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Oklahoma Historical Society sent this bulletin at 08/11/2021 05:00 AM CDT

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History Center Research Museums & Sites Preservation Publications

August 11, 2021

Route 66: An American Odyssey film screening

The Oklahoma History Center will host a screening of the film Route 66: An American Odyssey on Saturday, August 28, from 1–3 p.m. The film gives an overview of the construction of “The Mother Road,” popular landmark attractions that developed on Route 66, and the roadway’s popularity into the present day. Historic footage is joined with national points of interest along Route 66.

The film screening is free with paid admission to the Oklahoma History Center, and will be shown in the Musser Learning Lab.

Experience the Mother Road

For the ultimate Route 66 experience, visit the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. The museum offers visitors a personal journey through the history of the nation’s most revered highway. Encounter the iconic ideas, images, and myths of the Mother Road. Learn about the dreams and the labor needed to make the road a reality. Experience the Dust Bowl as thousands streamed along the road, away from drought and despair and toward the “land of promise.” Listen to the sounds of the Big Band era, when the roar of the big trucks and the welcome home cries to returning soldiers dominated the road. Sit at the counter or a booth in the 1950s diner and feel the open road as America’s families vacationed along the length of Route 66. You just might overhear the family’s chatter as they eat their lunch. The museum also offers changing special exhibits focusing on the Route 66 experience. The museum is located off I-40 at exit 65. Call 580-323-7866 or click here for more information.

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum Online Store

Shop the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum's online store for books, keepsakes, signs, and more! Gift shop proceeds help to fund the daily operations and programs of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton.

Click on the panel below to listen to the Voices of Oklahoma interview with Tulsan Michael Wallis, considered to be the voice of Route 66. Wallis is a historian, biographer, and the author of Route 66: The Mother Road, written in 1990.

Michael Wallis Voices of Oklahoma podcast

The Oklahoma History Center Museum Store has a number of books, postcards, magnets, souvenirs, and gifts dedicated to the theme of Route 66. Whether you are a fan of the history of the highway, want to revisit tourist attractions along the roadway, or need to find the perfect gift for someone who loves to travel, click here to see more Route 66 items. Plan your visit to the Oklahoma History Center in person by clicking here.

OHS COVID-19 safety measures

Per CDC guidance, we recommend that visitors who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination wear face masks and maintain social distancing in indoor public areas. All visitors, staff, volunteers, contractors, and vendors should use appropriate handwashing techniques.

We ask that you avoid visiting OHS museums, sites, and affiliates if you have COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms, have a fever, or are otherwise feeling sick or unwell.