From giant blue whales and towering totem poles to historic bridges and hidden museums, this Route 66 journey highlights the wonderfully unexpected side of Oklahoma — where quirky roadside treasures and fascinating stories wait around every bend.
Historic Route 66 Bridgeport Bridge
This historic bridge, known as the Pony Bridge, earned its nickname from the 38 pony trusses lining its span and remains one of Oklahoma's most distinctive Route 66 landmarks. Built in 1933, it even made a cameo in the 1940 film adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath as the Joad family headed west.
See MoreSeaba Station Motorcycle Museum
Housed in a restored filling station, this museum showcases vintage motorcycles and memorabilia that celebrate America's love of the open road. The collection spans more than a century of two-wheeled history, with highlights including a 1979 Triumph Bonneville still packed in its original crate.
See MoreRoute 66 Interpretive Center
Interactive displays and exhibits help visitors experience what traveling Route 66 felt like through different eras, including a video journey you can watch from the seats of a Model A Ford, a WWII Jeep, or a 1964 Mustang depending on the decade.
See MoreHeart of Route 66 Auto Museum
Home to an impressive collection of classic vehicles and automotive history, the museum is easy to spot thanks to its 66-foot-tall gas pump out front. Housed in a decommissioned military armory, it also features exhibits on the 45th Army Reserve alongside the Route 66 memorabilia.
See MoreWaite Phillips-Barnsdall Filling Station Museum
A restored early service station that offers a glimpse into the golden era of road trips and roadside travel, it was built in 1923 by Waite Phillips, the brother of Frank Phillips who founded the Phillips 66 Oil Company.
See MoreD.W. Correll Museum
An eclectic collection of antiques, unusual artifacts, and transportation memorabilia gathered over decades by beloved Catoosa resident D.W. Correll, the museum's automotive highlights include an 1898 Locomobile and what is believed to be the only surviving 1914 Oldsmobile in existence.
See MoreBlue Whale of Catoosa
One of the most photographed Route 66 icons, this giant blue roadside attraction has become a symbol of quirky Americana. The brand-new visitor center, opening in time for Route 66's centennial year, offers exhibits on the whale's history alongside a gift shop and gathering space for travelers.
See MoreClaremore Museum of History
Stories and artifacts bring Claremore's past to life here, including the original Surrey With the Fringe on Top from the Broadway musical Oklahoma! The museum also honors local icons like Apollo 14 astronaut Stuart Roosa and Lynn Riggs, the Claremore-born playwright whose work became the basis for that same show.
See MoreWill Rogers Memorial Museum
Celebrate the life of Oklahoma humorist and cowboy philosopher Will Rogers through exhibits, photographs, and personal artifacts. By the time of his death in a 1935 Alaska plane crash, Rogers had starred in more than 70 Hollywood films and was one of the most famous and beloved Americans alive — and his tomb sits on the museum grounds.
See MoreEd Galloway's Totem Pole Park
A delightfully unusual roadside attraction featuring towering handmade concrete totems and colorful folk-art creations. Galloway spent 11 years building the centerpiece totem pole entirely by himself, using 28 tons of cement, six tons of steel, and 100 tons of sand and rock to create what is billed as the world's largest concrete totem pole at 90 feet tall.
See MoreCherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center
Explore Cherokee culture, art, and history through exhibits and storytelling that highlight the rich heritage of the Cherokee Nation. The center is named for Anna Mitchell, a Cherokee National Treasure who revived the tradition of Southeastern-style Cherokee pottery, a practice that had gone dormant for more than a century before she began her work in the 1960s.
See MoreClanton's Cafe
One of Oklahoma's oldest family-owned restaurants, this beloved Route 66 stop serves classic comfort food with a generous helping of nostalgia. It got its start in 1927 when founder Grant Clanton, nicknamed "Sweet Tator," would bang a pot with a spoon outside to let locals know lunch was ready.
See MoreColeman Theater
A beautifully restored historic theater filled with ornate architecture and vintage charm, it opened in 1929 and has never once closed its doors. The original Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ is still here, reportedly the only one built in 1928 still in its original home anywhere in the world, so a guided tour is well worth the time.
See MoreRobert Whitebird Cultural Center
Native culture, artistry, and traditions come to life here through exhibits that celebrate Indigenous history and storytelling of the Quapaw Nation.
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