Rogers County: Route 66, Museums and Oologah Lake

Historic Route 66, also known as State Highway 66, crosses Rogers County from northeast to southwest. Here, a range of travel interests come together: the history of the Mother Road, museums and historic homes, and activities on lakes and trails. When planning your visit, you can choose a focus—such as Will Rogers and collections, Route 66 culture, or water and cycling opportunities.

Art and Heritage Along Route 66

Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park is a historic park along Route 66 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also the oldest and largest example of a folk art environment in Oklahoma. The park’s Fiddle House contains Galloway’s violins and other works he created. In Chelsea, the Route 66 Pedestrian Underpass Mural depicts historic elements of the town, including a 1930s gas station and the Hogue House. The mural is located in one of the few open underpasses on Oklahoma’s Mother Road.

Will Rogers: Collection and Birthplace

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore opened to the public on November 4, 1938. It houses the world’s largest collection of Will Rogers memorabilia. The Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch offers a different focus: it includes a historic Greek Revival-style house and a 162-acre working ranch. The two-story house with log walls, where Will Rogers was born, was built in 1875 in the Cooweescoowee District of the Cherokee Nation. Known as “The White House on the Verdigris,” it is a rare surviving example of buildings on the frontier of the former Indian Territory.

Museums with Stories of Their Own

The J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum houses more than 12,000 firearms and thousands of non-firearm artifacts. Multimedia exhibits create a family-friendly journey through history. The Claremore Museum of History is housed in the former Will Rogers Library and features both a Lynn Riggs Memorial Exhibit and a Radium Water Exhibit. At the Oklahoma Military Academy Museum, Meyer Hall, a former academy barracks, tells part of the institution’s story: the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum also tells the story of more than 10,000 cadets who attended the school from 1919 until it closed in 1971. In Catoosa, the Catoosa Historical Museum is housed in the old train depot.

Water and Trails: A Range of Outdoor Activities

Oologah Lake offers opportunities for fishing, and its broad expanses of water are suitable for sailing. Recreational options at the lake include a swimming beach and mountain biking. The Claremore Mountain Bike Trails offer 16 miles of mountain biking. More than four miles of paved trails run along Claremore Lake for walking and cycling. This gives you a choice between a trail specifically described for mountain biking and paved trails that can also be used for walking.

Seasonal Offerings at the Farmers Market

The Rogers County Farmers Market offers seasonal fruits and vegetables, beef, pork and lamb, eggs, honey, baked goods and homemade crafts. Offerings may vary by season, adding a glimpse of regional market products to the area’s historic and scenic attractions.

Discover more destinations: Claremore, Catoosa, Murray County, Le Flore, Beckham County, Johnston County, Kay County, Major County.

For the main travel overview: Oklahoma.