Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to tell you about the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, Oklahoma. I visited this museum because it’s a stop on the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport! I can’t wait to tell y’all about what I saw at this museum.
*All photos used in this post were taken by myself at the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, Oklahoma.
The Old Chandler Armory
Built in the 1936-1937 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Chandler Armory housed members of the Oklahoma National Guard. This building served as the armory until 1971 when a new one was built north of town.
After 1971, the building began to deteriorate though it was occupied by various companies. Water damage and a decaying roof were among the many problems the building experienced.
In 1993, some people tried to save the building but the endeavor failed. There was even discussion of tearing the building down completely.
But in 1998, the Old Armory Restorers (OAR) was formed to save the armory for good. The building was restored and opened as a museum in 2007.
This portion of the building shows original sandstone and what the floor would have looked like. I also love how they have a stanchion sign showing the restoration process of the building.
The photos below show the original workers building the structure with sandstone quarried from a local mine. The stone Crandall was used to create the texture seen on the rocks.
Exhibitions
This museum has several video stations that tell various aspects of the history of Route 66. The seating was unique at every station which was fun! There were also glass panels with information about the various states that Route 66 runs through.
A few cases contained various objects related to Route 66 in Oklahoma.
Finally, there were some photos on the outside of large circles in the middle of the room that showcased places along Route 66 in Oklahoma.
Concluding Thoughts
This was a neat place to stop in Chandler. I learned some new things about Route 66 and liked that this museum had a unique layout. They also had a lot of cool brochures about other things to do in Oklahoma and along Route 66.
I also thought their gift shop had a great selection of items! I wound up finding a cool book, some stickers and a magnet.
TRAVEL TIP: There are other Oklahoma Route 66 Passport stops and historic markers in Chandler so make sure to check out my other posts about those places! I’ll link them here: Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History and 1930 Phillips 66 Filling Station.
Happy traveling, friend! I’ll talk to ya soon! 🙂
Visit
400 E 1st St
Chandler, OK 74834
The Active Historian 
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