The Panhandle & The Big Texan

The Panhandle - Texas (day 5), a photo by PatMinNYC on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
After crossing into Texas we stopped for a break at a welcome center in the panhandle off I-40. It was still damn hot and very dry but off in the distance to the North someone was getting a bit of rain. It was a little disconcerting when I started walking back to the car to see a sign that there were rattlesnakes in the area but thankfully I did not see or hear any. We did however encounter some of very large grasshoppers near one of the picnic areas. If we had known that they had grills we would have picked up some hot dogs ;-) Next stop Amarillo and another 66 roadside attraction..

GODB LESST EXAS, a photo by PatMinNYC on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Billboard signage in the parking lot of The Big Texan - a historic roadside attraction that promotes a free 72 oz steak to anyone that can eat it in an hour. People have done it but at least 2 have died in the process! We stopped in and shared a pulled pork sandwich with a couple of Rattlesnake IPAs ;-)
They had an interesting craft beer list and some fun stuff in one of the back dining rooms. Check out the fake raw hide tablecloths - the beer pulls and the one armed bandit.
Next up The Land of Enchantment - New Mexico and one very cool pit stop off I-40/Route 66….

Days 4 & 5 in Oklahoma

Replica Pumps - Miami Oklahoma, a photo by PatMinNYC on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Thought to be the oldest standing "House with Canopy” style Marathon Oil Station, this landmark was built in 1929. The station has recently undergone an exterior renovation and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in February of 1995.

On day 4 we drove out of Missouri and into Oklahoma with the 3 digit heat following us all the way into this state as well. Pulled into Miami OK for a short break to mail some postcards. Finding this station was a total surprise as well as a beautiful old theater near the post office both on 66…

The Coleman Theater on Route 66 - Miami Oklahoma, a photo by PatMinNYC on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
This historic gem was donated to the city of Miami by the Coleman family in 1989. Built in 1929 it has been restored to its original style. Sadly the day we were there they did not have anyone from the historical society available to conduct a tour of the interior. What a building - I can just imagine how cool the inside must be !! Note that there was not a soul in the street - it was about 104 degrees the day we stopped here on day 4 that afternoon...

Route 66 Museum in Elk City Oklahoma (day 5), a photo by PatMinNYC on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
After spending the night in Clinton - we stopped in Elk City for gas and breakfast. On the way out of town driving West towards Texas we saw this sign and of course we had to stop. The museum had not opened yet so we took a walk around the grounds and much to our surprise found that they had a large space in the back by the parking area dedicated to ranching and farming. The collection of old vintage wind mills alone justified the stop and the price of admission. Below are some selections from this stop….

Windmills of Elk City Oklahoma, a photo by PatMinNYC on Flickr.

Vintage Magnolia gas pump (detail), a photo by PatMinNYC on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
The Ranch and Farming building and the windmills around it in the prior posting were IMHO very interesting – to photograph everything that was in that building would require more memory cards than what I had on me. The rest of the buildings and surrounding structures ( from a purely historical perspective) provided a fairly good representation of pioneer life in Oklahoma and the states that Route 66 crossed on its way down from Chicago to LA. There were a series of interactive displays around the central theme of transportation and RT 66 memorabilia that were fun to look at but I can’t help but feel that this was just a primer of what is actually out there on the open road given the time to find them all. The “Old Town” portion of the museum buildings are an interesting mix of replica and original structures interspersed with vintage items like sewing machines, barber chairs, old metal signs and the like. Some of the highlights was a 1930's Teardrop trailer, a beautiful Indian motorcycle some Drive-In memorabilia and vintage gas pumps. I was especially drawn to a 1962 GT Hawk with its understated elegant design. More about that car and it’s siblings will be forthcoming on this road trip recollection towards the end of our adventure. Hint hint - we stopped in South Bend the next to last day before coming back to NYC ;-)