PRESS RELEASE: Uptown, City, & State leaders dedicate Route 66 Centennial Monument on NW 23rd St.


The Uptown 23rd District sends this information as posted below:


OKLAHOMA CITY – Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt joined leaders from the Uptown neighborhood and other city and state officials to unveil the first Route 66 Centennial Monument in Oklahoma City. Five other Route 66 Centennial Monuments have been installed across the state since the project officially launched last month.

The monument, standing more than 15’ in height, is also the first urban district monument for the project, a large public art installation that will ultimately span multiple states leading up to Route 66’s 100th anniversary in 2026.

The location for the monument, the intersection of NW 23rd and Hudson in Oklahoma City, bears historical significance. What was once the northern urbanized edge of Oklahoma City, NW 23rd Street became one of the city’s first vibrant commercial areas beyond downtown. It also became an important segment of “America’s Main Street,” Route 66, upon the highway’s birth in 1926.

“This is an important day for Oklahoma City and the State of Oklahoma,” Lt. Governor Pinnell said. “As we draw closer to the celebration of 100 years of Route 66, there’s never been a better time to invest in attractions along the road. This new monument pays tribute to the past, present, and future of America’s Main Street and will invite visitors from around the world to come visit.”

Pinnell serves as chair of the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission, which formally endorsed the Route 66 Centennial Monument Project as an official project in August. The project is the creation of Oklahoma City company VOX Industries, which worked with Oklahoma City public artist Stan Carroll to collaboratively design the resulting monument. Carroll’s work can be found around the world, but he’s probably best known for codesigning the Skydance Bridge, OKC’s iconic structure that towers over Interstate 40 just south of Downtown. He also is a resident of the Uptown neighborhood.

“Oklahoma City is a major destination along the Mother Road,” said Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt. “We’re one of the largest cities along Route 66, and we have some of the most important landmarks, such as the Gold Dome and the Milk Bottle. We’re even mentioned in the song. So, we definitely want to position OKC for the Route 66 Centennial, as well as the future tourism that lies ahead. These markers align with that vision. I love these new markers and I’m excited for this dedication in Uptown. I think our residents will be impressed when they see this marker, and I encourage all the districts in our city along Route 66 to pursue further installations.”

Every monument installed will feature a QR code on the pole that will direct visitors to a unique page for that location. The resulting website will itself prove to be a vital resource for Route 66 travelers according to Brian Brown, Director of the Route 66 Centennial Monument Project.

“The monuments offer an important visual connection between cities, towns, and destinations along the route, and at every stop, they will provide a portal to history and cultural resources,” Brown said. “The associated website will serve as a repository of local history and act as a living travel guide. And this project is not just for visitors. These monuments will remind local residents when they are on Route 66.”

Brown said that in addition to the six installed monuments to date, several more are in production and will soon be installed across the state. In December, the campaign will expand beyond Oklahoma’s borders, he said.

“Every state will have its own unique shield face, and we’re passionately excited to begin connecting these communities with installations from Chicago to Santa Monica.”


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