Route 66 in Oklahoma - Part 1 Quapaw, Commerce and Miami

Please see the Route 66 tab under my header for the preface and maps to the posts for my Route 66 in Oklahoma Label.   These posts will allow you to see what today looks like on our Route 66....I hope one day you "will get your kicks on Route 66", as millions have before you.

When you first come into Oklahoma, you are reminded of why we are called "Native America".

to quote....wealth came to the Quapaw and other tribes
through the discovery of lead and zinc mines in 1905

There are 37 Federally recognized
Tribes in Oklahoma, many of which you will
pass through on your journey.

FromQuapaw through Miami,you will pass through the Nine-Tribe area of the Eastern Shawnee, Miami, Modoc, Ottawa, Peroria, Quapaw, Seneca-Cayuga, 

This wheat field, found between Quapaw and 
Commerce, will soon echo the word
to the song Oklahoma  ....."and the
waving wheat can sure smell sweet
when the wind come right behind the rain"

Not much in Quapaw...but here's the antique auction house

Commerce, OK....busy little town

This is embedded into the pavement.  Oklahoma towns

Proclaiming the Tri State Mining District

Mural on side of building depicting the
Coal and Zinc mining industry.......where the  Star Resident's Dad worked

This is at the end of Main Street
and I thought it quite cute

I remember little  'Filling Stations' like this :)

....and this would be the Star Resident of Commerce.  The hero of every boy in the
50's and 60's.  We could all aspire to have a monument to us that says we were
A Great Teammate 

The last stop on Part 1 of our Route 66 journey, will be Miami, OK.....and in Oklahoma it is pronounced
Mi-am-uh.  :)  According to the 2010 census, the Urban and Rural population combined is about 14,000 folks. First stop is the Kuku Burger joint coming into town from Commerce. 

Coleman Theatre  http://colemantheatre.org

The Coleman Theatre is the Crown Jewel of  Miami.

                     

While I love my Fuji camera, the lighting was very low and for a spectacular 360 degree look check out this site. http://visitmiamiok.com/ 

Coleman Theatre Foyer

The Mighty Wurlitzer

The cost of repair and refurbishing the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ was
$85,000 and paid for by contributions of the citizens of Miami.  To read more about the project visit this http://theatreorgans.com/miami.ok/

While this is the a must see, you will find that there are buildings of architectural interest of the early 1900's, as well as evidence of Patriotism

The last stop on our journey through Miami is the 

Marathon Oil Company Service Station

Thought to be the oldest standing Marathon Oil Station, this landmark was built in 1929. It is significant due to its association with Route 66 and its "House with Canopy" architectural style. The station has recently undergone an exterior renovation and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in February of 1995. It currently operates as a beauty salon. Plans are in place to install replica gas pumps and new historic signage is scheduled to be added in 2010. The station is located at 331 South Main Street.

Part 2 will pick up on the 9' Ribbon Road, which actually predates Route 66 and we'll journey to Vinita and into the first of the five civilized tribes in Oklahoma...the Cherokee Nation.