The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, located in Clinton, marked its 30th anniversary last Tuesday.
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who also leads the state’s tourism department, paid tribute to the museum:
The museum opened on Sept. 23, 1995, and is the oldest dedicated to the Mother Road. It draws 35,000 visitors annually, according to Oklahoma Tourism.
The museum was built on land donated by the late Walter S. Mason Jr., a veterinarian who later became a hotelier with Best Western.
It was constructed for about $1.1 million, with about $250,000 raised by Clinton residents.
Oklahoma-based architect Rand Elliott designed the museum. He also designed the popular Pops along Route 66 in Arcadia, Oklahoma.
In 2022, it received over $1 million for improvements and new exhibits.
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