Tulsa, OK

Sometimes “Route 66” looks as though it is leading to a whole lot of nowhere.  Today Sandy and I traveled along the Mother Road from Miami, Oklahoma to Tulsa with a few off the Route side trips tossed in.  Surprising to me, Tulsa is the United States’ most inland seaport.  Through a series of rivers and canals, seagoing freighters can and do reach Tulsa.  That just doesn’t seem right.

When Route 66 was originally designated a national highway, the federal government provided partial funding for the construction and maintenance of the roads.  This funding was contingent on the states meeting certain obligations.  One of which was that the roads must be paved.  Oklahoma, running short of money, was afraid that it would lose its “Route 66” alignment.  To solve the problem Oklahoma noted that funds were contingent on the road being paved but did not say how wide the road had to be.  There are several stretches of road between Tulsa and Kansas that are only 9 feet wide.  That is wide enough for one car going one way.   In the event of oncoming traffic, each car drives with two wheels on the paved road and two wheels on the brim.  These Okies are a clever lot.  (These narrow portions of Route 66 are sometimes called “Sidewalk Roads”.)

Ed Galloway built the totem poles that stand in Totem Pole Park.  He did this because he thought he could.  The tall totem pole is over 90 feet tall and took eleven years for him to complete.  The land these totems are on is now owned by the state of Oklahoma.  It is one of the “must stops” along “Route 66”.  Because of that it is visited by thousands every year.   Ed did not think himself an artist, but now because of his style, quality and quantity of work he is nationally acclaimed as a visionary or “outsider” artist.  As for me, it was fun to look at.

I learned a lot about Will Rogers today.  Born of prominent parents, both of whom were one quarter Cherokee.  The county he was born in was named Rogers County after Will’s father Clem.  After quitting school in the 10th grade he worked on his Dad’s ranch for several years.  He then tried his hand at ranching in Argentina, then South Africa, before finally hooking up with the Texas Jack Wild West show in South Africa.  From there he went on to become a successful stage and film actor, vaudeville performer, humorist, newspaper columnist and social commentator.  And, the people of Oklahoma love him to this day.  We visited his home in Oologah, Indian Territory, Oklahoma where he spent his childhood on his father’s “Dog Iron” ranch.

The ranch home he grew up in.

On the Rogers' Dog Iron Ranch Sandy related to this longhorn cow.  Like Sandy, the cow was having a bad hair day with lots of freckles.

She also made friends with a goat 

In downtown Claremore is the very substantial Will Rogers Memorial and Museum.  It is a great place to learn about the man and to see some of his performances.  Will’s tomb, along with his family, is on the grounds.