Patricia Montgomery

It was another gorgeous day in Oklahoma. While we have been out west, there have been storms east of us but we have been blessed by gorgeous blue skies and clear weather every day of our trip down Route 66. We only had a few hours to spend before we would have to drive non-stop to get back to northwest Georgia.

The National Route 66 National Museum in Elk City originally started as the Old Town Museum but has now expanded to include four more museums, including the Route 66 Museum. Pull a five-dollar bill out of your pocket and you have gained admission to all five museums. That’s right, folks, it only costs $5 per person – what a value for your money!

TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM

We started out in the Transportation Museum where we cuddled up together in a pink 1959 Cadillac. Monty pushed the accelerator and the movie in front of us took us down an old section of Route 66! There also was another vintage red automobile parked at a drive-in theater with speakers hanging on the doors. What a blast from the past!

A vintage airplane suspended from the ceiling and shiny vintage motorcycles were among the vehicles in the museum. Next to the 1917 Rio fire truck was a loft area where you could climb up and slide down the fireman’s pole. Nope, I didn’t try that!

There is a short film in the theater on the history of transportation and the building of Route 66. The film short runs every 15 minutes and you definitely should see it.

ROUTE 66 MUSEUM

This was a cool museum that follows the road from Chicago to California. Take your time as you walk through all eight states and view wall murals, antiques, and vehicles. As we strolled along, we stopped to listen to recordings of personal accounts of people who actually lived and drove down the historic Route 66.

There was a scene from the 1930s movie, Grapes of Wrath” with a vintage pickup truck. It was filled with all the belongings an Okie could pile on in order to make their way west out of the Dust Bowl to what they hoped would be a better life in California. In the photo below the back of the chair that the mannequin is sitting in has John Ford’s name on back, the director of Grapes of Wrath.

Across the way there was also a very fine looking white corvette with a car hop tray sitting on the partially raised window. If you look closely, you can see the ‘vette in the photo, too.

While we were there a very nice lady, Wanda Queenan, was working that day along with several other volunteers. She and her husband, Reese, were the owners of the Queenan Trading Post in Elk City, a business they opened in 1948 and ran until recent years. For several years after the post was opened, her parents ran a Cider Stand next door. Inside the museum was an exhibit of many of the items that were once displayed at their trading post.

OLD TOWN MUSEUM

This museum was a replica of an actual town, with wooden sidewalks, representative pioneer businesses, and a grassy town square with a fish-filled pond. Although most were replica buildings, some were original buildings that had been moved to the museum grounds. There was a one-room school house, a hospital, and an actual caboose sitting on train tracks near the depot.

FARM AND RANCH MUSEUM

The Farm & Ranch Museum was of special interest us since we live on a working farm. Monty was constantly pointing out some antique farm implement or machine that was currently residing on our farm or that they had once had. He was excited to see a vintage thresher that he had ridden on often as a child. As he explained to me how it worked, it was obvious that the childhood memory had not faded.

There were vintage tractors, trucks, cars, wagons, farm equipment and implements, an old wooden phone booth, and so many other interesting things than I can’t possibly mention them all.

There was a piece of plywood with vintage hand drills hanging on it. I accepted the invitation to drill my own hole and encouraged Monty to do the same. I’m sure the wood was quite soft as it was much easier to drill than I thought it would be.

I have seen Model T cars, but this was the first time I had seen a 1924 Model T pickup truck! There was also a collection on the wall of different styles of iron tractor seats. Monty grew up on a farm and even he was amazed that there were that many different ones. I couldn’t get the entire wall so took a photo of only a few of the seats that covered the entire wall.

Outside was an extensive collection of 12 different styles of windmills. Inside was a couple more, one dating back to 1898 and the other was an enormous 14’ wheel.

BLACKSMITH MUSEUM

This museum was full of all things related to the time-honored profession of blacksmithing. There were two long shelves that displayed rows of anvils. Monty remarked, “I thought an anvil was an anvil.” To our surprise, it appears that there are lots of different brands and styles.

If you are ever near Elk City, Oklahoma either on I-40 or Route 66, please don’t miss an opportunity to see this museum. We spent several hours there and it was a truly fun afternoon. In the brochure, visitors are encouraged to enjoy the many “photo opportunities” so don’t forget your camera!