it comes to roadtrips, I’m in! And when it comes to diners that look like they’re from the 50s, I’m really in. So, needless to say my favorite exhibit in the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum was the Pop Hicks Restaurant.
When was the actual Pop Hicks Restaurant established?
The real Pop Hicks Restaurant had opened January 1, in 1936, to welcome the new year. A decade earlier, U.S. Route 66 had opened with its 2,448 miles (3,940 km) that ran from Chicago, Illinois, cross-country to Santa Monica, California.
And of course what do travelers need? Gas stations, restaurants, campgrounds and more. So the real story of the route is really in those places, like Pop Hicks Restaurant, where people came together.
While Route 66 opened in 1926, its heydays were the ’50s after the Great Depression and World War II.
So, the black and white tiles, red leather furnishings, and colorful juke box did a great job of establishing the time period.
Information panels talked about the fun ways that cafes, diners, and drive-ins advertised along Route 66 — a photo even depicted a restaurant sign that advertised cherries (from California) for hamburgers!
What’s at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum?
Fast Fact: The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is the state of Oklahoma's official showcase of its Route 66 history. The museum is operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum traces the history of the Mother Road from 1926 until it was decommissioned in 1985. Why was Route 66 decommissioned? Five multi-lane Interstates had been built to replace it.
How much did gas cost per gallon during the peak of Route 66?
Gas in the post war economy was a merer 0.28 cents a gallon! The number of cars doubled in the U.S. to 52.1 million in 1955 from 25.8 million a decade earlier.
There’s a lot of glitz at the museum from the outside to the inside. Indeed Route 66 saw the era of neon petroleum collectibles, bright signs, drive-in movies, and more.
Museum artifacts include a variety of Americana such as comic books, polaroid cameras, car cooler (I’d never heard of this kind of window-mounted car air conditioner!), baby bottle warmer and more.
Visitors walk through time in the museum, starting back with the migration of workers during the Great Depression. Between eras, you’ll find collages of newspaper headlines that keep time moving forward.
And of course, what’s a museum about a highway without some vehicles that drove it!
In an age that was all about making a statement, the brightly painted hippie van defnitely stood out. Its doors, as you’d expect, read “Make Love Not War.”
Indeed, Route 66 had various destinations in Colorado and New Mexico where communes welcomed those looking for an alternate lifestyle. And of course others headed for the Sunset Strip and San Francisco.
As you’d expect, the museum also has an old time Fillin’ Station. Gas stations, along with diners, hotels, and other stores catering to travelers, developed a new economy.
Fast Fact: Before dedicated gas stations populated the highway, finding fuel could be challenging. Drivers had to purhcase it at liveries, repair shops, or even general stores.
Linda’s Road Trip Tips
We were headed down U.S. Route 183, a north-south U.S. highway at this point of our trip. Luckily, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum was right at its junction with I-40. And, the amazing Stafford Air & Space Museum was just 15 miles East down the Interstate. I highly recommend a stop there!
While our schedule didn’t allow time for it, the National Route 66 Museum Complex is just 28 miles West of Clinton on I-40 at Elk City.
The Elk City museum complex houses:
- Route 66 Museum
- Old Town Museum
- Transportation Museum
- Farm & Ranch Museum
- Blacksmith Museum
Who Should Visit the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum?
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is a must-see for baby boomers who’ve always enjoyed roadtrips — and even those who haven’t. The exhibits are bound to bring back a few great memories!
Multi-generational family trips will also find the museum a good way to connect grandparents and grandkids. Various objects, like the juke box, will be great conversation starters.
Of course, anyone who enjoys Americana objects will enjoy a quick half hour tour of the museum. For those who want to review the history boards, the tour will take longer.
The museum is spacious and all on a single floor, so readily accessible.
How Do You Visit the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum?
The state of Oklahoma has a project grant focused on revitalizing its Route 66 experience. Indeed Oklahoma has the most drivable miles of Historic Route 66 than any other state. See the map here.
Parking: The museum has free parking right in front of it. If you're using Google maps, just turn off West Gary Boulevard into the parking lot rather than making the u-turn it indicates.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is located in Clinton, Oklahoma, at 2229 West Gary Boulevard. You can practically see it right off of I-40.
Open year-round, you can get admission costs, plus days open and hours at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum website.
Get the latest news at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum Facebook page.
Take a virtual tour of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum on YouTube with DiscoverOklahoma.
Find More Museums in Oklahoma
Check out more museum reviews for museum attractions in Oklahoma on guide2museums.com.
Explore More Transportation Museums
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- Oklahoma Route 66 Museum: Clinton, Oklahoma, Exploring the Mother Road History
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Reference(s)
National Park Service. (n.d.). Route 66 overview. https://www.nps.gov/articles/route-66-overview.htm
guide2museums.com 