There’s no road like the Mother Road. As the inspiration for story, song and film, Route 66 has a special place in the American imagination — and Oklahoma has more miles of it than any other state. As a new generation of strivers and entrepreneurs inherits the great road, we’ll see where the last century of this incredible byway came from (including stops at the Coleman Theatre and Will Rogers Museum) and where it’s taking Oklahoma today.
Nestled in the northeast corner of Oklahoma, the Coleman Theatre is a beacon for tourists from around the world. From its beginnings in 1929 as a vaudeville theatre to its current role as a performance stage, generations of visitors have experienced the Spanish Colonial Mission-style exterior and the Louis XV interior. They marvel at the use of gargoyles, dolphins, cherubs and faces throughout the facility, and delight at the sounds of its original “Mighty Wurlitzer” pipe organ.
A shrine to one of America’s truly unique personalities, the Will Rogers Memorial Museum chronicles the life of Oklahoma native and performer, actor, writer, prairie philosopher and adventurer Will Rogers. Built on Rogers’ land, the museum showcases the work and impact of one of the early 20th century’s biggest cultural figures. It houses the largest collection of his artifacts and writings, and features artwork and memorabilia about Rogers’ life.
Standing high above the Oklahoma River and overlooking downtown Oklahoma City, the Wheeler District Ferris Wheel offers an incredible, one-of-a-kind ride. But its history is almost as impressive: Before being bought in 2008 and then renovated and moved to OKC, it served for decades as one of the world's most famous Ferris wheels in its first home — the Santa Monica Pier. Now the same Ferris wheel that appeared in over 200 movies and commercials gives riders a view of perfect prairie sunsets, Oklahoma City and the growing Wheeler District.
The Coleman Theatre
