Oklahoma: National Rt 66 Museum in Elk City

 19 May 2022

National Route 66 Museum

Today, alas, is our only day in this part of western Oklahoma. The scenery here is a peaceful rolling landscape, with the occasional lake, small river or ravine and red dirt abounds. It’s really pretty. While we are here, we decided to stop at (yet another) national battlefield, this one the Washita Battlefield National Historic Site. This one had to be the most interesting of all of them that we’ve seen. At least to me.

But, I’m getting ahead of myself. After the battlefield we stopped at the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, OK. It was cheap ($4 senior tickets) and while not specific to Route 66 per se, it was a fun museum with objects that went back a couple of generations from ours, so lots of the familiar and nostalgic. Only about 25% of the total displays could be loosely tied to Route 66–but still, fun.

Hey! This is our 100th blog post! 🤔🥳

Another photo for our WE LIKE IT BIG album! This was a BIG sign!

An early and classic teardrop camper.

Dan practices the “10 and 2” in a pink Cadillac, ostensibly on Rt 66

A classic Indian motorcycle. These are so cool.

Classic Harley Davidson motorcycle

When I hear “bench seat” this is NOT what I usually think of!

A chair made from a disassembled spinning wheel

Part of this museum included a separate Rodeo Museum, centered around national and world champ rodeo riders from the Elk City area. One family in particular was featured.

Beautiful beaded and fringed deerskin dress

A collection of tractor seats in the Farm & Ranch Museum

Plymouth

1950 International 3/4 Ton Pickup

Washita National Historical Site

I was not happy to visit a site that glorified Custer’s surprise attack on a camp lead by a Chief working for peace. I was gratified to find that the visitor center and the film about this attack, were both good in showing both sides and especially in showing how the whites, spurred on by Manifest Destiny, were stealing Indian lands, making treaties they had no intention of honoring, herding the Indians to less desirable land, which they would then take over when they decided they needed it, etc. The whites thought the Indians were savages; the Whites were not trustworthy and they proved it over and over. 

In 2021 and on, it’s CRT. Back in the the 1800s and 1900s, it was the “whitewashing” of the treatment of the Natives to the land we took from them. Yes, reading about this makes me sick to my stomach and angry. That does not mean we should be ignoring what really happened just because it makes us feel bad.

Past the golden field, under the trees, is where Peace Chief Black Kettle had his encampment. The attack took place in late November 1868, led by Lt Col George Custer, in the early morning hours. The Cheyenne were pursued in every direction; some stayed to fight. 30-60 Cheyenne and 20 calvary died. To make their point, soldiers slaughtered the tribe’s 650 ponies, lit a bonfire and burned buffalo robes, clothing, tipis, saddles and weapons. Custer withdraws with women and children they have taken as prisoners. Custer then invited his men “to avail themselves of the services of a captured squaw.”

The path leads down to the river where Peace Chief Black Kettle had his camp.

Here is Custer posing with women and children.
He invited his soldiers to rape and abuse these women (and, children?) as reported by some in his unit. “Comfort women” is an infuriating and sickening euphemism.

Just last week, we were greeted with news that Indian children were murdered and buried on the grounds of the Indian schools where they were sent after being separated from their parents and tribe. This was a conscientious plan to brainwash them with Euro-centric ways, taught by whites, in order that they would not continue with their native heritage.

A ledger drawing by Chief Whirlwind. It was not uncommon to see Plains Tribes use ledger paper to depict significant oral histories. We saw this last year as well, on the Lewis and Clark trail.

Scotch cotton thistle

The Chinese Lantern flowers were in full bloom, close to the ground

This year’s Missouri gourd plant is almost ready to bloom

The fruit from the Missouri gourd from last year

Addendum: Apparently the woman-abuser Custer, after his “big victory” at Washita, became known for his risky attacks. Some say that his defeat at Little Big Horn was due at least in part from his lack of support from his fellow lieutenants who had tired of his antics.

By far on of the most interesting of the battlefields we have visited. And while they are all sad, this one is especially so. 

And now, for something different….

Dan and I got woken up from a loud blast on our cell phones at 1:15 am, telling us to take shelter as there were high winds up to 80 mph, rain and lightning heading our way. The message gave us 15 minutes to take shelter. So, we went over to the state park showers, made of cinderblock, to wait things out.

While Dan was peeking out the door, I was watching radar and getting a jump on today’s Wordle.  It was so weird when the warning came through; both of us looked at each other and said, well, I suppose we should seek shelter….so we got up, got (sort of) dressed, and went over to the showers.

This was the radar view were watching and waiting for. Luckily, we were not affected in any major way and the tree that the rangers took down today did not come down on our RoadHouse last night! One more “interesting experience” to put on our road trip list of interesting experiences!

Tomorrow we head to Crawford State Park in Farlington, KS. Another sticker for our “We camped in this state” map! Stay tuned!