As Oklahoma prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, Langston University is partnering with local communities to support beautification and community enhancement efforts along the Mother Road.

Through the Sherman Lewis School of Agriculture & Applied Sciences Cooperative Extension and Outreach Programs, Langston University has launched a Route 66 Centennial Community Beautification Project designed to strengthen local pride, improve shared spaces, and support economic development in Route 66 corridor communities across Oklahoma.

As part of this centennial initiative, eligible communities may receive $2,000 beautification vouchers to be used for plants and related supplies. Vouchers are redeemable through TLC Garden Centers in Oklahoma City and are intended to support visible, community-led projects such as downtown planters, streetscape improvements, and other public-facing enhancements.

Oklahoma’s 1890 Land-Grant University funding supports this effort and aligns with Langston University Extension’s mission to promote community development, environmental stewardship, and sustainability. Supporting Communities During the Route 66 Centennial Route 66 Centennial represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Oklahoma communities to showcase their identity, welcome visitors, and invest in long-term improvements. By working collaboratively with local leaders, civic groups, and residents, Langston University Extension aims to help communities honor the legacy of Route 66 while planting seeds—literally and figuratively—for the future.

Communities interested in participating in or learning more about the Route 66 Centennial Beautification Project are encouraged to contact Joshua Davis III at Langston University (Joshua.davis12@langston.edu, 405-255-5729).

WEATHERFORD, OKLAHOMA (April 17, 2026) – The Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s first Centennial event is on Saturday, April 25 at the Stafford Air & Space Museum in Weatherford! The Route 66 Big Band Hangar Dance honors and celebrates the early years of the famous highway when the road served an important part of the World War II war effort. It helped with troop movements out west and provided a safe and reliable path for materials to get where they needed to be. “This event is a way for us to honor that era,” says Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, “and also to bring people to Weatherford which has branded itself as Space City further elevating the legacy of its most famous citizen, General Thomas Stafford.”

The event will take place in the Smithsonian-affiliated Stafford Air and Space Museum which has expanded with a brand new event space, outdoor learning areas, and gardens! The primary entertainment for the evening will include big band music courtesy of Talk of the Town Orchestra, swing dance lessons and a performance from the Oklahoma Swing Syndicate, documentary filmmaker Katrina Parks’ Rosies on 66 screenings, and viewing vintage aircraft up close!

The Boogie Baby, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, a Beech C-45, and a PT-19 Trainer from the Caldwell Collection will be on display at the event.

Before the event, the pilot of the Beech C-45 will be giving rides for $125 from noon until the event begins. The plane can seat up to six people and flights last around 20 minutes.

The evening will feature heavy hors d'oeuvres from Lucille’s Roadhouse including onion burger sliders, fried pickles, spamwiches, chili, milkshakes, and apple cobbler.

Guests can also enjoy a night-at-the-museum perusing the exhibits, snapping a souvenir photo at the photo booth, and taking in the special exhibit of Route 66 photos from a private collection.

Tickets are on flash sale this weekend, Friday-Sunday, for $15 off each ticket. Purchase tickets at www.oklahomaroute66.com/bbhd. After that, the prices will go back up to $50 per ticket. Each ticket includes all entertainment, food, two drink tickets redeemable at the bar, and a souvenir Route 66 Big Band Hangar Dance challenge coin, exclusive for this event.

The event also includes a corsage bar, with floral corsages created by The Cup on 66! Corsages are available for a small donation.

Guests are encouraged to dress in 1940s era clothing or your Sunday best!

As I stood outside of Sweetie Pie’s Amish Bakery and Café on Tulsa’s stretch of Route 66, I could hear the little car coming. It wasn’t struggling, per se, but the engine just sounded different. Then I saw it: a little two-door car that was nearly identical in color to the city’s famous Golden Driller. I also saw its inhabitants: Patrick Friedrich and Torsten Prasch. They were in the middle of a journey down Historic Route 66 in a vehicle that had quite a history.

The Trabant (which means companion, and it is colloquially known as a Trabi) is a relic of the cold war. These cars were produced in East Germany from 1957 until 1991, shortly after the Berlin Wall fell. Metal was harder to come by on the other side of the Iron Curtain due to embargoes, so the body panels are made of Duroplast. The material was invented in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the 1950s and is a plastic fiber material not unlike Formica. The design of the cars remained virtually unchanged in 30 years and became a symbol of the country…in more ways than one.

The cars had to be ordered from the state itself, and it was not an easy process. “When you wanted to have one…you had to wait fifteen years to get it,” Patrick explained. He said that some people would order a car right after a child was born so that perhaps it would be available when they were of driving age. The cars weren’t cheap, either. “Simple workers, maybe earned 300 marks [a month] when the car was about 10,000 marks.” Some would sell off the notes halfway through the waiting period for a profit and a used car went for about twice the money.

These factors, coupled with the fact that people greatly desired western cars once they had the opportunity, mean that Trabants are relatively rare today. Out of around 3 million produced, only 40,000 or so remain licensed and drivable. But the number is growing as cars are found and restored by enthusiasts.

Patrick and Torsten were both around 20 when communism in Europe collapsed; they lived in western Germany at the time. They told me how hard it was for people to go from a mindset where someone that had been an enemy for 40 years was suddenly supposed to be your friend. Patrick was fascinated by the life that had been on the other side of the wall and moved to the GDR when he had an opportunity, where he fell in love with the Trabant and its history.

Patrick had been dreaming of a Route 66 trip in a Trabi for decades. Although he was set to realize those dreams a few years ago, COVID was a setback. But then he set his sights on the Centennial year. He connected with a few friends (there’s another Trabi on Route 66 making the journey, too, but its occupants were visiting friends elsewhere on the day they came through Tulsa) and here he was on the most famous road in the world. “There is so much to plan if you make such a trip,” Patrick said, adding how lucky they were that four of them were able to get nearly two months off of work to take the trip.

Two months because the traveling party wanted to take their time crossing the country. Not only because the Trabi’s little air-cooled two-stroke engine averages about 50 miles-per-hour, but because they truly wanted to connect with the places and people that the road led them to. He showed me the itinerary planning document he’d made, which was extensive. He told me about meeting so many wonderful, friendly people like Phyllis Ferguson of the Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield and Rita Kirchoff at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba.

In between bites of breakfast, I asked them how they felt about Route 66 being held up in the United States as a beacon of freedom. Did that ring true to their experience?

“Yes, definitely,” Patrick said. “If you think, years ago, many people came from Europe. They wanted to find a better place to live, because in Europe there had been wars and all that stuff, in such a short time one after the other. They wanted to be rid of this.” Many people found it in America. “They went down Route 66 and stopped somewhere. ‘OK, it’s nice here,’ or they went on to find another place. ‘I’m free to go anywhere and I can do anything. I can be a farmer, or work in fabrication, anything.’ That is freedom, the same as when the Wall came down.” Although the experience was not unique to Route 66, the road’s cultural place in the American story meant that it stood out from the rest.

Our visit certainly gave me a lot to think about as America celebrates its 250th birthday this year, alongside the Route 66 Centennial. I waved goodbye to my new friends as they continued west, with the freedom of the open road reflected in their windshield and stamped upon their hearts.

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, in collaboration with multiple statewide Route 66 organizations, is launching a collectible series of trading cards for the Route 66 Centennial. Starting April 15th, cards will be available at locations across the Route 66 corridor from Illinois to California for $1 apiece.

“We wanted to offer a fun and different item that people could add to their Route 66 itineraries as they travel during the road’s 100th Anniversary,” said Rhys Martin, board member of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. “State associations and scenic byways have been working together with the Road Ahead for a decade now and we wanted something to show that Route 66 truly is one long linear community that also gives back to that community.”

Each card includes a Route 66 landmark, with locations divided out across the eight states that the road passes through with a list of factoids on the back. The number of cards in each state was determined by mileage and each location was selected by individual state Route 66 organizations.

This initial launch of 27 cards was made possible thanks to a generous sponsorship by the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. “Working alongside the other seven Route 66 states to create a unique, nostalgic, and exciting Centennial offering truly reflects the strength and value of collaboration,” said Casey Claypool, Executive Director of the Byway. “I’m incredibly proud to be part of such a dedicated and passionate group of Route 66 stewards.  I hope travelers will appreciate the care, time, and collective effort that went into bringing this project to life.”

26 of the cards will be sold at various locations along Route 66 while the 27th will be offered from the Route 66 Centennial Caravan as it makes its way across the highway in June. Cards will only cost a dollar apiece, with a portion of each sale going to the business offering the card and a portion going back to each state organization.

“This initial set of cards will hopefully inspire other businesses and landmarks to get involved,” Martin continued. “We plan to offer future ‘booster packs’ of cards with those proceeds going to the Road Ahead Partnership’s Preservation and Economic Development Grant.”

To start your collection, look up card-selling locations at www.route66tradingcards.com. To learn more about the Route 66 Centennial Caravan in June, go to www.route66caravan.com.

Volunteering with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association just got easier thanks to a new portal that helps both members and Association leadership track opportunities and overall engagement. The Association relies on volunteer support for most of its operations, from event attendance to Trip Guide deliveries and more.

“We are so excited to provide more opportunities for our members to share their love of Route 66,” said Association President Rhys Martin. “The Centennial year is in full swing and we need the support to make sure that all 400+ miles of the Mother Road in Oklahoma are represented.”

VolunteerHub is a leading volunteer organization software solution used by nonprofits and other organizations around the world. Jaimie Gua, Oklahoma County District Representative, pitched the platform at the Association’s January membership meeting, with several members speaking up about having used the software before for other organizations. Adoption of the platform was unanimous.

“I like to say we picked VolunteerHub for the same reason people pick Route 66: it’s the best way to get from great intentions to real destinations—and I’m proud our board trusted me to put it on the map for Oklahoma’s stretch of the Mother Road,” Jaimie said. “With it, we can spend less time in the paperwork slow lane and spend more time keeping Oklahoma’s Mother Road alive and thriving.”

The first event that volunteers can sign up to help with is the Big Band Hangar Dance in Weatherford, scheduled for April 25th, 2026. Members will also be able to sign up for some administrative tasks at the Association office in Tulsa and with the ongoing delivery of the popular Oklahoma Route 66 Trip Guide to Business Member locations across the state.

You can sign up for more information and to find volunteer opportunities at https://oklahomaroute66.volunteerhub.com/vv2/. More opportunities will be added over the coming weeks as the portal is built out.

The 2026 Oklahoma Route 66 Trip Guide is now available! This year not only marks the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road but also marks the 30th year of our annual Trip Guide, which is the largest ever at 144 pages.

“We are incredibly proud of this edition of our Trip Guide, which is cited by travelers from across the globe as an invaluable resource for traveling our favorite highway,” said Rhys Martin, President of the Association. “They can be ordered from our website today and will be available from Business Member locations across the region as we get them distributed.” Guides are free in person and only cost shipping if ordered online.

The booklet features maps of each community along Oklahoma’s 400+ miles of Historic Route 66 along with historic information, business listings, road trip games, and more. Although the guide focuses on Oklahoma, the Association has members in nearly 30 states and multiple countries. “When you look through the guide and plan your trip, please support our members. Without their membership and advertising, we wouldn’t be able to advocate for preservation or promote the many wonderful things happening along the Route 66 corridor in our state.”

The cover artwork this year is a commissioned piece by Oklahoma artist Jessica Stout. “We wanted something a little more special for the Centennial year,” Martin continued. “Jessica created a wonderful piece for our cover that we’re also offering as an 11x14 poster for people that want something to display to mark this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.” The artwork pulls from familiar Oklahoma iconography to present a timeless image of the open road. The limited-edition poster can also be ordered online (shipped separately) or available in-person at Meadow Gold Mack in Tulsa.

Guides can be ordered at www.oklahomaroute66.com or picked up at Business Member locations across the state, which should be delivered by our Board and volunteers over the next few weeks. Jessica Stout’s work, which includes murals throughout eastern Oklahoma, can be seen at www.jessicastout.com.

After more than 30 years of darkness, the iconic Cotton Boll Motel neon sign in Canute, Oklahoma is alight once more. The sign relighting is the first phase of multiple projects the community has in the works to highlight their local history and celebrate their place on the Mother Road.

The Cotton Boll opened in May 1960. Woodrow and Viola Penick, who had been cotton farmers, had the 16-room motel built alongside US Highway 66. Joe Mahl of Elk City was the builder of the structure and Seright Neon of Elk City created the stunning sign. The motel advertised air conditioning, vinyl tile, and a TV set in each room. Ten years later, the I-40 bypass was completed, severing Canute from the flow of most tourist traffic. But the Cotton Boll survived on oilfield and agricultural business. The Penicks sold the motel in 1979 and it continued to operate until the early 1990s.

Pat and Cheryl Webb bought the motel in 1993 as a private residence shortly after it closed. By then, the sign was no longer operable. However, the distinctive porcelain cabinet had already become a popular photo stop for travelers from around the world. People in the town had reached out to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and the State Historic Preservation Office at the time about preserving the sign and making it a monument, but those efforts were unsuccessful. Joe Kisicki, President of the Association at the time, told The Daily Oklahoman that the Association didn’t have the resources to finance such projects, but that it was certainly, “part of the attraction of Route 66.”

When the State of Oklahoma created the Oklahoma Route 66 Revitalization Grant in 2023, preservationists in the town of Canute took notice. Their local CPR Group (Canute Preservation and Restoration) applied for a grant that would bring new life to Old Route 66 in their town - and got it. The Cotton Boll project is just the first phase and will be followed by work to other structures, including the Washita Motel sign to the west and the former Hi-De-Hi Drive-In to the east.

Pat Webb, who still owns the motel, gifted the sign to the City of Canute so that the project could take place and the work was completed by Just-In-Time Signs out of Sayre. In fact, the sign cabinet itself wasn’t even repainted - the porcelain was simply cleaned and polished.

On the evening of March 21st, a crowd of 130 people gathered in Canute (population 494) on the side of Historic Route 66 to be there when the switch was flipped. People from as far away as Houston, Texas and Tucumcari, New Mexico came to be a part of the special occasion. In attendance were the presidents of both the Texas and Oklahoma Route 66 Associations and numerous Route 66 roadies from around the region, but the stars of the evening were the Penick daughters, Marilyn and Shirley, who came in from southeast Texas.

After speeches from the mayor and a few others, the neon was turned on just before 7:00 PM to great fanfare. People from near and far continued to snap photos as the sun set behind the concrete roadway and many revelers migrated to the nearby Friends Pub & Pizza, where they visited until well after 10. The motel is still a private residence, but in this Centennial year the sign will call to Route 66 travelers as both a reminder of yesterday and a dream of tomorrow.

Rick Koch, owner of ASAP Energy Inc., is celebrating his 66th birthday in 2026 by giving away a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle. It’s a way to celebrate the Route 66 Centennial for a man whose story has been intertwined with the Mother Road for his entire life.

“My grandfather owned East Side Salvage on Route 66,” Rick said in a phone interview as he reminisced about his time growing up in Weatherford. He was just a boy when I-40 was being completed, but he had a distinct memory of being on Route 66 when parts of it were still the main highway. He remembered thinking, “Who would ever design such a bumpy road?” as they passed over the concrete panels that are still prevalent in many parts of Western Oklahoma today. “They might have built it bumpy, but they built it to last.”

Rick opened his first service station in 1979 with his brother, right on Route 66. Then, they opened a second one. Rick remembered when he managed a station next door to a small Valentine diner on Main Street that is now on display at the Heartland of America Museum. Back then, it was known as the Cliff House. “The thing that most people don’t realize is that they didn’t have bathrooms,” he said, noting that he always took good care of the restrooms at the station. “Edna and Annie, the two ladies that worked there, they had an extra key.” The waitresses paid him and his staff back with a free cheeseburger on Saturdays.

Eventually, Rick founded ASAP Energy Inc. Today, they operate twenty convenience stores in Oklahoma and distribute fuel across eight states. But the company does more than provide fuel: it preserves a part of Oklahoma’s Route 66 history. In the early 2000s, Rick purchased Lucille Hamons’ old service station out on Historic Route 66. Lucille was a beloved figure in the greater Route 66 community for decades and an inductee into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame.

“When I was going to high school, we all knew who Lucille was,” Rick said. His family would stop at the station often on their way to and from Oklahoma City. Shortly after Lucille passed away in 2000, her station went up on eBay. It didn’t sell. Rick contacted Cheryl Nowka (Lucille’s daughter and the first webmaster for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association) and in 2002 became the new owner of the station. A small article in our December 2002 newsletter states: Rick’s immediate plans are to ensure the old gas station is structurally sounds, then restore the outside to a specific era, antique gas pumps and all. It also mentioned his plans to build a 1950s-style diner at his truck stop in honor of Lucille. Of course, that’s exactly what happened.

“When I bought it, it was covered in vines,” Rick remembered. “They were invading the building. The wood was dry and somewhat rotting … me and my son Brian thought we’d just tackle that one summer day. We went to cut it down and, well, it was poison ivy!” The old motor court building was about to fall down, so they took it down and rebuilt a new version of it on-site. They keep the historic building painted, the roof in good order, and tend to the grounds. Recently, a new selfie stand was installed and a 1954 Chevrolet pickup was parked out there. They’re working on plans for an outdoor picnic pavilion and a recreation of the Hamons Court neon sign that hangs in the Smithsonian today. The operation of the Lucille’s Roadhouse Restaurants in Weatherford and Clinton as well as Lucille’s Hotel help fund the preservation and enhancement of the original station.

This year not only marks the Centennial of Route 66 and America’s 250th Birthday, but Rick turns 66 years old. To celebrate the the occasion, he is giving away a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle through ASAP’s Kickback Rewards program. The car will be given away on Rick’s birthday, August 6th, at the Lucille’s Roadhouse restaurant in Weatherford. People can learn more at: https://asapenergyinc.com/giveaway/.

What does Rick want people to take away from Route 66’s Centennial? “How important our history is and how important it is to preserve our history. Route 66 was all about … connectivity and connecting people together. Making things easier to traverse from one part of the country to the other. Because of the success of Route 66, the interstate was just an expansion of that. When you saw how you could connect Chicago to California, how to connect the rest of the United States…it shrunk the world. It made it where [people] could help each other.”

TULSA, OK - The Admiral Twin Drive-In announced their opening date for the season as Friday, April 3rd. 2026 is not only the Centennial of Route 66, but it’s the 75th season of this local icon. The Admiral Twin opened in 1951 as the Modernaire, but a year later they added a second screen and adopted the name that Tulsans are now familiar with.

Owner Blake Smith shared, “2026 should be a great year! We have a lot planned for the season. We kick things off on April 3rd with ‘Super Mario Galaxy Movie.’ But the big 75th anniversary celebration happens on May 29th, featuring a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music, and, most importantly, screenings of ‘The Outsiders’ and ‘Cool Hand Luke!’ We’re inviting all of Tulsa to join us for this special event.” The Admiral Twin was famously featured in the 1983 Outsiders film.

Speaking of the Centennial of Route 66, the Admiral Twin also announced an afternoon car show on May 30th to coincide with the Route 66 Capital Cruise, which plans to bring in 3,000 cars to Tulsa to break a Guinness World Record. Blake and the rest of the crew at the Admiral Twin encourage guests to bring their vehicles and enjoy the festivities at one of the city’s most enduring landmarks.

More details on both events will be announced soon. For more information, contact info@admiraltwindrivein.com.

In 2005, the theater was recognized by Hampton Inn’s Save-A-Landmark program and received their Route 66 Roadside Attraction signage, which was recently refreshed by the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. Although the original screen burned to the ground in a devastating 2010 fire, grass-roots fundraising helped get the screens rebuilt two years later.

OKLAHOMA CITY — Keep Oklahoma Beautiful was honored with the National Innovation Award during the 2026 Keep America Beautiful Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana. This prestigious award recognizes organizations that develop and lead groundbreaking, creative solutions to environmental challenges within their communities. Keep Oklahoma Beautiful received this distinction for its innovative initiative, Keep Route 66 Beautiful, which empowers communities to remove litter and enhance the beauty of the iconic 400+ miles of Route 66 in Oklahoma. The initiative provides vital resources to support local efforts in beautification and environmental stewardship along the historic highway.

The award ceremony featured Lucinda Robb, granddaughter of Lady Bird Johnson, who presented the award and shared inspiring remarks. “If my grandmother was here, I know she would be very pleased and proud of the work you’re doing in Oklahoma,” Robb stated, reflecting on Lady Bird Johnson’s enduring legacy in environmental beautification.

Evelyn Schaefer, Executive Director of Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. “Our mission only works because of the heart and hard work our Affiliates pour into their hometowns every single day,” said Schaefer. “As we all prepare for the influx in tourism in Oklahoma communities, we will continue to work with local leaders to build community pride and a much more beautiful, sustainable state.”

In 2025, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful was awarded a grant through the Route 66 Revitalization Program, an initiative of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The grant enabled the organization to collaborate directly with communities on projects including painting, planting trees, installing pollinator gardens, removing roadside litter, and other beautification efforts in preparation for the highway’s centennial anniversary. This program has helped the Oklahoma Route 66 Association with beautification efforts, such as the cleanup at Kobel’s Station in Foss in 2025.

CHANDLER, OKLAHOMA - After a year of discussion, advocacy, and legal battles, Chandler’s historic St. Cloud Hotel is coming down.

In March of 2025, the roof of the St. Cloud Hotel in Chandler was severely damaged in a storm, compromising the building. The City of Chandler held a meeting on April 8th of that year and deemed the building a hazard and voted for demolition. The owner argued that the City had blocked his application for permits to repair the building and that a permit was not required for some of the work that needed to be completed. The City denied this and stated that the permits were not completed correctly and had provided a list of necessary changes for approval. This escalated all the way to the Oklahoma Supreme Court on appeal, but according to a KFOR report in January a bond was not paid and the city’s plans could proceed.

“Preservation is one of the primary parts of our mission,” said Association President Rhys Martin. “So when a historic structure is endangered, we do what we can to call attention to it and connect people with resources. The St. Cloud Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but, unfortunately, that does not offer protection from demolition. In this case, the Association was never able to engage the owner to talk directly.”

In an email, the State Historic Preservation Office said that they had been in contact with the owner multiple times, as had Preservation Oklahoma, but that since it was an issue between the city and the property owner there were limited solutions available and that all of them would require significant financial investment. Larry Donbraswell, co-owner of the building, said on Facebook that the city did not give him due process to make the needed repairs.

Chandler is known for its high concentration of structures on the National Register, both on and off Historic Route 66. The St. Cloud Hotel opened on April 20th, 1904 and was known for the ghost murals on the side of the building. The St. Cloud and Coca-Cola murals were restored in 2006 by Dean Godner and Shaun Colbert of Oklahoma City with funding from the Great Plans Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The project, which restored the faded murals while retaining a weathered, vintage look won the SHPO’s Citation of Merit Award in 2007. Owner John Givens operated a muffler shop in the building at the time and even then it was noted to be struggling with condemnation by the city.

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - After nearly two decades of sitting, Bob Waldmire’s U-Haul truck is being restored.

If you’re not familiar with the story of artist Bob Waldmire, you can ask just about any roadie that was around in his lifetime and they’ll have a story about him. Bob was a traveling artist that had a passion for history, nature, and beauty. You can learn more about Bob with our Google Arts and Culture article here, but one part of the story that ties directly to Oklahoma is a retired U-Haul truck he acquired in 2007.

Bob painted a mural on the left side of the truck and put it up for sale, but those plans didn’t come together before his death in 2009. Ken and Marian Clark of Tulsa, who had helped Bob purchase the truck, donated it to the National Route 66 Museum and Transportation Museum in Elk City, but they didn’t have room for it. That’s how it eventually ended up with Laurel Kane at Afton Station in Ottawa County, where it remained until 2019.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association acquired the truck late that year and stationed it in Chelsea for travelers to enjoy and always planned to restore it to working order. “We thought it would be a wonderful tribute to Bob’s legacy to turn it into a mobile museum of sorts,” said Association President Rhys Martin. “It would give us a way to deploy at events on-and-off Route 66 and hopefully inspire people to travel the road themselves.” The restoration project was designated as an official Route 66 Centennial project by the US Route 66 Centennial Commission and a full inspection was performed with the assistance of Association members Billy and Pam Stanbro of Chelsea…but the price tag to return the truck to the road was high.

At the Association’s Annual Membership Meeting in January, a teacher with the Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City approached the organization and pitched the idea of making the restoration a student project. “When Rhys was talking about the Bob Waldmire U-Haul project, I immediately thought, this would be an awesome project for my automotive collision repair class,” said Clint Drabek. “I knew it would be a great opportunity for my students to take part in the restoration of a historical piece of rolling art. We are extremely excited to be a part of the Bob Waldmire project and look forward to seeing it make its way back to service during the Route 66 Centennial Celebration!”

Getting the truck from northeast Oklahoma to Oklahoma City was another matter, but LD’s Wrecker in Chandler, a member of the Association since 1990, stepped up to help. In fact, they were so excited to be a part of the project that they made a special trip to a few Route 66 landmarks as they made their way across Eastern Oklahoma on Wednesday, February 25th. Bob had been a fixture at the Rock Café in Stroud and still has a booth specially decorated with his artwork. The truck stopped briefly at the Rock due to this history and the manager, Beverly Thomas, stepped outside for a moment to see the truck as it continued west.

Now, students at Francis Tuttle will restore the mechanical parts of the truck. Other arrangements are being made locally to restore the exterior and interior of the cab. Bob’s artwork has faded over the last twenty years and the Association would like to restore it, too, but they are also highly aware of the potential for damaging it. “We want to honor Bob’s legacy, not ruin his work,” Martin said. “We have to figure that part out but we’re committed to doing it right.”

Once the truck is back on the road, the Association will begin seeking funding to build out the back of the truck with a customized, deployable educational experience. But in the meantime, it will give the Association some additional visibility at events and along the road itself.

SAPULPA, OKLAHOMA - Registration is now open for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s Centennial Car Show. The event will take place on September 26th, 2026 at Sapulpa’s Tee Pee Drive-In. The car show will be followed by a separate event that evening: a screening of Pixar’s film Cars, which celebrates 20 years alongside Route 66’s 100th anniversary.

“The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has been an advocate for preservation and history of the road for 37 years,” said Association President Rhys Martin. “We thought an event focused the vehicles themselves during this momentous year would be a great way to celebrate the road’s ongoing legacy. And holding that event at a historic venue like the Tee Pee is even better!”

The Tee Pee Drive-In opened in 1950, during the road’s so-called heyday. It closed in 1999 after years of decline, but five years ago the Kante Group purchased the property and began renovations. It opened to great fanfare in 2023, its story mirroring that of Route 66 itself.

“Route 66 represents the very best of the American spirit - entrepreneurs who build something meaningful, communities that welcome travelers, and dreamers who believe in creating a better future,” said Ben and Joni Kante, owners of the drive-in. “The Tee Pee Drive-In serves as a breeding ground of creativity, imagination, and thoughts of what has yet become for hundreds. When we had the opportunity to restore it, we felt a deep responsibility to honor those dreamers who came before us. This isn’t just about preserving a screen - it’s about a reflection of the courage, optimism, and the ‘get it done’ determination mind set while upholding a sense of community that defined Route 66. To see the Tee Pee once again filled with families, classic cars, and shared experiences is incredibly moving for us. We are grateful to play a role in ensuring this special place continues inspiring others for the next 100 years.”

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is partnering with AmericaCarShows.com for the event, a Tulsa-based company with decades of experience. Registration is $25 per car; all proceeds go towards the Association’s mission to preserve and promote Route 66 throughout the state.

As Route 66 celebrates its centennial in 2026, Martin wants people to know that the road is still alive and still evolving. “People come to Route 66 for all kinds of reasons, but it’s the people they meet that stick in their memory and bring them back. Classic cars and their owners are a great example of the passion you can find from small business owners, preservationists, and others that you can find along the road. And, of course, the movie Cars brought the story to a whole new generation.”

The screening of the movie in the evening is also being organized by the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, in partnership with the Kante Group, and they are working on bringing out a few special guests for the occasion. “Many of the characters in the movie are based on real people and there’s an incredible story about how the real towns inspired Radiator Springs. We’re excited to make this showing a little more special and will have more details to announce as we get closer to the event this fall.”

Registration can be completed online at OK66CarShow.com and more information about the event can be found there.

CLAREMORE, Okla. – A dynamic new exhibit on US Route 66 opens on Friday, February 27, at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore. Visitors will be immersed in the highway’s unique history and cultural legacy, told through vibrant imagery and storytelling. Special guests Michael Wallis, voice of the sheriff in “Cars,” and Ken Busby, executive director of the Route 66 Alliance, will be on hand to discuss the highway and the making of the film.

In the 1930s, people wanted to rename the highway after Will Rogers, who enjoyed national fame. After he died in 1935, efforts to honor him increased, and the US Highway Association later that year designated Route 66 as “Will Rogers Highway.”

The exhibit explores the various dedications of the highway in memory of Will Rogers from the 1930s to the 1950s and discusses the Will Rogers Highway in pop culture, from a cameo appearance in “The Grapes of Wrath” to Woody Guthrie’s folk music.

The opening begins at 5 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting, followed by a Q&A session at 6 p.m. with Busby and Wallis to discuss current efforts to celebrate the route and the creative process that went into the making of the film “Cars.” At 7 p.m., there will be a screening of the Disney/Pixar film “Cars.” Admission is free to the public.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is located at 1720 W. Will Rogers Blvd. in Claremore. Call 918-341-0719 for more information.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has published a new report examining how small towns have successfully used route-based tourism as a valuable strategy for economic development.

The report, titled “The Byways Report: The Scenic Route to Rural Prosperity” frames the issue through the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the epic 2,448-mile road trip that crosses eight states from Chicago to Los Angeles. Four of those states – Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and New Mexico – lie in the Tenth Federal Reserve District, which the Kansas City Fed serves. While focused on Route 66 in Oklahoma, the report includes interviews with national experts on rural development and byways tourism, as well as the experiences of people involved with byways around the U.S.

“The major theme and biggest surprise from this research is that long-time residents of small towns often can’t see what might draw visitors,” said Jennifer Wilding, community engagement advisor at the Kansas City Fed and the report’s author. “Newer or younger residents have helped others see the town with fresh, appreciative eyes and have led the way in spurring unique approaches to economic development in many communities.”

The National Travel Center found that a byway can feasibly generate between $250,000 and $450,000 per mile per year in visitor spending when it features heritage and cultural locations, offers visitors plenty of places to visit and opportunities to spend money, includes destination-distinctive accommodations and local cuisine, and is well-promoted.

The report also finds that byways can be an especially good fit for small towns and rural areas for several reasons:

• There are often miles between small towns, usually in the countryside. These can be attractive places for people to visit because of the surrounding geography.

• A group of towns can create their own byway based on their specific regional heritage and assets.

• No single town needs to be responsible for all the work. In fact, a byway works best when each town along a route plays to its individual strengths.

Stories in the report feature young entrepreneurs preserving the past in Miami, Okla.; the Cherokee Nation telling its story and a vintage café creating memorable experiences in Vinita, Okla.; a group of creative residents bringing new life to Route 66 in Clinton, Okla.; an 80-year-old artist using art as economic development in tiny Sayre, Okla.; and other stories from Oklahoma, Red Cloud, Neb., and the Crooked Road Music Trail in Virginia.

“The Byways Report” also highlights an array of technical resources that can help states, regions and towns leverage route-based tourism as part of their efforts to build rural prosperity. It shares ten themes based on interviews for those wanting to strengthen or start a byway, including embracing entrepreneurism as an economic strategy, preserving the history and heritage of the town, thinking in terms of collaboration not competition, and reaching out to destination marketing and regional development organizations for support.

To download a PDF version or request a free printed copy of the report, visit https://www.kansascityfed.org/the-byways-report.

As part of its work to support financial stability, the Kansas City Fed works to connect with communities in its region to promote economic development, access to credit and public understanding.

As the regional headquarters of the nation’s central bank, the Kansas City Fed and its branch offices in Denver, Oklahoma City and Omaha serve the seven states of the Tenth District: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western Missouri.

Two distinctly different memorial services at Fort Reno in November and December honored two groups of veterans buried at the Post Cemetery to ensure their service was not forgotten. Debra Kauffman, President of Historic Fort Reno, Inc., hosted both events. Fort Reno sits four miles from El Reno on Route 66.

German Memorial Day

On November 23 at the Visitors Center, attendees stated the importance of remembering the dead from wars– not just Prisoners of War (POWs) at Fort Reno – but from any country and from any war. Captain Rolf Niemezewski, Commander of the German Air Force unit at Fort Sill’s Air Defense Training Center, said, “I really appreciate the honor to attend the German Memorial Day inside the United States to think about all the fallen soldiers, no matter which country, and also think about the children and women that died and were wounded.”

The service moved to the Post Cemetery, where a stone wall separates the majority of the buried (veterans, civilians, American Indians) from POWs buried there. Moving slowly through the German and Italian POW Cemetery to the song, “Amazing Grace,” the German national flag, Deutschlandfahne, was carried by one of three uniformed German Air Force Honor Guard. Ten more German Air Force servicemen stood at attention in the cemetery. Then, Hildegard Effinger and Jutta Tankersley of Tulsa and two German Air Force members placed five wreaths next to tombstones as thirty people watched.

Finally, Susan Calvert led the group singing “The Good Comrade” in German, a song written by German poet Ludwig Uhland in 1809.

Fort Reno’s POW History

Fort Reno’s POW Camp was constructed in 1943 and German prisoners began arriving July 4, 1943, according to a Fort Reno Visitors Center handout, “World War II German Prisoner of War Camp.” Up to 1,335 POWs were held at one time. Seventy World War II POWs are interred at the Fort Reno cemetery. “There are 62 Germans and 8 Italians, the majority of those interred at Fort Reno were held at POW Camps in Oklahoma and Texas.” 

Wreaths Across America

A mix of long rifles, muskets and pistols fired together at the Post Cemetery on December 20 – not in anger, but in honor of veterans - during the nationally held Wreaths Across America Ceremony. It was sponsored by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). 

Once 60 visitors assembled at the Post Cemetery, Leslie Dietrich, Regent of the Fort Reno Chapter of DAR, welcomed everybody and asked for the Colors to be posted. Allegiance was given to our flag, followed by a prayer of remembrance for deceased veterans.

Dietrich said the group lays wreaths “to remember, honor and teach about those who served in the military and protected our freedoms…and teach the next generation the value of freedom.” Their purpose is “not to decorate graves…” but express a “symbol of honor for their (veterans) sacrifice.” The National DAR has given service to living and deceased veterans since 1890.

Attendees then picked up the green wreaths that the DAR brought and put them on veteran’s headstones while reciting their name as a way to publicly show they are not forgotten. After Dan Wilson of Wakita laid a wreath, he said, “I love to see the respect given to those who have gone before us.” German and Italian soldiers buried at the P.O.W. Cemetery did not receive wreaths.

Members of the Sons of the American Revolution and The Guthrie Gunfighters, dressed in historical period clothing, formed a line and fired three volleys. Then, Chad Kautz played a mournful Taps. The Guthrie Gunfighters’ Trail Boss, Kent Smith, said, “We come out to support the museum in a unique way to honor our veterans.”

In 2022, the Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine, placed wreaths on 2.7 million veteran’s headstones at 3,702 locations in all 50 states and abroad with the help of two million volunteers and organizations providing support.After both events, Kaufman opened the museum for individual tours and a reception, offering engaging conversation and a variety of food and beverages. She summarized the events by saying, “We are fortunate to have a cemetery that has a long period of history tied to it. With the German-Italian Memorial Service and the DAR’s Wreaths Across America service, they provide opportunities to honor servicemen buried there.”

“To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen…….to be forgotten is the worst.” Piere Claeyssens (1909-2003).

Fort Reno is directly on Route 66, four miles west of El Reno. It is open 10:00 to 4:00 Tuesday through Saturday. Admission prices range from $4- $6. The Visitor Center is in the former officer's quarters. The Post Cemetery is one mile away. The staff in the U.S. Cavalry Association's house, next to the Visitor Center, encourages visitors to see them too.

S&H Green Stamps has launched an official Route 66 Centennial Celebration Project, bringing together two powerful icons of Americana in a true case of nostalgia meeting nostalgia.

S&H Green Stamps were a familiar staple along Route 66 during its heyday, with many businesses offering stamps as a reward for loyal customers.

“S&H Green Stamps and Route 66 are two enduring symbols of mid-century America, evoking memories of family road trips, roadside diners, and the simple joy of earning rewards for everyday loyalty,” said Carl Norloff, CEO of S&H Green Stamps.

The S&H Route 66 Centennial Celebration Project reimagines that legacy for a modern audience while honoring the brand’s historic connection to the Mother Road.

“As we approach the Route 66 Centennial, we're thrilled to reunite these nostalgic icons, while supporting the communities, businesses, and travelers that keep its legacy alive,” said Carl.

Through the Route 66 Centennial Celebration Project, S&H Green Stamps will provide communities along Route 66 with a suite of engagement tools and support, including promotional events, consumer rewards, social media exposure, and access to thousands of existing S&H Green Stamps members. The initiative is designed to help businesses, attractions, and local nonprofit causes engage consumers in a unique and exciting way, while highlighting the national value and enduring legacy of Route 66.

“Route 66 has always been about connection — between people, places, and communities,” said Bill Thomas, Chair of The Road Ahead Partnership and Commissioner of the Route 66 Centennial Commission. “As an official Route 66 Centennial project, this initiative honors the shared history of the Mother Road while creating new opportunities for businesses and nonprofits to connect with travelers and supporters nationwide. It’s a powerful example of how nostalgia can be transformed into meaningful economic and community impact.”

The S&H Green Stamps Route 66 Centennial Celebration Project supports the broader goals of The Road Ahead Partnership and the Route 66 Centennial to celebrate, preserve, and promote the cultural, economic, and historic significance of the Mother Road as the Centennial approaches.

For more information visit the S&H Green Stamps Route 66 Centennial Celebration Project.

For the first time in over more than a decade, a new Will Rogers Highway monument is coming to Oklahoma Route 66…and supporters can add their name to this historic installation.

Route 66 has had many nicknames over the last 100 years: the Main Street of America, the Mother Road…even Route 66 itself is a nickname. But in 1935, to honor the recent passing of cultural icon Will Rogers, the highway that connects Chicago to Santa Monica was given the name The Will Rogers Highway. The cross-country roadway became forever tied to the cross-country star of stage, radio, writing, and film. Nearly two decades later, the name was immortalized with a caravan that installed bronze plaques at state borders to let the world know that Will was not forgotten.

That association was resurrected in the late 1990s by a man from Joplin, Darrell Ray, and other partners including Willis Granite in southwestern Oklahoma. A new marker was designed using the 1935 Will Rogers Highway emblem created by the US 66 Highway Association, with the first marker dedicated in Vinita, Oklahoma in October of 1999. For more than a decade, additional markers were installed in Claremore, Clinton, Tulsa, Texola, and Hydro. Markers were also built in Galena, Kansas, and Joplin, Missouri. The most recent marker was installed in Afton, Oklahoma in November of 2011, next to a small segment of Ribbon Road. Many of these markers were made possible by fundraising and partnerships established with the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and passionate supporters like Carol Duncan of Clinton.

“When we were looking at ways to commemorate the Centennial of Route 66, we looked at the existing Will Rogers Highway markers and realized there was a pretty big gap between Tulsa and Hydro,” said Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. “We also saw an opportunity to tell a story about the history of the road and tie it into Will’s strength of connecting people.” Working with the Butcher BBQ Stand in Wellston, the Association identified a spot along the highway that would tell a story about citizen engagement and civic pride.

“Back when Highway 66 was being paved, a decision was made at a state level to bypass downtown Wellston and pave a straighter path, where State Highway 66 runs today,” Martin continued. “Of course, that left main street in the dirt. The townspeople and local leaders advocated to have the original part of the road paved, too, and were successful…thus closing the so-called Wellston Gap.”

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help shoulder the cost of this new marker, but additional fundraising is needed to, once again, close the gap. “We are so grateful to the National Trust for this award, which will cover about half of the cost of having this new marker created, shipped, and installed. We are making sure it’s done right and will be here for travelers to experience for decades to come.”

For parties that donate $750 or more, their name or business name will be inscribed on the back of the marker. Interested parties should reach out to the Association directly OR you can make a donation directly on our website here. The Association plans to have the marker installed and unveiled on June 18th, 2026, as the Route 66 Centennial Caravan comes through Wellston.

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership announced their latest round of grant recipients this week as Route 66 celebrates its 100th birthday. Their Route 66 Preservation & Economic Development (PED) Grant Program, made possible through generous support from American Express, recently awarded more than $40,000 to Route 66 businesses and attractions.

The 2025 Route 66 PED Grant Program awards go to 19 organizations in Arizona, California, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Each recipient receives $2,125 for their qualifying project as recommended by an independent Review Committee from across the eight Route 66 states.

Oklahoma’s grantees include the Bristow Historical Society, which will install benches and commission a Route 66 mural at their Town Square. Magpie & Mulberry Market in Sapulpa will build a farmer’s/vintage market at the corner of Route 66 and Highway 75. The Arcadia Round Barn will reprint its 12 historical panels and create brochures that tell the barn's story. The grant will fund professional architectural and structural planning for Saint Cate's Route 66 Folk Art Cathedral, a 1924 former church, in Yukon. And in Tulsa, the iconic “COLD BEER” neon at Arnie's Bar along the original Route 66 will be repaired.

In Arizona, the VFW POST 6306, located on historic Route 66 in Topock, will commission the painting of the Route 66 shield on the pavement at their address and plan a community centennial celebration. Area 66 Outreach and Marketing will facilitate advertising efforts of the world-famous "Golf Ball" located in Yucca. Kingland Studios Fun Center in Joliet is creating brand-new characters inspired by Route 66 and its communities. Additionally, Zettler’s Market will apply the reward toward much-needed repairs to its National Historic Register site in Ash Fork.

In California, two projects will benefit from the PED Grants. Melting Pot Food Tours, in the Old Pasadena business district of West Hollywood, will invest in tour guide training and update its website to highlight the 100-year anniversary of Route 66. Cucamonga Service Station is reconstructing its garage, completing the restoration of the historic site.

Two Illinois restaurants will also receive awards. Joliet’s White Fence Farm on Route 66 plans to paint and replace fascia boards as needed following storm damage. In Virden, Jo's Place will restore its floors to improve safety. In Rolla, Missouri, Soda & Scoops and Red Door Gifts will each be investing in building improvements to enhance the Route 66 experience. The third Missouri recipient, Campbell Express Trailer Museum, will have a new Campbell Trucking Mural painted in Lebanon Park.

In New Mexico, grants will support the "66 Artists on 66" Art Show and Handmade Souvenir Shop at ART123 Gallery in Gallup, and in Grants, the award will help replace and upgrade the electrical panel box at St. Teresa's Community Center. And in Amarillo, Texas, the grant assists in educational materials for a secure exhibit space and long-term conservation of the Helium Times Columns Monument and plaza at the Don Harrington Discovery Center.

Eligible activities included capital improvements, historic preservation planning or work, and accessibility or community outreach for businesses and attractions located on Route 66 that employ fewer than 20 full-time employees or are a small, locally owned franchise with five or fewer locations. The PED Grant Program is an Official Route 66 Centennial Project as recommended by the Route 66 Centennial Commission. Future awards will be contingent on fundraising efforts to support the ongoing Route 66 PED Grant Program. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association publishes any regular grant opportunities on its website here.