Sunday gave us nice weather, especially for the end of April and coming at the end of, what seemed like weeks, of storms. Perfect for a convertible ride with camera in hand!
Much is being made of the Route 66 Centennial and Tulsa is all in! We're home to several iconic roadside attractions, so Sunday was the day to explore and see what all the hoopla is about.
This is Stella Atom, 19' tall. A bit of research says she arrived here in June, 2024. (Somehow I missed that bit of local news.)
The "Cosmic Cowgirl" was an arranged marriage, so to speak, to be the companion of the 21' Cosmic Cowboy, Buck Atom.
Buck has been a resident of 11th Street's section of Route 66 since 2019. He stands guard over a renovated 1950s PEMCO gas station which houses a whimsical variety of Rt 66 kitschy souvenirs.
Outside of this little shop, Cosmic Curios, stands a cobbled together robot and a charming pig. I didn't catch their names. I think Porky is meant to call attention to Baloney Maroney's food truck on the premises.
Next door is another shop of curiosities called Decopolis Discovitorium. Outside, you'll find lots of photo ops for the kids, such as dinosaurs and photo booths. But inside, besides the usual silly toys and souvenirs, is a small, but glorious collection of Art Deco works and a few Steampunk pieces.
You can also read history about Tulsa's Jazz Age, the Art Deco style and how different ages and cultures reinvent it with touches of their own artistic trends.
The creator/owner/imaginarian of Decapolis is an incredibly accomplished artist, Tulsa's own, "William the Artist." Check out his portfolio here:
decopolis.net/pages/william-the-artist
There's also a small ice cream parlor and a charming display of candies.
This whole area is called The Meadow Gold District, named for a massive neon sign advertising the dairy by the same name. It was first installed in the 1930's in another location. That building was destined for demolition but the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture rescued the sign, restored it to its former glory, and moved it to its current location. It sits in a place of honor on top of a pavilion featuring plaques about its history.
Meadow Gold Mack, the Friendly Lumberjack, stands watch over another little shop.
He used to stand outside a lumber store in Illinois before arriving here in 2024.
Inside the shop is a mix of old vinyl albums, tshirts, vintage items and Rt 66 souvenirs. My favorite was the robot art of repurposed appliance pieces (not sure who the artist is who creates these).
Across the street stands Cowboy Bob. He arrived in 2025.
Another member of this group affectionately called American Giants or Land of the Giants, is Rosie the Riviter. She stands 19' tall and made her home in Tulsa just last fall! Inspired by the famous poster of WW2, she serves as a tribute to the women who worked in defense factories during the war.
Did you know, according to the interweb, there are approximately 180-200 original fiberglass "Muffler Man" giants scattered across the USA? A quick keyword search will yield several sites explaining their history and even maps of where to spot them.
Tulsa's stretch of Rt 66 is decorated with planters, road signs, and great murals. Definitely a worthwhile stop on the Centennial Tour.
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