Steel and selfies

Route 66’s Centennial comes with a monumental twist.

Along the 400-plus miles of Route 66 that stretch across Oklahoma, something new is rising from the red dirt and roadside grass.

They’re made of steel and concrete. They carry the familiar Route 66 shield. And soon, they’ll be standing in 48 communities from Quapaw to Texola as permanent markers of the Mother Road’s 100th birthday.

The Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission calls them Community Unifier Projects.

“We feel like the monuments support the Route 66 efforts of the state,” Brian Coker, director of rates, communications, compliance and services at CKenergy Electric Cooperative, says. “The road runs right through the middle of our territory.”

CKenergy is sponsoring five of the monuments in towns along its service territory: Bridgeport, Canute, Clinton, Foss and Hydro. The cooperative attempted to sponsor all seven towns in its territory, but two had already been spoken for.

Each monument will feature the Route 66 logo on both sides with the sponsoring organization’s logo displayed beneath it. For CKenergy, that means its name will be etched into a centennial effort designed to draw travelers off the interstate and onto the two-lane highway that built many Oklahoma towns.

The cooperative will also receive recognition as an official partner of the Route 66 Centennial Commission.

For communities like Clinton, home to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and the popular Route 66 Café, and Hydro, where small businesses dot the roadside, the hope is simple: more visitors.

“We want to entice more people to drive and visit towns in our service territory that might bring business to them,” Coker said.

“The OK Route 66 commission is proud to partner with CKenergy to invest in the heart of Route 66 — delivering landmark monuments that connect our communities to one of America’s most iconic roads,” Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell said. “More than a photo opportunity, these installations are designed to draw travelers in, spark local pride, and drive the kind of foot traffic that puts real revenue back into our towns.”

Installation is expected to begin in May. Final placement dates are still being confirmed according to Kerry Barrick, Oklahoma Route 66 director through the lieutenant governor’s office. She says the vision behind the monuments was both symbolic and practical.

“The community unifier project will visually connect communities while representing the unique character of each,”  Barrick said.

Communities were surveyed, and local leaders approved the artwork before production. No two towns have the same design. The commission hopes the installations become a scavenger hunt of sorts — a reason for travelers to slow down, pull over and step out.

“Our hope is that people will seek out individual monuments along the route to collect a selfie with each,” Barrick said. “Hopefully, they will take time to enjoy the town and spend money.”

“The goal is to get travelers to spend more time in the state so they will have to buy one more tank of gas, an extra meal at a local café or even a bottle of water resulting in increased tax revenue. This revenue can be a game changer, especially for our rual communities,” Barrick said.

Barrick emphasized that while the sculptures may draw attention, the broader goal is economic development. All tax dollars translate into real infrastructure improvements.

“At the end of the day, the goal of the commission is creating economic development,” she said. “The art is the icing on top.”

The monuments are designed for durability. They manufactured out of metal and can be repaired at a local body shop if needed.

Communities will also own the rights to their artwork, allowing them to reproduce the designs on stickers, T-shirts and other merchandise.

By the time the centennial celebrations hit full stride, travelers tracing the historic highway across Oklahoma may find themselves stopping more often — not just for nostalgia, but for a photo, a slice of pie and a reminder that even after 100 years, Route 66 is still building community.