I’ve lived most of my life in Tulsa, and for many years I’ve been a “back roads enthusiast.” I love driving the region’s two-lane highways in my 1942 Chevy pickup. I’m lucky to have more than 400 miles of Route 66—the “Mother Road”—right here in Oklahoma, including 26 miles within the city of Tulsa. I’ve been a member of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association for many years and love traveling this iconic highway.
As you can imagine, when I first heard talk about potential Route 66 improvement projects, I wanted to find out all about it. Back in 2004, the City of Tulsa was formulating plans for its Vision 2025—a long-term program of civic improvements that included enhancements to the Route 66 corridor. Our office soon joined forces with the Tulsa Route 66 Revitalization Design Recommendations Committee, and we began work on the Route 66 Enhancements and Promotion Master Plan of Development.
The Father of Route 66
One of the first projects we completed was the inspection and evaluation of the 11th Street Bridge, one of the most important structures remaining along Route 66 in Tulsa. Following the evaluation, several aesthetic improvements were made to the bridge, and it was renamed the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge in honor of the Tulsan considered by many as the “Father of Route 66.”
Next, our office began work on the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza, located on the east bank of the Arkansas River just north of the bridge. The city commissioned the sculpture “East Meets West” by Robert Summers, which captures a fictitious encounter during the early years of Route 66 between the Avery family riding in a Model T Ford and an oil field worker driving his horse-drawn wagon. Our office designed a pedestrian bridge with a large neon Route 66 shield. The bridge connects the plaza to the site of the future “Route 66 Experience” museum, still in the planning stages.
Sign of the Times
Our next assignment was somewhat serendipitous. The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture learned that the historic Meadow Gold sign—a 1930s-era neon sign that had long overlooked Route 66—was about to be demolished. To the credit of the foundation, the 30-foot by 30-foot sign was saved and relocated to another prominent corner. We designed a new brick supporting structure that echoes the Plains Commercial style of architecture prevalent along our region’s section of Route 66. The effort to salvage, restore, and erect the sign in its new location was awarded a Citation of Merit from the State Historic Preservation Office.
Welcome to Tulsa!
Route 66 gateway structures now greet travelers on both the east and west sides of the city. Inspired by the Art Deco style of architecture, the gateways are constructed of steel clad with aluminum. Arms made of steel tube railing, reminiscent of Streamline Moderne classic automobile styling, reach out over the roadway and display the Route 66 shield and the word “TULSA.” The Zigzag Moderne style of the Art Deco era is introduced in the three columns that anchor and support the 48-foot-long arms that cantilever over the road.
I’ve enjoyed each and every opportunity to work on these Route 66 projects. The gateway projects, in particular, have been challenging and fun. We started from scratch in terms of design, knowing that these markers needed to be functional and cost-effective, but also sculptural and appropriate to the Route 66 era.
If you’re a Route 66 fan, an Art Deco enthusiast, or take an interest in U.S. history, you have to visit the Mother Road here in Tulsa!
