Route 66 – Oklahoma – Part 3

Not all points of interest in Oklahoma City are from the Route 66 era. The City also has many interesting places to visit. Some have been covered in details on a separate post (Around Oklahoma City).

This Route 66 segment starts in Edmond at the 1898 Territorial School, a preserved red-brick building that reflects early public education in Oklahoma Territory. From here, head south into Oklahoma City along the historic alignment of Route 66.

Your first stop in the metro area is the Western Trading Post, a well-known shop for Native American jewelry, turquoise, and Western goods.

Continuing south, you reach the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, one of the most significant museums in the country focused on Western history, art, and culture.

Driving further into the city, you’ll pass the Milk Bottle Grocery, a small but iconic Route 66 landmark with a large milk bottle mounted on its roof.

From there, continue toward the Oklahoma State Capitol, where you can view the government complex and grounds, including public art and monuments.

The Oklahoma State Capitol is unique as it is the only state capitol in the world surrounded by working oil wells. This distinctive feature is due to the Oklahoma City Oil Field, which has been a significant oil-producing area since its discovery in 1928.

Close by are several major museums clustered together:

The Oklahoma History Center, which covers statewide history.

The First Americans Museum, which focuses on the cultures and histories of Oklahoma’s Native tribes.

A short drive west brings you to the Oklahoma City National Memorial, a significant historical site honoring the victims of the 1995 bombing.

From there, head toward downtown to visit the Myriad Botanical Gardens, an urban park with walking paths and a conservatory. Just a few blocks away is the Bricktown entertainment district, known for its canal, restaurants, and redeveloped warehouses. The Centennial Land Run Monument is an art installation by Paul Moore, located near the Bricktown District.

If you continue exploring the city, you can visit the Oklahoma Museum of Flying and the 99’s Museum of Women Pilots, both located near Wiley Post Airport and focused on aviation history, including women in flight.

Leaving Oklahoma City and continuing west on Route 66, you’ll arrive at Historic Fort Reno in El Reno, a former military post with historical buildings and a small museum.

In nearby Geary, stop at the Two Room Jail, a small historic detention building that reflects early local law enforcement.

Cross the Canadian River on the Pony Bridge, a long steel truss bridge that is one of the more recognizable engineering landmarks on Route 66 in Oklahoma. Continuing west, you’ll reach Lucille’s Historic Highway Gas Station near Hydro, a restored service station that dates back to the early days of the highway.

In Weatherford, visit the Stafford Air & Space Museum, which houses extensive exhibits on aviation and space exploration, including artifacts connected to astronaut Thomas Stafford. Also in Weatherford is the Heartland of America Museum, a local history museum with a wide variety of exhibits.

Nearby, the Weatherford Wind Energy Center features large wind turbines visible from the highway, representing modern energy development in the region.

In Clinton, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum provides an overview of the highway’s history through interactive exhibits organized by decade.

Further along, you’ll encounter the Parker Drilling Rig, a large oilfield structure on display that reflects the importance of the petroleum industry in western Oklahoma. In Elk City, the National Route 66 and Transportation Museum expands on transportation history with multiple buildings and exhibits.

Also in Elk City is the Beckham County Courthouse, a historic government building in the center of town.

As you continue toward the Texas border, you’ll find smaller, more unusual attractions like the Sandhill Curiosity Shop, filled with eclectic items, and another preserved One Room Jail, representing the simpler infrastructure of early rural communities.

This stretch of Route 66 provides a mix of major museums, historic infrastructure, roadside attractions, and small-town history, making it one of the most varied sections of the highway in Oklahoma.