The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority, which contains a network of PBS stations across the state, recently aired a 28-minute “Gallery America” segment about Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan and effervescent Arcadia Round Barn volunteer “Mr. Sam” Gillaspy.
The program is well-produced. Check it out below:
McClanahan’s art gallery just off Route 66 in Chandler, Oklahoma, remains closed indefinitely to the public because he’s higher-risk to COVID-19. He’ll reopen once it’s safe to do so.
In addition to his Route 66-related artwork, McClanahan has researched many obscure alignments of the road and wrote the definitive turn-by-turn guidebook in its fourth edition: “Route 66: EZ66 Guide for Travelers.” McClanahan also posts various updates on his website that didn’t make it into the book before publication.
Historic sites are important to Route 66, but so are the colorful characters who inhabit it such as Mr. Sam at the Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma.
The Round Barn was built in 1898 by William Odor. The roof collapsed during the 1980s, but a group of local volunteers restored it in 1992. The site is on the National Register of Historic Places.
(Screen-capture image from KFOR-TV video of Jerry McClanahan)
Does Mr. Sam still voluteer on Monday’s? I’d enjoy talking with him about the 1889 Land Rush. My grandfather made the Run in the Cheyenne-Arapaho Land Run and my family, like Mr.Sam, still has that first 160 acres.
Bette
Mcjerry’s Gallery is now OPEN!