Long known as a central link in the history of America’s Main Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma, has officially secured the U.S. copyright designation as the Capital of Route 66, reinforcing its long-standing role as a key hub on the Mother Road.
© Visit Tulsa
The Tulsa Route 66 Commission, a city-designated body, obtained a federal copyright on the phrase Capital of Route 66 after more than two years of research and review. Final approval from the federal government arrived in April 2024, formally recognizing Tulsa’s deep historical ties to the iconic highway.
“Tulsa and Route 66 are deeply connected, with the Mother Road running through the heart of our city,” said Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum. “Route 66 is an integral part of Tulsa’s identity and we have long been known as the Capital of Route 66. To now have this official designation is an exciting day for Tulsa, our region, and the state of Oklahoma.”
© Mother Road Market
To support preservation and revitalization, the Tulsa Route 66 Commission is launching a Façade Matching Grant Program funded through the Vision Tulsa Route 66 Revitalization Project. The program aims to encourage property owners along Route 66 to restore and maintain historically significant buildings and storefronts.
Tulsa contains 28 miles of Route 66 within its city limits, framed by distinctive Gateway Arches at the eastern and western ends. Route 66 was established as a main national highway in 1926 and became a vital transportation corridor for generations. Cyrus Avery, a Tulsa businessman and early highway planner, played a major role in shaping Route 66’s identity. As chairman of the state highway commission in the 1920s, Avery advocated for improved road networks and helped plan the numbered highway system that included Route 66.
© Visit Tulsa
Avery championed a southwest routing for the highway, and Tulsa’s 11th Street Bridge—opened in 1916—offered a reliable Arkansas River crossing long before modern infrastructure. Today, Route 66 spans approximately 2,278 miles from Chicago to its western terminus in Santa Monica, California.
“Working tirelessly behind the scenes, Tulsa’s Route 66 Commissioners continue the same forward-thinking momentum Cyrus Avery began almost 100 years ago,” said Josh Stout, chairman of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission. “We are restoring and reinventing the ‘Capital of Route 66®’ for the next century of dreamers, preserving the history while simultaneously investing in new growth across Tulsa’s corridor.”
© Visit Tulsa
Tulsa’s portion of Route 66 invites visitors to explore both historic landmarks and newer attractions that celebrate the road’s legacy. Highlights include the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza and the Mother Road Market, as well as venues dedicated to Route 66 culture and art, where travelers can find museums, shops, and distinctive roadside art that reflect the spirit of the Mother Road.