In Tulsa, locals have revived a stretch of Route 66—one roadside giant at a time

As we stand in the shadow of a six-metre fibreglass figure in a 10-gallon hat, looming over a stretch of Route 66 like a rootin’-tootin’ guardian of the highway, it’s clear she’s found her calling. I’ve come to the tiny Meadow Gold District of Tulsa, in the north east of Oklahoma, ahead of Route 66’s 100th anniversary to meet the passionate individuals working to preserve one of America’s most iconic stretches of road. A century on, it remains a symbol of the great American road trip — and that’s partly thanks to locals like Mary Beth, who continue to upgrade it for a new wave of drivers.

Author: @NatGeoTravel

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