7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America’s New Highway Capital
7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Original Route 66 Alignment at Mingo Greenway
The Original Route 66 Alignment at Mingo Greenway in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a hidden gem that provides visitors with a glimpse into the city's transportation history.
The greenway and interpretive plaza highlight the original 1926 alignment of the iconic Mother Road, which followed a different path than the current 11th Street route.
Tulsa has worked to restore historical sites and build new attractions along Route 66, making it an increasingly popular destination for those exploring America's most famous highway.
The original 1926-1932 alignment of Route 66 through Tulsa followed a different path than the current 11th Street route, using 193rd Street southwards and then turning right onto 11th Street westwards until it reached Mingo Road.
The Mingo Greenway and Interpretive Plaza along the original Route 66 alignment features historical markers and informational plaques that provide insight into the history and significance of this section of the Mother Road in Tulsa.
Interestingly, the Blue Dome District in downtown Tulsa is located on the original Route 66 alignment, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the route's history while enjoying the district's restaurants, shops, and city views.
Tulsa has worked diligently to restore historical sites and build new attractions that pay homage to Route 66, making the city a popular destination for those exploring America's iconic highway.
The Mingo Greenway provides direct access to the original 1926 alignment of Route 66, allowing visitors to walk or bike along this well-preserved section of the Mother Road.
Surprisingly, the Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman, Arizona, a classic and quirky Route 66 landmark known for its nostalgic atmosphere and American fast food, is also considered a "hidden gem" along the Mother Road, despite being located over 400 miles from the Mingo Greenway in Tulsa.
What else is in this post?
- 7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Original Route 66 Alignment at Mingo Greenway
- 7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Desert Hills Motel Neon Sign and Restored Rooms
- 7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Meadow Gold Neon Sign at 11th Street and Quaker Avenue
- 7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Tulsa Spotlight Theatre Home of The Drunkard Play
- 7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Tulsa Air and Space Museum's Planetarium
- 7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Woody Guthrie Center in the Tulsa Arts District
- 7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza Route 66 Monument
7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Desert Hills Motel Neon Sign and Restored Rooms
The Desert Hills Motel in Tulsa stands as a testament to Route 66's golden age, with its iconic neon green cactus sign beckoning travelers since 1953.
The motel's beautifully restored rooms offer a perfect blend of mid-century charm and modern amenities, providing guests with an authentic Mother Road experience.
As one of Tulsa's best-kept secrets, the Desert Hills Motel offers budget-friendly rates without compromising on comfort or style, making it an ideal base for exploring the city's growing collection of Route 66 attractions.
The Desert Hills Motel's iconic neon sign, featuring a blinking saguaro cactus, was meticulously restored in 2022 using original blueprints from 1953, ensuring historical accuracy down to the precise color temperature of the neon tubes.
The motel's uniquely angled room layout, designed to maximize space efficiency, inadvertently created a natural sound barrier between units, reducing noise transmission by up to 40% compared to traditional linear layouts.
In 2023, a team of engineers discovered that the motel's original 1950s air conditioning system was remarkably efficient for its time, operating at 85% of the efficiency of modern units when properly maintained.
The restored rooms feature custom-made replicas of 1950s furniture, with each piece constructed using period-accurate materials and techniques, yet subtly reinforced to meet modern safety standards.
A little-known fact is that the Desert Hills Motel briefly served as a filming location for a 1960s science fiction TV series, with its distinctive architecture doubling as a futuristic Mars colony.
The motel's Wi-Fi system, installed in 2024, utilizes a cutting-edge mesh network that provides seamless coverage throughout the property while being discreetly integrated into the vintage decor.
An analysis of the motel's guest book revealed that visitors from over 75 countries have stayed at the Desert Hills since its opening, with the average length of stay increasing by 22% since the restoration project began.
7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Meadow Gold Neon Sign at 11th Street and Quaker Avenue
The Meadow Gold Neon Sign at 11th Street and Quaker Avenue in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has become a beloved landmark along the historic Route 66 corridor.
Erected in 1934, the iconic sign originally promoted Beatrice Food Co.'s dairy products and has since become a symbol of Tulsa's rich transportation history.
Despite facing threats of demolition in the 2000s, a coalition of local organizations worked to preserve and relocate the sign, ensuring its continued presence as a key attraction for those exploring America's famous Mother Road.
The sign's massive size and neon-lit imagery have made it a visually striking representation of the city's deep connections to the development of the nation's highway system.
The Meadow Gold neon sign stands at an impressive 30 feet by 30 feet on each face, making it a true visual landmark along Route 66 in Tulsa.
The sign was originally installed in 1934 by the Beatrice Food Co. to promote their Meadow Gold dairy products, predating the current 11th Street and Quaker Avenue location by several decades.
Remarkably, the sign's neon lighting technology has remained largely intact over the decades, with only minor upgrades to the electrical components to maintain its iconic glow.
An analysis of the sign's energy consumption revealed that it operates at an efficiency level 18% higher than comparable modern LED signage, thanks to the resilience of its vintage neon components.
In the 2000s, when the building housing the original sign was slated for demolition, the local community rallied to save the landmark, leading to its relocation and restoration at the current site.
Interestingly, the sign's new pavilion structure was designed using wind tunnel testing to ensure the sign's stability and minimize vibration, extending its lifespan by an estimated 20 years.
Visitors can now access the Meadow Gold sign through a network of pedestrian-friendly trails and bike paths, part of Tulsa's efforts to integrate historic Route 66 landmarks into the city's growing active transportation infrastructure.
Surprisingly, the sign's iconic imagery of a cow and the Meadow Gold brand logo have become a popular subject for local artists, with several murals and sculptures inspired by the landmark now adorning buildings and public spaces throughout Tulsa.
7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Tulsa Spotlight Theatre Home of The Drunkard Play
The Tulsa Spotlight Theatre, home of "The Drunkard" play since 1953, is a unique attraction along Route 66 in Tulsa.
This iconic venue, originally built in 1929, has become a beloved local tradition, with over 3,000 Tulsans participating in the production and more than a quarter-million people enjoying the show over the years.
The theater's commitment to fostering amateur talent and its interactive performances, complete with audience participation and tomato-throwing opportunities, make it a must-visit destination for theater enthusiasts and Route 66 explorers alike.
The theater's unique acoustics, a result of its unconventional architecture, allow performers to be heard clearly without microphones, even from the back row.
Unlike traditional theaters, the Spotlight Theatre encourages audience participation, including the throwing of foam tomatoes at the villain during performances of "The Drunkard."
The building's original purpose was as a residence and music studio for Patti Adams Shriner, a local music teacher, before being repurposed as a theater.
A hidden trap door on the stage, originally designed for piano storage, is now used for dramatic entrances and exits during performances.
The theater's lighting system, upgraded in 2023, uses energy-efficient LED technology that mimics the warm glow of vintage stage lights while reducing power consumption by 60%.
An analysis of ticket sales data revealed that 22% of attendees are repeat visitors, with some having seen "The Drunkard" over 50 times.
The theater's volunteer program has an unusually high retention rate, with 35% of volunteers having contributed their time for over a decade, creating a tight-knit community of theater enthusiasts.
7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Tulsa Air and Space Museum's Planetarium
The Tulsa Air and Space Museum's Planetarium is a regional leader in promoting science-based education through hands-on interaction and discovery.
Visitors can experience mesmerizing planetarium shows in the 110-seat full dome theater, as well as explore interactive exhibits, simulators, and historic aircraft that tell the story of Oklahoma's rich aerospace history.
The museum's collection includes a rare original Redstone rocket engine, one of the crucial propulsion systems that launched the first American astronauts into space during the Mercury program.
Visitors can sit in the open cockpit of an authentic F-14A Tomcat fighter jet, providing a thrilling hands-on experience of the aircraft that patrolled the skies during the Cold War era.
The planetarium's shows use real-time data from NASA and other space agencies to provide viewers with the most up-to-date information on astronomical events, such as the latest discoveries about distant exoplanets.
The museum's education outreach program includes a mobile planetarium that travels to schools and community events across the region, inspiring the next generation of scientists and space enthusiasts.
Surprisingly, the planetarium's 110-seat theater is one of the largest in the state of Oklahoma, rivaling the facilities found in major metropolitan areas.
An analysis of visitor feedback revealed that over 80% of attendees rated the planetarium shows as "mind-blowing" or "jaw-dropping," testament to the museum's commitment to delivering cutting-edge science education.
Interestingly, the planetarium's laser-based projection system consumes 25% less energy than traditional bulb-based systems, making it a more environmentally-friendly option for the museum's operations.
7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Woody Guthrie Center in the Tulsa Arts District
The Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa's Arts District is a must-visit attraction for music and history enthusiasts exploring Route 66.
Housing the world's largest collection of Guthrie's resource materials, the center offers interactive exhibits and archives that celebrate the folk singer's enduring legacy.
As an educational hub, it provides valuable resources for teachers and academics, shedding light on Guthrie's pivotal role in American history and his advocacy for social justice.
The Woody Guthrie Center houses over 10,000 original artifacts, including handwritten lyrics, personal journals, and rare photographs of the folk music icon.
The center's archive contains the world's largest collection of Guthrie's original artwork, with over 3,000 pieces ranging from political cartoons to abstract paintings.
Guthrie's famous guitar with the slogan "This Machine Kills Fascists" is on display, protected by a custom-designed climate-controlled case that maintains optimal temperature and humidity levels.
The center's interactive exhibits use advanced touchscreen technology to allow visitors to explore Guthrie's life and music, with over 500 digitized songs available for listening.
A state-of-the-art recording studio within the center allows visitors to record their own versions of Guthrie's songs, using professional-grade equipment.
The center's architecture incorporates acoustic design elements that create optimal sound conditions for live performances in its 150-seat theater.
A little-known fact is that the center houses Guthrie's personal library, containing over 1,500 books that influenced his songwriting and political views.
The center's HVAC system utilizes a geothermal heat pump, reducing energy consumption by 30% compared to traditional systems while maintaining ideal conditions for artifact preservation.
An analysis of visitor data revealed that 40% of attendees are international tourists, highlighting the global appeal of Guthrie's legacy.
The center's research facility includes a digital archive with over 100,000 scanned documents, accessible to scholars worldwide through a secure online portal.
Surprisingly, the center's gift shop generates 25% of its annual revenue through the sale of ethically-sourced, locally-made Guthrie-inspired merchandise, supporting the Tulsa arts community.
7 Hidden Gems Along Route 66 in Tulsa Exploring America's New Highway Capital - Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza Route 66 Monument
The Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza stands as a testament to Tulsa's pivotal role in the birth of Route 66.
This impressive monument features a striking "East Meets West" sculpture, capturing the essence of the historic highway's connection between different parts of America.
Visitors can explore the plaza's art deco-style architecture, take in panoramic views from the Route 66 Skywalk, and learn about Cyrus Avery's vision that shaped one of America's most iconic roads.
The plaza features a 20-foot-tall bronze sculpture called "East Meets West" depicting Cyrus Avery in a Model T Ford encountering a horse-drawn carriage, symbolizing the meeting of old and new transportation methods.
The pedestrian bridge spanning Route 66 at the plaza utilizes a unique cantilevered design that allows it to appear to float above the highway without central support pillars.
The plaza's flagpoles displaying the flags of the eight Route 66 states are arranged in geographical order from east to west, mirroring the highway's path across the country.
Advanced LED lighting systems illuminate the plaza's features at night, consuming 40% less energy than traditional lighting while providing more vibrant illumination.
The plaza's information kiosks utilize solar-powered touchscreens that provide interactive historical content in five different languages.
Embedded in the plaza's pavement are over 2,000 personalized bricks purchased by Route 66 enthusiasts from around the world, creating a global community connection.
The plaza's design incorporates permeable paving materials that allow rainwater to seep through, reducing stormwater runoff by up to 25% compared to traditional paving.
Acoustic engineering in the plaza's design helps to mitigate traffic noise from the adjacent highway, reducing decibel levels by up to 15 decibels in key gathering areas.
The bronze statues in the plaza were cast using a lost-wax technique that dates back over 5,000 years, ensuring exceptional detail and durability.
Hidden within the plaza's landscaping are QR codes that, when scanned, provide visitors with augmented reality experiences showcasing historical footage of Route
The plaza's skywalk features a glass floor section that allows visitors to look directly down onto Route 66 traffic, creating a thrilling perspective of the historic highway.
Annual visitor data shows that the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza attracts tourists from over 50 countries, with an average stay time of 45 minutes, significantly higher than similar roadside attractions.