National Route 66 Museum, Elk City, Oklahoma: Four Museums, One Location

We expected to see the National Route 66 Museum, But we visited these three other museums in the same complex—for one admission fee.

  • National Transportation Museum
  • Old Town Museum
  • Farm & Ranch Museum

National Transportation Museum

The National Transportation Museum keeps to the nostalgic Route 66 theme. Here you’ll find vintage cars cut in half. Slide behind the wheel or in the back seat and watch classic movie trailers at a Route 66 Drive-In theater.

Behind the wheel of a vintage carWatching a movie at a Route 66 drive-in

A vintage trailer, motorcycles and an airplane are displayed, as is a 1917 fire engine complete next to a fireman’s pole. I was tempted to slide down the pole until Skip reminded me that I’m still getting over an ankle injury.

Vintage RV Trailer at the National Transportation MuseumTrans museum - motorcycleAirplaneFire engine at the National Transportation MuseumI’m not sure how the Popeye collection fits in with transportation, but it’s fun.

Popeye collection

National Route 66 Museum

The National Route 66 Museum was the highlight for us, as we followed the road from Chicago to California.

Missouri road scene depicted at the National Route 66 Museum1920s Route 66 road scene at the National Route 66 MuseumGrapes of Wrath movie set at National Route 66 MuseumArizona scene at National Route 66 MuseumDriving through the Southwest diorama at the National Route 66 Museum

Old Town Museum

The Old Town Museum is made up of several buildings, some facades and other full buildings that have been moved to the site.

Opera house at the Old Town Museum in the National Route 66 Museum complexMove room to room in a Victorian home to see dioramas and displays of early-day western Oklahoma, Native American culture, military and rodeo history.

Victorian home dining room diorama in Old Town MuseumVictorian home bedroom in Old Town Museum

Farm and Ranch Museum

I’ve been to farm museums before, but the Farm and Ranch Museum includes displays I’ve never seen before, like a colorful tractor seat collection and a barbed wire collection.

tractor seatsbarbed wireWe spent over an hour in the complex but could have spent at least double that time to see everything. What a bargain at only $5 per person ($4 for seniors, AAA members and children 6-16; free for children 5 and under).

If you go to the National Route 66 Museum complex…

The museum complex is located at 2717 W Highway 66 in Elk City, Oklahoma. Check the web site for hours.

Photos by Skip Reed and Connie Reed

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Other articles that may interest you:

A Nostalgic Stay at the Route 66 Rail Haven Motel in Springfield, Missouri

Pontiac Oakland Museum, Pontiac Illinois: Auto Nostalgia along Route 66

Oklahoma’s Charlie’s Chicken and Barbeque Offers Rotisserie Chicken as Alternative to Fried

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