If you have ever wondered how Route 66 acquired the nickname “The Mother Road”, here is the backstory!
The nickname came from author John Steinbeck. He coined the term in his 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath, to describe the highway as a primary lifeline for Dust Bowl refugees migrating west to California.
OKLAHOMA: 432 miles - The State with the Longest Stretch of Route 66
The state of Oklahoma has the longest continuous stretch of the Mother Road of any of the 8 states it passes through. The route enters the state in the northeast corner near Quapaw, runs southwest through Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and exits near Texola.
A few of the landmarks to visit as you travel on your Route 66 road trip include:
- Blue Whale of Catoosa: This is a quirky, iconic roadside attraction built in the 1970s. It is perfect for photos. It is located just east of Tulsa at Catoosa, Ok. The attraction is quite literally a ‘blue whale’ built of concrete and iron. This waterfront structure has become one of the most recognizable attractions on old Route 66.
- The Golden Driller in Tulsa is a 76-foot statue of an oil worker. It was originally erected for the 1953 International Petroleum Exposition. The statue depicts an oil worker leaning on an oil derrick. It is the seventh-tallest statue in the United States.
- The Arcadia (OK) Round Barn was built by a local farmer in 1896 and has become one of the landmark tourist attractions along the stretch of Route 66 in Oklahoma near Oklahoma City. . It has a unique architecture.
- National Route 66 Museum Complex in Elk City, OK features exhibits, classic cars, and a peek into the golden age of American road trips. Another interesting tourist stop on your Oklahoma Route 66 road trip.
TEXAS - 186 Miles - The State with the Midpoint of Route 66
Route 66 across Texas generally parallels Interstate 40. The route features quirky art installations, ghost towns, and classic diners, with Amarillo serving as the major hub along the way.
Start by visiting the restored Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café in Shamrock. Then on to McClean, Texas to see the Devil's Rope Museum, which showcases a massive, quirky collection of barbed wire, and the first Phillips 66 station in Texas.
MIDPOINT: The official geo-mathematical midpoint of historic Route 66 is located in Adrian, Texas, at exactly 1,139 miles from both Chicago and Los Angeles.
In Amarillo you will find 13 blocks of vintage architecture, as well as antique shops and local dining. Don’t miss the infamous Cadillac Ranch, then treat yourself to a massive steak at The Big Texan Steak Ranch.
Summary
Related Links:
*This Travel Review was written by Wednesday Elf
**All photos are courtesy of Pixabay & Wikipedia
Sightseeing along Route 66 in Oklahoma and Texas:
ROUTE 66 AND OKLAHOMA PARKS ADVENTURE GUIDECheck PriceRoute 66 - 20 Points of Interest in TEXASCheck PriceRoute 66 in Texas (Images of America)Check Price
What an interesting series. Thanks for taking us on the Route 66 journey
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your visit, Mary Beth.
DeleteAs one would expect when crossing through several states of the US, Route 66 clearly has a lot of fun activities, points of interest, and of course, history to enjoy. Not to mention the fabulous places to eat along the way. Wonder how long it would take us to go from one end to the other. Somehow, with all there is to see, I think we could easily spend a few months on the road.
ReplyDeleteDepending on your interests, a few months checking everything out would not be an out-of-range estimate, Mouse. :) While researching Route 66 for this series of articles, I discovered quite a few places along the route I would like to visit. Getting one of the guides available on Route 66 would be the best way to plan such a trip, marking the places you definitely want to see and making an itinerary which fits within your time element. Now, if you are retired and funding was no problem, then spending the next year traveling Route 66 would be a fun trip. Or, you could spend several years and do one state per vacation! :) Thanks for your visit!
DeleteWhat a fun travel adventure this would be. I love learning about different places. Of course Route 66 is world famous but this fun personal articles really brings it home. You kind of make me want to go on a road trip. Did so many like that when I was young with my parents.
ReplyDeleteWe traveled a lot, having lived in 9 different states and driven through almost all of them at one time or another. Road trips sure are fun! Glad you are enjoying my Route 66 travel adventure.
DeleteWhat a fascinating adventure traveling the length of Route 66 in a leisurely manner would be, with time to stop and enjoy the many roadside attractions along the way! This “armchair visit” is the next best thing. Thanks so much, Elf!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Margaret. An armchair adventure is so easy to have these days what with the world wide web!
DeleteWednesday Elf, I enjoyed joining along on your written nostalgic trip of Route 66 and look forward to your next installment. It's interesting to find out that Route 66 was a lifeline for dust bowl refugees.
ReplyDeleteAs I said on the last post about Route 66, I live just South of Amarillo, so if any of you come through, be sure to let me know and we can meet up. It's quite a charming town.
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