OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma History Center Museum will open “The Longest Stretch: Route 66 in Oklahoma” on Saturday, May 23, just as Route 66 approaches its centennial in 2026. The exhibit explores how Oklahoma’s 400-plus miles of drivable highway shaped communities along the route and continues to draw travelers today.
Route 66 was created in 1926 and quickly became one of the most consequential roads in American history. For Oklahomans, it was an escape route during the Dust Bowl, an economic lifeline for roadside communities, and eventually a casualty of the interstate system. “The Longest Stretch” traces that full arc, from the road’s rise to its decline, and into its revival through preservation and tourism.
Major artifacts on display include a 1915 Model T Roadster, a restored Taft Stadium sign, a Big Boy statue, and a 1961 Corvette on loan from the National Corvette Museum. Hands-on interactives will allow visitors to engage directly with the story of Route 66 and its evolution over time.
“We wanted to create an exhibit that brings Route 66 to life while encouraging people to go out and experience it firsthand,” said Nicole Harvey, director of the Oklahoma History Center Museum. “Visitors can explore the road’s history through artifacts and interactives, then take that experience with them onto Oklahoma’s stretch of the highway.”
The exhibit also highlights how communities across Oklahoma are actively reimagining Route 66 as its 100th anniversary approaches in November 2026.
“The Longest Stretch: Route 66 in Oklahoma” opens on Saturday, May 23, and will remain on view through 2027. It is made possible with support from the Inasmuch Foundation and the Robert Glenn Rapp Foundation.
The Oklahoma History Center Museum is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 405-522-0765 or visit okhistory.org/historycenter for admission costs and group rates.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.