Oklahoma City - Tulsa, OK

June 21 - 24, 2023:

Leave Oklahoma City in heavy going to work heavy traffic, sure don’t miss that, with my GPS putting me on Route 44 north which is a toll road, which I didn’t want to be on.  So, I take  the first exit about 20 miles down the road where I go into the town of Luther.  There was an interesting looking cafe and I hadn’t had my coffee yet (thinking of my you tube friend Otis Gibbs), so I went in.  I thought it would be sort of rough, but the owner was super friendly and it was nice inside with a good menu selection, so I went for a breakfast sandwich and it was great.  I came to find out that they use only local, as much as possible, quality ingredients, I’m not that much of a foodie, but I was impressed.  Luther is another one of those Rt 66 town built along the railroad that was quite a happening town in the day. 

My expectations were low

But the mural impressed me and inside was even better

I next stop at Chandler, OK, another Rt 66 survivor with a main street paved with the original bricks that is protected as a historic landmark.  The bricks were made locally and they were a profitable business back before they had asphalt. They had a few old buildings of note, several murals, especially one on the Land Run.  This area was part of the “Land Run” where former Indian reservation land was opened to new settlers.  On a specified date the land run started and it was then a mad dash to stake out a parcel of basically free land.  As usual some cheated by sneaking in ahead of time and were called the “Sooners”.

I didn't really get why this brick road was that historic

A mural reliving the glory days

The Land Run

No money at the Farmers Bank these days

Make America Great Again?

Next was a stop in Stroud, OK, (actually Stoud followed Chandler but I'm not changing it now) a larger town also on route 66 with much to see, but I had to hurry as darkening clouds were fast approaching and within a few minutes it was pouring rain.  Luckily, it was just rain, no hail or super high winds like did occur here a few days ago.

This Hotel was once bustling with activity

When these people walked the streets

The big business in town these days

Loved the ATM sign

Next stop was Bristow, Oklahoma

Very interesting project, could be very cool ?

It's happening here

You gotta love half price burgers

Chrysler - Plymouth dealership sign was impressive 

The Bristow train depot is now a museum

I then arrive at Sapulpa, OK a larger town with a vibrant downtown and many original buildings being renovated, that’s what I like to see.  The Sapulpa Museum there looks excellent, may have to return later ?

A nice clean downtown

Route 66 mural

Restored gas station

I need some of this 

Many drug stores here

Visit the dispensary and then get your kicks on route 66

I continue on route 66, probably a mistake as there was much road construction, and it needs it.  This area was heavily damaged a few days ago by storm winds estimated to be 125 MPH.  Many huge old trees came down, along with electric lines causing wide spread power outages.  This continues into many areas of Tulsa, many neighborhoods are still without power and crews are working everywhere to restore the power grid.

 

A great sign along the road

Driving into Tulsa, I see lots of homeless people, no surprise, and I park across from the Woody Guthrie Museum to walk around and explore the area.  There are many restaurants and  businesses closed due to power outages.  I end up having hot soup in the hot van, not so apetizing.   They call this area the Entertainment District as there are many restaurants and bars and a popular minor league baseball field.  There is also the historic Cains Dance Hall, that is approaching 100 years old, many of the country greats have played there as evidenced by the stars in the sidewalk.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulsa,_Oklahoma

On Saturday  night they had a music event and a fireworks show

The Woody Guthrie Museum

Looks to be a mural for the homeless

The Bob Dylan Museum, Woody Guthrie Museum is in the same building

In the evening, I drive a short distance to the The Blue Dome District which gets its name from an old stone gas station with a blue roof that still exists on its original site.  My initial impression of this area is not so good, it looks rather seedy, downright sleazy in fact, especially with the  mega sex shop right in the center.  I go into Red’s bar which is more like a pool hall with karaoke on this night, it’s rather lame with only one person participating or even paying attention.  I leave and find a relatively safe looking spot for the night across from a Main Street Hotel in the Center City area. 

Red's Bar corner

That was a good way to put it ?

I find the driving in Tulsa to be crazy?, it’s a combination of one and two way streets with a mix of four way stops, two way stops and random traffic lights further complicated presently by many areas where the traffic lights are not working due to recent storm.  Also, you have to pay for parking virtually everywhere and some of the parking seems to be in lanes that were once the original right lane, now converted to parking spaces.  Also due to the power outages, many businesses and restaurants you are trying to find are closed when you get there.

In the morning, I go the the Woody Guthrie Museum and spend about three hours there.  You get Woody Guthrie’s life story here, with lots of interactive audio stations accompanied with photos and videos.  The man was somewhat of a genius who lived an incredible  full life as an artist, a musician, an author and an activist. His last years were sad as he contracted Huntington's Disease and was confined to a hospital in New Jersey.  It seems that his wife did much to save his artifacts along with other existing Guthrie family members and everything is now archived here at this Museum. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woody_Guthrie

She was quite amazing, maybe a saint, I'm sure he was difficult

Tis was like his self help manual when he became over stressed

His art was interesting to say the least

Wonder what he would say about Donald ?

Many original song lyrics were displayed

Lots of note books, seems old today, but I get it

His art was displayed everywhere in the museum

A good portion of the following day was spent in the Bob Dylan Museum located in the same building as the Woody Guthrie Museum, quite fitting that they would be together. You would need a couple of full days to read, watch and listen to all that is on display here.  It a state of the art museum where you have a iPhone like hand controller and a video headset and can watch / listen to video and audio panels throughout the museum.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dylan

Dylan's high school band 

Like Woody Guthrie Dylan did a lot of writing

Also used many notebooks filled with tiny notes and scribbles

Dylan is also an artist, so many parallels to Woody Guthrie

Dylan in his iron workshop where he makes iron sculpture

Stop trying to find the meaning of it all, just follow the flow of the road

Dylan art works on display

A long row of video / audio panels on various periods of his life 

A Dylan sculpture at the museum entrance

For the balance of the afternoon, I explore downtown Tulsa, which has many beautiful early 1900’s buildings as it was a very prosperous city during its boom oil production period.  I did not realize that Tulsa was a trend setter during the Art Deco architectural period.  Route 66 also passed right through the center as did the railroad.

 I visit the Art Deco Museum which is presently a small display in a gift shop.  The store owner has plans to open a dedicated Art Deco Museum in the future.  There was a great story here as the store owners mother or grandmother had been the model for an Art Deco Statue, the Goddess Of Oil,  in the planning stage.  Due to WWII the Statue never happened, but a small version was on display.

   

Almost next door was another statue to route 66

Also nearby was this Meadow Gold sign

A mural of Leon Russell a Tulsa native

I go to the Tulsa fairgrounds on Saturday morning to see “The Driller”, another  notable Tulsa landmark statue, but when I get there, I find a major event going on.  It turns out to be a route 66 event with many vendors promoting their areas route 66 attractions.  There are also many great historical route 66 historical displays and a large car show, many classics, muscle cars, various makes and models and classic old RV’s.

The Driller

Many great display panels such as this

Will Rodgers is another famous Oklahoma native 

Early Ford car

Many giants can be found on Route 66

A row of immaculate 55 Chevies

One of the best flame jobs I've ever seen

This custom, (kind of fake), Woodie surf wagon was impressive

I searched for art deco treasures all around the Tulsa area and found many of the best examples, actually only scratched the surface.

Oklahoma State Fairgrounds

Another angle

Another view

Will Rodgers Hight School

Close up view

It's a large building

The Tulsa Fire Alarm Building

Close up view

The Artificial Cloud statue

building detail

The amazing entrance to the old warehouse Market

That's the center of it all !

Art Deco mural on downtown building

Downtown building art deco elements

Impressive Bank entrance

Tulsa Union Station

I then head back towards the Entertainment District and as I pass through downtown I start seeing streams of people, dressed in all sorts of strange outfits, some with pride flags and banners and ahead the street is closed.  There is a mass of people, thousands perhaps and there is some form of parade taking place.  I park and walk closer, but it is so crowded and you can’t get to the parade area or even see it.  People watching was fun though, there were some strange sights, as I was standing on a street corner, I turned and this woman was standing there totally exposing her boobs.  One of her friends said, have you been walking around like that ?

I think I've had enough of this area, I’m growing tired of the traffic, the difficulty parking, the weird homeless  people everywhere  and it’s time to get back on the road.