Tulsa Celebrates 100 Years of Route 66; Nearly $100 Million Invested Along Route 66 Over Past 23 Years

Tulsa Celebrates 100 Years of Route 66; Nearly $100 Million Invested Along Route 66 Over Past 23 Years

5/28/2026

The City of Tulsa is proud to welcome visitors from across the country and around the world this year as Tulsa, the "Capital of Route 66," celebrates 100 years of the iconic Mother Road this November.

Stretching 28 miles through Tulsa, Route 66 offers one of the most unique and memorable experiences anywhere along the historic highway. From vintage neon and roadside attractions to locally owned shops, diverse dining and vibrant districts, Tulsa's stretch of Route 66 reflects the spirit, history and innovation that have defined the road for a century.

"Tulsa is honored to welcome visitors to the Capital of Route 66 as we celebrate this historic milestone," Mayor Monroe Nichols said. "For 100 years, Route 66 has connected people, places, and cultures. Here in Tulsa, we are proud to both preserve that legacy and continue shaping its future. Whether you're visiting for the first time or returning to relive memories, we invite you to explore our stretch of the Mother Road and experience everything that makes Tulsa so special."

The 2026 celebration will start with the Route 66 Capital Cruise prior to the official centennial date this weekend on May 30. This signature centennial event will feature a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® attempt for the largest classic car parade in history. Thousands of classic cars are expected to cruise through the heart of Tulsa, joined by live music, vendors, and family-friendly activities throughout the weekend.

Beyond the record-setting event, Tulsa's commitment to Route 66 dates back to long before the centennial year. Through efforts spearheaded by the City of Tulsa, Tulsa City Council, Tulsa Route 66 Commission, Visit Tulsa, Tulsa County, the State of Oklahoma - efforts are underway to preserve and enhance the corridor through infrastructure improvements, public art, tourism investments, historic preservation efforts, and community engagement.

"I'm incredibly proud of the collaboration driving this momentum as we look ahead to the next 100 years of Route 66," said Christian Bengel, Chair of the Route 66 Commission and Vice Chair of the Tulsa City Council. "These efforts will spark the imagination, boost tourism and strengthen Tulsa's reputation as the place where legends are made."

Funding the Future of Route 66
Over the past 23 years, local and State leaders have prioritized investments along the road, totaling nearly $100 million in Tulsa.

Funding sources for improvements include:

While these investments represent the public funding along Tulsa's stretch of Route 66, so many other private businesses, philanthropic partners, and others have greatly contributed to revitalization efforts across the 28-mile stretch of the road.

Placemaking, Neon Signs & Public Art
One of the most prominent features of Route 66 in Tulsa are its iconic neon signs and public art installations, which remain a defining feature of the city's Route 66 experience. Through voter-approved funding, grants, and public-private partnerships - preservation and enhancement efforts have helped revitalize and celebrate the corridor's historic character.

In Tulsa, these signage investments have resulted in:

• More than 90 new neon signs featured on Tulsa's self-guided Route 66 Neon Sign Tour Self- Take the Tour Online
• East/West Route 66 "Welcome to Tulsa" signage and gateway triangles ^NEW!
• Meadow Gold Sign preservation and promotion
• Historic building restoration through Route 66 Façade matching grant programs; and
• Musical road installation along Southwest Boulevard featuring Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" ^NEW!

The self-guided neon sign tour (mentioned above) helps residents and visitors explore Tulsa's stretch of neon signs along Route 66 that have been made possible due from a combination of funds from the City's neon sign grant program, historic signage already present along the route, and signs that have received a combination of funds from various entities over the years.

There are more than 100 neon signs in Tulsa, the majority of which are featured on the virtual tour:

Tourist Stops & Attractions
Visitors traveling Tulsa's Route 66 corridor can explore historic landmarks, attractions, and entertainment destinations throughout the city, including publicly funded projects such as:

• Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge and Centennial Plaza
• Route 66 Musical Road on Southwest Boulevard ^NEW!
• Route 66 Neon Sign Park
• Route 66 Historical Village
  • Village Station visitor's center
  • Red Fork Depot event space
  • "Stories in Steel" public art display; and
  • an oil derrick, steam engine, rail cars, and new "Welcome to Tulsa" signage
• Route 66 Eastern & Western Gateway Arches on 11^th Street and Southwest Boulevard
• Meadow Gold Sign Plaza
• Visit Tulsa's Visitor's Center, located at the Shops at Mother Road Market
• Route 66 Rising sculpture at the Admiral & Mingo traffic circle

Public Works
Over the last decade, the City of Tulsa's Public Works Department has increased maintenance and improvement efforts along the corridor, including the completion of multiple capital improvement projects, tree planting efforts, road and sidewalk repairs, and other infrastructure improvements. While these improvements are largely independent of Route 66-specific investments, they represent the City's ongoing commitment to carrying out the largest streets improvement projects in Tulsa history.

During recent years, these improvements have included:

The City is also committed to the future of Route 66, with additional projects to occur at the following locations in the coming years:

Additional City Infrastructure

In addition to road improvements along Route 66, other investments along the corridor have helped improve connectivity, enhance visitor experiences, and preserve the character of Tulsa's stretch of the Mother Road.

Some of these projects and improvements include:

• Route 66-themed fire station, "Station 66"
• Route 66 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) expansion, with work to extend BRT to 11^th Street later this year (stakeholder engagement is occurring now)
• Route 66 Scenic Byway - "Cultural Crossroads" infrastructure improvements at 11^th and Yale
• Restriping of more than a dozen crosswalks
• Updated pavement markings and enhanced signage
• Weekly street sweeping along the corridor throughout 2026
• Reduced speed limits along East 11th Street to improve walkability
• Tree planting and corridor beautification efforts

Parks
Tulsa has continued investing in parks and public gathering spaces that celebrate the history and culture of Route 66 while creating new attractions for residents and visitors.

Some of those improvements include:

• Howard Park Route 66 Monoliths
• Howard Park's 66-foot dinosaur installation ^NEW!
• Route 66-themed park improvements at Tracy Park ^NEW!

Community Engagement and Preservation Efforts
Ultimately, Tulsa residents and community partners have played a major role in preparing for the centennial celebration and preserving the Route 66 corridor for future generations.

Some of those efforts include:

• More than 1,300 volunteers who participated in this year's Great Tulsa Clean Up, with 2026 efforts inclusive of Route 66-area sites.
  • The 2026 Great Tulsa Cleanup will go down as one of the largest cleanups in City history.
  • Residents, community partners, and members of the Tulsa City Council all donated their time to make this year's event overwhelmingly successful.
• Continued work by the Tulsa Route 66 Commission, which was created in 2016 and continues its lasting contributions to this day.
• Historic preservation partnerships and restoration efforts.
• Ongoing investment in Route 66 tourism and economic development both from the City's economic development team and Visit Tulsa - Tulsa's marketing/tourism arm.

Route 66 Centennial Events
While the date of the centennial is Nov. 11, various events are planned through the end of the year, including:

• Route 66 Capital Cruise - May 30, 2026
  • Mayor Nichols will serve as a Grand Marshall for the event.
  • Visit Tulsa and other local and community stakeholders helped coordinate the record-breaking attempt this weekend.
• 918 Day - Sept. 18, 2026
  • This year's 918 Day on Sept. 18 will prominently feature Route 66 as its main theme.
  • More details will be made available this summer.
• Community Events
  • Various other community events are planned throughout the centennial year.
  • More information can be found at: travelok.com

More Information
As Route 66 approaches its official 100th anniversary in November, Tulsa invites visitors to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration and experience a city where history, culture, and community come together.

For more information about Route 66 in Tulsa, visit: www.cityoftulsa.org/Route66

For more information about this weekend's Route 66 Capital Cruise, visit: www.visittulsa.com/parade