Reviving the Road
Imagine 400 miles of open road and a warm summer day. What would you do? If it was 1952, you might hop in the car and drive across Oklahoma, stopping to enjoy a swim at the Blue Whale swimming hole, go shopping in Tulsa and have dinner at the Rock Café in Stroud. But that was Route 66 then.
Today, Route 66 through Oklahoma stands as a shell of its former self. With the advent of the interstate came the fall of the Mother Road and with that, the decline of kitschy summer road trips. There are only stretches of the original Route left in Oklahoma, but historical markers indicate where it once was.
However, there are people who are trying to bring the fun and adventure back to Route 66 by bringing the attractions along it back to life. Cities, businesses and individuals who all share the common goal of reinventing the road have been working tirelessly to make that goal a reality.
One such group is the city of Miami, Ok. Set in the Northeastern tip of Oklahoma, Miami was once a major thoroughfare along Route 66. Today, some of the original route still lies just outside the Miami city limits. When The Coleman Theatre Beautiful was given to the city in 1989, the once ornate multi-purpose theater had fallen in to disrepair. The citizens of Miami took it upon themselves to refurbish the Coleman. After 20 years of hard work, dedication and millions of dollars, stepping into the Coleman’s main lobby is like stepping back in time.
“The work that has been done to the Coleman is truly amazing. Walking into the lobby or the theater while the organ is playing is like walking into a different time and place,” said Scott Helton, a resident of Miami who gave tours of the Coleman during high school.
Speaking of the organ. Sometime between when the building fell into disrepair in the 1960s and when Miami began the renovations, the “Mighty Wurlitzer” organ, which had played in the Coleman for decades, had gone missing. An extensive search was begun for the organ and it was eventually found in Texas at the home of an organ collector. The “Mighty Wurlitzer” is back in action at the Coleman today, delighting tourists with everything from “Phantom of the Opera” to the soundtrack of “Oklahoma”.
The Coleman Theatre was opened in 1929 to a crowd of 1600, according to the Coleman website, www.colemantheatre.org. Guests at the theatre’s premiere included Will Rogers and Tom Mix, two of the biggest stars of the day. The Coleman was the jewel that brought travelers to Miami in the 1930s and 1940s. Now, that jewel is shining brightly once more, as are many attractions along the Route.
Other areas of interest along the Mother Road that have had a facelift in recent years include the world’s largest totem pole in Foyil, Ok. The 90 foot tall statue is covered in over 200 carvings and has been a favorite attraction of those looking for the unusual for over 50 years. Thanks to organizations like the Oklahoma Historical Society the pole and its park will be amazing visitors for decades to come.
A new attraction that has brought notoriety to the Route is Pops; a convenience store meets malt shop meets Route 66 must-see. The first thing that greets customers to this tourist spot, which opened in 2007, is the 66 foot tall, LED covered soda bottle that sits right outside the store. Inside the store visitors will find over 500 different kinds of soda, as well as a soda counter and diner food, according to the Pops website, www.pops66.com.
Organizations have sprung up all over Oklahoma and the country to preserve the American pop culture history that is Route 66. Groups like the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Ok. and the Oklahoma Historical Society continue to work determinedly to bring Route 66 back to its former glory.
“Restoring the historical artifacts along [Route] 66 is important because it preserves a big part of Americana, preserves a big part of who we are as a people,” said Helton.
So whether you’re looking to explore some of Oklahoma’s richest history or wanting to slow down and hearken to an era gone by, take a trip down the Mother Road. Because at least in Oklahoma, you can still get your kicks on Route 66 thanks to the efforts of citizens all over the state. To find out where to visit on your own Route 66 road trip, visit www.oklahomaroute66.com.
The Coleman Theatre Beautiful sits along historic Route 66 in Miami, Ok. The theater stands as a reminder of all that the Mother Road once was and, with the help of many, might be again. Photo by Ashley Haggard
The dressing room of the Coleman Theatre Beautiful hearkens to an era gone by when Route 66 was in its prime. Photo by Ashley Haggard.
