National Route 66 Museum

We were driving I-​40 cross country and on the spur of the moment decided to tour the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma.
We had low expectations, thinking that this would be another of those roadside museums that little and cost a lot.
But, surprise, this museum, or rather this complex of museums, delivered more than expected, and the cost is only $ 5 (or $ 4 for seniors or those with AAA membership.)
The thing is, this is not just one museum but a collection of several museums, some more or less private, others run by the little town of Elk City.
You start with a small «transportation museum» with things like an early 50s Cadillac at a drive-​in theater. You can sit behind the wheel and «drive Route 66.» Then you go next door to the Route 66 Museum.
There are several Route 66 Museums around the country, one in California, one in Arizona and even another one in Oklahoma. I wouldn’t say this is necessarily the best, but it’s very well done. It took a lot of work to put this together. In this section of the museum complex is also a rodeo museum, mainly using artifacts from a local rodeo family.
Then you go to a museum put together by citizens of the town of Elk City. Kind of a warehouse or attic of items, but fun. Then there is a recreated 19^th and early 20^th century «town» with a church, fire station, newspaper office, homes and more.
You end the self-​guided tour with a visit to the Farm & Ranch Museum, which has old farm implements, tractors and other displays.
In about two hours, we barely skimmed the surface. You could spend hours at these museums.
Okay, it’s not the Smithsonian, but it’s a heart-​warming tribute to what a group of dedicated collectors and local townspeople can do.
Next time you’re driving I-​40 in Oklahoma, take a break and do this museum complex, which is only 3 or 4 miles from the interstate. I guarantee you’ll be impressed!

We went to this museum today. We entered the first building and paid for entry. The woman told us we would only have time for two buildings since it was near closing. So we rushed through two and walked over to the «old town» portion of this museum. We entered the building and the clerk asked for our ticket. We presented it and she said we had about 5 minutes to do a quick run through. So we did. The building closes at 5pm and we walked out at 4:59pm. As we walked across the gardens, the woman who sold us the ticket chases us down and starts griping us out saying we had no right to go into that building. We didn’t understand if that building was an additional cost or if she was angry because it was close to closing. She would not elaborate. She continued to gripe at is for this. We offered to pay extra. We apologized. She wouldn’t have any of it. After looking her up, I found she is the museum director. The same woman whom others have complained about for keeping deposits on venue locations. It sounds to me like this woman needs to be fired. She doesn’t do her job as a customer service representative first off. Let alone as a museum director.

Lovely and vast set of museums and buildings showcasing not only Route 66 but Oklahoma. Don’t forget to stop in the Drug Store!

Small but excellent museum chronicling the history of Route 66 with well done exhibits and artifacts. Got to show my grown daughter some things from modern American history she didn’t know about. Adjacent to the excellent and extensive Old Town Museum with a single $ 5 admission for everything, making it the best bargain of our trip. See my review of that museum. Hope more people can make it there, this is no cheezy roadside attraction.

There’s a lot to see and learn about here. In addition to great Route 66 info, the museum has info about the history of Elk City, an excellent collection of vintage farm equipment (including some great windmills), some wonderful old buildings, and an impressive collection about the Beutler family’s rodeo business. Give yourself time to take it all in. Very helpful, welcoming staff.

Driving west from Lawton, OK and decided to stop and stretch our legs. After reading the description in the AAA tour guide book, we decided to stop. What a great value! Price of admission is $ 5/​person ($ 4 with AAA card). I thought it was going to be a Route 66 museum, but it was much more than that. There were several buildings you could look into and visit and get transported to the olden days of Oklahoma life. The Farm and Ranch a Museum was very interesting. who knew that there were so many different variations of barb wire. The docents in the old fashioned drug store were very sweet and hospitable. This stop was such a pleasant experience. you won’t be disappointed if you stop for a visit.

Pretty cool place to stop along Rt 66. We drove along this and coming here lets you enjoy a lot of the cool old things that used to be along the rt. like signage. There are also cool cars to sit in, an old fire truck, an ode to pop eye (this is all in the first museum where you pay). The second part included in the 5 $ is around the corner, it takes you from the beginning of the route to the end on a big map with lots of cool welcoming to signs. It has a movie set, and a couple of cars and other cool old things.
The people are extremely nice
It’s a little ways off of 1 – 40 (maybe 5 mins) so don’t think you’ve missed it. there are a lot of signs to follow.
We only went to those 2 parts because they were closing soon and it didn’t seem necessary. we walked around, it looks like an old town, something out of the Oregon trail. very neat place. something cool to do with family, cheap and fun.

This museum has a ton to offer for five bucks! It was a cool place to explore and the people who worked there were very nice! I enjoyed my visit and the different things I saw. It is a good stop if you are driving Route 66!

I have long looked forward to visiting this museum (I always watch Rt 66 on TV). The museum is packed full of historical treasures housed in a number of buildings. We found the staff helpful and somewhat informative. There are significant problems however. So many of the items are not labeled as to use, date, etc. One is left guessing what is being looked at with no way of knowing. The museum is in desperate need of a curator.

My mom got married this past weekend and they had their reception at the Opera House at the National Route 66 Museum. We went way above to make sure that the place was in the same order we found it before we left. When my sister went to return the key today the lady was extremely rude and told her we were not going to receive the deposit back. I called her and asked why and she was so extremely hateful and told me we left it trashed. I told her absolutely not, that I had went out of my way to make sure things were back to the way they had been when we arrived. She tried to argue with me and so I asked if she had pictures to prove what she was saying. She said no. I told her I did and she backed off what she was saying. She told me she would give us half of our money back. I am extremely frustrated with the treatment we received. My brother and his wife had their reception here a few years ago and her mom told me they didn’t receive their money back either. They had told them the same things. Seems to me that it’s an excuse in order to keep the money. I DO NOT recommend using this venue ever, for anything!

This is a low cost way for a couple or family to get a great feel for the old route 66. We loved the old cars with videos set up in them to allow you to feel like you were driving old 66 or sitting at the drive in. The outdoor town is super fun too.
My favorite part was the old farm and ranch with all of the old tractors and farm equipment.
We will keep coming back and where else can you get this much for $%!!!

Really put together well. A lot of fun and well worth the time to see. It is also a bargain at $ 5.00.

There’s a free «route 66 museum» in New Mexico– skip that one because it is really a barbed wire museum with one room of Route 66 stuff. A tour of four or five small complexes costs $ 5 with a $ 1 discount if you have AAA. Totally worth it because it was so cheap. The first museum (where you buy tickets) is the best. You get to sit in old cars and a firetruck and watch drive in movies or just screw around. The second building is small, but has some interesting signage. The only odd thing is that they have mannequins everywhere which is really just unneccesary and a little freakish. The OK museum is boring and we skipped the farm museum, but for $ 4 this was a good value.