The stretch of Route 66 from Shamrock, TX to Commerce, OK is jam-packed with fantastic gift shops, Route 66 museums, and one giant blue whale. Happy travels!
LessIt was the Cadillac of Conoco gas stations, beautifully designed in the Art Deco style and completed in 1936. It seemed more like a glamorous nightclub rather than a stop for petrol. Today, the City of Shamrock owns the well-maintained building, using it as a visitor center and the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce. To get there, take the I-40 to N Main St. and go south. Drive a short distance and the station will be on your left-hand side.
Enjoy a very authentic glimpse into the period of time when Route 66 enjoyed its place as the most important route from the west. An old schoolhouse, chapel, and train caboose, the largest Route 66 sign ever, and beautiful grounds create a worthwhile experience for people traveling this way. This open-air museum will be enjoyed by people of all ages.
The historic but defunct Route 66 is memorialized in great detail at this small museum. Pictures, artifacts, and stories bring back an era where big-band music was the rage. But it wasn't all kicks - there was a lot of despair too. Folks escaping the Dust Bowl and ruined crops, fleeing desperation and hoping for a new life in the unforgiving fields of California, are once again alive here. Old automobiles, gas pumps, and even a '50s diner are displayed.
Before the Europeans settled in Oklahoma, this state park was home to the Plains Indians such as the Comanche and Lakota. Today, it is a family-friendly place with a playground, fishing pond, campsites, and hiking trails. More intrepid visitors can rappel down the canyon which was once a rest-stop along the California Road - where westward travelers would replenish their stores and repair their wagons. Their discarded wagon parts can still be seen in the canyon.
Get your Native American-themed apparel, moccasins, and hand-beaded jewelry here. There are also some great photo opps with life-sized buffalo and an Indian Muffler Man. Vintage farm equipment, cool artwork, and modest prices complete the list of reasons why you should stop here. It's also easy to get to - near I-40 and Route 66.
An immersive, interactive museum has plenty of nooks and crannies for kids and adults to explore. Start your experience by finding your way through a giant ear canal to enter the exhibit hall. After creeping down a hall that seems to have amoeba-covered walls visit the disco den and the flamingo den. Crawl through what seems to be a pink air duct and emerge to see a cotton-candy colored heaven. Have a video phone chat in a booth that connects to a sister museum in New Mexico.
This state capitol was built in 1919 in the style of the nation's capitol just like many other U.S. state capitols. It was built with domestic materials such as Indiana limestone and Oklahoma pink and black granite. Amazingly, the dome was always in the plans for the original building but wasn't finished until 2002. This capitol is the only one in the nation that has active oil rigs on its site.
The soda bottle with the inserted straw, stands 66 feet tall and looks suspiciously like Mountain Dew. No need to worry - it's not glass; the shape is constructed from numerous yellow steel rings on which LED lights are attached. Inside the mini mart for which it advertises, is a museum-style collection of soda bottles of every brand, every flavor - lining the windows in a surprisingly charming fashion.
This Route 66 historic attraction was built by William Harrison Odor in 1898. He designed and shaped the dome himself from softened timber. Today the barn is an important local landmark but it is also a great rest stop for drivers on a long road trip. It's usually open seven days a week, from 10 AM to 5 PM but call ahead for current operating hours.
The World's Tallest Gas Pump is also an observation deck. Built as a giant replica of a 1920s pump it was finished in 2017. The height is a fitting 66 feet with an oversized Route 66 sign perched on top. This tall gas pump and observation deck stands tall in front of the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum.