Route 66 Historical Village
Come One, Come All, to The Route 66 Historical Village! Located in Southwest Tulsa on Historical Route 66. The open-air museum is a unique experience to educate visitors about Tulsa's history in the oil, refining and transportation industries. The Visitor’s Center is a replica of a 1920’s Phillips 66 gas station. The tallest oil derrick in North America is a favorite with visitors. This 154’ high derrick sits on the southeast corner of the Sue Bland No. 1 oil lease. Tulsa grew into the “Oil Capital of the World" with that monumental discovery in 1901 on former Creek allotment land.
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Visit the restored Frisco 4500 Meteor Steam Engine or the Pullman passenger car commissioned in 1929. Experience Tulsa’s beginnings by viewing the vintage rail cars, trolley, historic pump jacks, boarding a fully restored caboose, and more! The Train Depot will be the perfect venue for celebrations. And, the Route 66 Highway Shield is a perfect place to take your photograph. Come experience the Route 66 Historical Village, Tulsa’s latest attraction on the most famous road of all time.
The Story Behind The Historic
Route 66 Village
Tulsa County and each of the cities gathered in 2004 with a unique partnership called Vision 2025 to explore and develop their wish list for projects they could achieve if everyone worked together and pooled their resources to move the county ahead. Each city, and many of the sections in the county were given an opportunity to create, build or imagine what they could do if the resources were supplied through combined tax dollars.
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Among those dreams was a single goal to rebuild on the Historic Route 66 Highway alignments through Tulsa County. Beginning in 1926 the road and its travelers made an impact which continues today when the two- and four-wheel vehicles search out unique places still-standing and others only a memory. They were like a “string of pearls” as the term was often used in discussions, meetings, and reports.
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The Historic Route 66 Village became a pearl that grew over the years as bits of creativity entered the site with volunteers and supporters polishing individual projects to lay additional layers on the pearl.
The Sue A. Bland No. 1 in relation to the Village.
Vintage photo of derricks from Tulsa Oil Exposition, 1930s.
Dr. John C.W. Bland standing next to the Sue A. Bland No. 1, the first oil well in Tulsa County, Indian Territory, ca. 1901. The well is located on the same Muscogee (Creek) allotment that is shared with the Route 66 Village today.