U.S. Route 66 exhibition celebrates movement, history and growth in Oklahoma City

An exhibition celebrating one of America’s most iconic transportation corridors opened Feb. 6, 2026, exploring how movement and infrastructure shaped the American West and influenced the growth and identity of Oklahoma City.

Route 66: From Trails to Truck Stops explores how generations of travelers moved west and how evolving transportation networks helped build communities, economies and cultural connections across the region. From early trails and railways to the rise of the automobile and long-haul trucking, the exhibition traces the systems that connected people and goods across vast distances.

Central to the exhibition is the history of Route 66, the historic highway established in 1926 as the nation’s first federally designated cross-country road designed for cars and trucks. Rather than a single newly built roadway, it unified a network of existing state and local roads built on earlier trails and railbeds. For nearly six decades, the highway linked eastern and western markets, supporting commerce, tourism and population growth before it was officially retired in 1985.

By the mid-20th century, Route 66 had become a powerful cultural symbol representing opportunity, mobility and the spirit of the American West. In Oklahoma City, the original Cowboy Hall of Fame was located along the route on Persimmon Hill, underscoring the city’s historic connection to the Mother Road and its legacy.

As the nation approaches the centennial of Route 66, the exhibition reflects on the highway’s lasting influence on regional development and identity. In partnership with Google Arts & Culture, organizers created a digital feature exploring the relationship between the American cowboy tradition and Route 66, expanding public access to this shared history.