Honoring the “father of Route 66,” Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza is a unique tribute to an individual and the culture of an entire era in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Celebrating the legacy of Route 66 while also being connected to the actual history of the road, the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza showcases what it can mean to honor a legacy while also cultivating further interest in it.
Honoring and Experiencing the “Mother Road”
Cyrus Avery played an instrumental role in the creation of Route 66 as a member of the federal board that was appointed to create the Federal Highway System. One of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System, the “Mother Road” as it came to be known, supported the economies of the communities through which it passed, highlighting the importance of the road in a literal sense.
The cultural impact of Route 66 was even more significant though, with songs, books, movies and more detailing the liberating spirit that it came to represent. Removed from the United States Highway System in 1985, the impact of Route 66 can still be felt and seen across the United States.
Funded in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Centennial Commission to further celebrate this impact, Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza was dedicated in 2008. It features flags of the eight states of Route 66, markers with info about the road and era, and the Route 66 Skywalk. It also contains the “East Meets West” bronze statue that was dedicated in 2012, which depicts the intersection of people in a car and on a horse carriage.
The 2008 Route 66 Marathon had one section go under the Route 66 Skywalk, highlighting how it is still an active element of the culture. Located in an area that overlooks an original stretch of the road, Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza showcases what it can look like to celebrate history and legacy in a way that resonates with audiences of all eras.
Connection in the Present, Further Opportunities in the Future
Future plans for Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza entail the creation of a new visitor’s center and a Route 66 Interpretive Center, highlighting what sort of additional opportunities landmarks can open up in the future. Audiences in the present can take some distinctive photos and experience the reality and legacy of Route 66 at the landmark, showcasing what it means for a monument to enable connections across audiences and entire cultures.
