Oklahoma § 69-4020.1 - Commission purpose

§ 69-4020.1. Commission purpose

Route 66 is one of the original highways within the U.S. Highway

System. Officially, the numerical designation 66 was assigned to

the Chicago-to-Los Angeles route on November 11, 1926. From the

outset, public road planners intended U.S. 66 to connect the main

streets of rural and urban communities along its course for the most

practical of reasons; most small towns had no prior access to a

major national thoroughfare. This was certainly true in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66 runs from Miami through Tulsa and

Oklahoma City to Erick, passing through cities and towns of all

sizes and vast expanses of rural landscape, before entering Texas

and continuing on its way to Santa Monica, California. The Oklahoma

Route 66 Centennial Commission is established to plan, coordinate

and implement programs and special events to celebrate the historic

highway's centennial in 2026 with the support of the Oklahoma

Historical Society.

The centennial is an opportunity to celebrate the important

history of Route 66 in Oklahoma through commemorative, educational

and community events, including programs and exhibits about the

history of how local communities grew and changed with construction

of the highway; the development of a modern transportation system;

the cultural impact of Route 66 both within the United States and

internationally; the portrayal of Route 66 in music, artwork and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 69. Roads, Bridges, and Ferries

folklore; and how we maintain the mystique and appeal of Route 66

for future generations.

The study, preservation and maintenance of Route-66-related

resources has been a public/private partnership in Oklahoma for

decades. Government agencies, private organizations and individual

citizens have played critical roles in these efforts, and the

Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission shall seek input from these

partners and the general public as it develops plans for the

celebration and encourages their participation.

The significance of the Oklahoma stretch of Route 66 is

demonstrated through its status as both a state and a National

Scenic Byway and as a segment of the Route 66 National Historic

Trail (legislation for NHT designation is pending in the U.S.

Congress). Dozens of Oklahoma properties are related to Route 66,

such as roadbed segments, bridges, commercial buildings, service

stations and tourist attractions, and are listed in the National

Register of Historic Places. The significance of the highway is

further recognized through the National Trust for Historic

Preservation's selection of the entire length of the highway as one

of its National Treasures.

Added by Laws 2019, c. 233, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.