Travelers and locals have new selfie-worthy stops along historic Route 66 in OKC, thanks to a gift of four custom shields from the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission, OG&E and the Inasmuch Foundation.  

Installed in Oklahoma City in late October, the shields now anchor districts along former alignments of Route 66: 

  • Asian District – West side of Classen Blvd, near NW 24th St.
  • Britton District – SE corner of Britton and Western Ave
  • 9th Street District – 39th St between Youngs and Flynn
  • Western Avenue – NW corner of N Western Ave and the I-44 Service Road (in the green space near 5225 N Western) 

Each district collaborated with Hampton Creative to develop a unique shield that reflects the area’s character while honoring its place in Route 66 history.  

“OG&E is proud to sponsor these beautiful monuments across the state,” said Kelli Hayward Walsh, OG&E manager of community outreach and engagement. “These shields celebrate the unique spirit of the communities we serve, and we’re honored to help create special places that residents and visitors can enjoy for generations to come.” 

The community is invited to a ribbon cutting for the 39th Street shield at 5 p.m. on November 7. The ceremony is part of 39th Street District’s Route 66 Heart of the USA car show from 3 – 8 p.m., 2124 NW 39th. 

“Oklahoma City’s unifiers are four stops on a statewide selfie trail of 48 unifiers, each one an invitation for travelers to pull over, snap a photo, and discover a new Oklahoma town.” Kerry Barrick, State Director of Route 66. “By blending a unifying visual theme with locally inspired designs, the project celebrates both the collective identity of Oklahoma’s Route 66 corridor and the individuality of each town along its path.” 

The OKC shields join the iconic Kicks 66 sculpture unveiled near the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in June, along with six monument signs installed along Route 66 in September.  

Installation of the shields was paid for by the City of Oklahoma City. 

These shields celebrate the distinct character of our districts and the local businesses and community members who bring Route 66 to life,” Cayla Lewis, Senior Planner with the City of Oklahoma City said. “We hope they inspire visitors and locals to explore beyond the photo stop - visit a shop, enjoy a meal and experience what makes each district special.” 

Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary on November 11.  

Oklahoma City’s installations are part of a statewide trail of 48 monuments along historic Route 66, combining a shared shield design with artwork unique to each host community. 

About Route 66 

Route 66, also known as the Will Rogers Highway, was established on Nov. 11, 1926. The nearly 2,500‑mile highway stretched from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, passing through eight states. Oklahoma is home to more than 400 miles of the famed roadway—more than any other state. 

Cyrus Avery, a Tulsa businessman and Oklahoma’s first highway commissioner, is widely regarded as the “Father of Route 66.” He led the national committee that created the route and selected the number 66. 

In 2021, City crews installed 200 smaller Route 66 signs across Oklahoma City to help residents and visitors retrace the many alignments of America’s Mother Road. A map of Oklahoma City’s historic Route 66 alignments is available at okc.gov/route66.