Gaylord College Students to Traverse Oklahoma's Western Stretch of Route 66 for Multi-Year Initiative

Mayor Dionna Marker of Depew, Oklahoma visits with Gaylord College students from their October trip exploring the eastern half of Oklahoma Route 66.

NORMAN, Okla. - On Saturday, March 9, students from the University of Oklahoma's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, spanning three majors – public relations, advertising and creative media production – will embark on a journey westward across Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66. They will engage with communities, discover landmarks and unearth unique stories along the historic highway.

This trip signifies the second step of a multi-year project between Gaylord students and Oklahoma’s Route 66 Centennial Commission. Students embarked previously on a trip across the eastern stretch in October. As part of the larger project, students will build a comprehensive campaign that boosts awareness and drives traffic along Route 66 in celebration of its centennial in 2026.

Established in 1926, Route 66 spans from Chicago to Los Angeles, but Oklahoma holds a special distinction, boasting more miles of the highway than any other state. Oklahoma City, Tulsa and 43 genuine local towns dot this iconic stretch, serving as a living testament of Oklahoma’s historic past.

“The Route 66 project epitomizes the kind of partnership that Gaylord faculty and students love to take on,” said David Craig, interim dean of Gaylord College. “It will serve the state of Oklahoma, bring together ideas and expertise from multiple disciplines in the college and help to tell untold stories in creative ways.”