Rising high above the Tulsa skyline, the Golden Driller remains one of Oklahoma’s most iconic landmarks and one of the tallest statues in the United States. Standing 76 feet tall at Expo Square, it immediately captures the attention of passersby while representing the resilience and determination that shaped a city built on the oil industry. With one hand gripping an oil…
I had been hearing about this place downtown that was sort of a food court of up-and-coming restaurants in Tulsa. It had a catchy name, The Mother Road Market. When given this assignment, I realized it was positioned on Route 66. Also known as the Mother Road and as a market is (by definition) a gathering of people for the purchase…
One of the best-known roadside sights in Oklahoma is Pops 66 in Arcadia, rising above the grassland along historic Route 66. A quick search for “Route 66 Oklahoma” proves it. Pops is consistently one of the first images that appears, cementing its status as a modern icon of the Mother Road. The Restaurant has grown quickly in popularity as…
Oklahoma’s iconic business, Eskimo Joe’s from Stillwater, shook the market with its hilarious t-shirt designs dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Route 66, which is celebrated in 2026. The history of Eskimo Joe’s is remarkable. In 1975, Oklahoma resident Stan Clark opened a bar, which evolved into a multimillion-dollar “full-service restaurant and clothing line that has…
As you cruise down the Mother Road, the vintage neon sign of the Rock Cafe illuminates the feeling of the classic American road trip. Located in Stroud, Okla., this historic restaurant has been around since 1939. Originally built by Roy Rives, the owner of H&P Service Station, and other members of the Stroud community, the…
Along historic Route 66, in the small Oklahoma town of Arcadia, lies one of the most photographed buildings on the highway. The Round Barn of Arcadia has become a must-visit opportunity for travelers from all over the world. On a recent afternoon in October, a couple from Belgium stopped into the barn. They came in…
The Outsiders Museum, located in Tulsa Okla., is a very popular tourist attraction along Route 66. The house was bought by hip-hop artist, Danny Boy O’Connor, who is a big fan of the book and movie. On Aug. 9, 2019, the museum officially opened with actor C. Thomas Howell in attendance. The Experience I visited…
Tourism is a budding industry in Tulsa. After being officially named the Capital of Route 66 on July 1, 2024, an influx of both national and international tourists has been seeking to experience what Tulsa has to offer. In an interview with the Visitors Center’s Kenny Smith and Jonathan Huskey, TCC Connection explores the dynamics…
Since Josh and Amanda Stout, owners of the RedFork Arts Foundry Tulsa, purchased The Sky Gallery, a gift, souvenir, and art shop at 1401 E. 11th St., Tulsa, the business has flourished. The shelves and walls of the store are filled with a variety of artistic, unusual Route 66 and Oklahoma-themed two- and three-dimensional art…
Located at 3770 Southwest Blvd., a series of life-sized historical monuments offers a memorable and immersive experience. What started as a simple idea, backed by the collective efforts of the Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, has become a renowned attraction to both national and international tourists. The Route 66 Historical Village, as we now know it, presents…
