Route 66 Motorist Center

— Tulsa's Historic Route 66 —

Electrically powered interurban trolley systems were popular
in metropolitan areas in the early twentieth century before
personal automobiles became common. The first interurban
system in the Tulsa area began in Sapulpa, southwest of Red
Fork, and ran south to the Glenn Pool oil field beginning in
1907, making it possible for oil industry workers to live in the
larger town of Sapulpa and still easily commute to work in
Glenn Pool. In 1918, the interurban trolley line was extended
northeast to Tulsa, ending in the Greenwood District.

As automobile ownership became pervasive, commuters
replaced public transportation with private vehicles. Drivers
preferred to travel on roads that were designed as US
Highways because the designation guaranteed an improved,
paved roadbed and access to services along the way. By 1935
this stretch of Sapulpa Road had become a hub of services for
travelers on Route 66. Auto-enthusiasts had their choice of
four cottage court motels, five gas stations, three repair
shops, two cafes, and a grocery store. This concentration of
auto-related businesses was typical for locations just outside
the dense city center because their prices were likely less
expensive and it was easier to maneuver.

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Tulsa's First Oil Strike
Clinton Heights
Route 66 Historical Village
Quanah Retail Center
Red Fork
First Oil Well in Tulsa County
Crystal City
West Tulsa
Not Just a Ball Game
Mary Veasey Leech

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