The CIty of Oklahoma City Press Release November 30, 2021 City crews recently installed 200 Route 66 signs so residents and visitors can retrace America’s Mother Road and its many alignments through Oklahoma City. The alignments traverse five commercial districts in Oklahoma City including the Britton District, Western Avenue, NW 39th Street, the Asian District and Uptown 23. A map of the alignments can be found on okc.gov/route66. “Route 66 is a cultural treasure that has brought economic prosperity and visibility to Oklahoma City for almost a century,” said Mayor David Holt. “Our new signs marking the route and revered OKC icons ensure that we celebrate our City’s vital role in this slice of Americana.” Landmarks along Route 66 in OKC include:
Tower Theatre
Will Rogers Theatre
Milk Bottle building
State Capitol
Gold Dome building
Owl Court Suites
Phillips 66 station, Hudson and 23
Route 66 Bowl
Truss bridge over Lake Overholser
“Route 66 is continually in our most-requested itineraries and motorcoach tours nationally and internationally,” said Zac Craig, President of the Oklahoma City Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “In an average year, Oklahoma’s service providers along Route 66 report more than half of their annual visitation are international travelers. It’s a cultural phenomenon that we expect will increase as we build toward the 100th anniversary of the route.” Oklahoma City’s alignments of Route 66 meandered over time as the city grew and demands for the road changed. These signs will improve wayfinding for enthusiasts looking to experience this iconic highway. “Nothing gives the authentic American experience better than Route 66, and in Oklahoma, we’re blessed to have more miles of the Mother Road than any other state,” said Oklahoma Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. “We have seen an incredible return on investment as we continue promoting Oklahoma’s tourism industry, and I am excited to see how these signs will increase travel on our beloved Route 66.” The revised Route 66 signs were created by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation at the request of the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission to bring new awareness to the famed route. Route 66, also known as the Will Rogers Highway, was established 95 years ago on November 11, 1926. It originally ran nearly 2,500 miles from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Oklahoma has more than 400 miles of the famed highway, more lane miles than any other state. Tulsa businessman and Oklahoma’s first highway commissioner, Cyrus Avery, is considered the father of Route 66. He led the national committee that created the route and picked 66 to be the Route’s official number. The signs cost $8,700. # # #
View the full article: OK.gov
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