Route 66 Miami
Named after the Native American tribe that lived – and continues to live – in the area, Miami (my-am-uh), Oklahoma, has the longest stretch of Main Street on all of Route 66. With an iconic burger joint, a historic vaudeville theater, a vintage motorcycle museum, and much more, this former mining town of 13,000 offers a lot to explore.
So I cruised into town one sultry Saturday in July to do just that. I ended up spending the majority of the day discovering one thing after another, thanks to the locals who directed me to attractions in their town that I didn’t know about when I’d planned my itinerary.
That’s the kind of thing that makes this traveling thing so much fun!
Based on my adventure there, I’ve put together a list of must-see places on Miami’s Route 66. I’ve written separate blog posts for some of the attraction, and you can read those by clicking on the highlighted links.
Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger (915 N. Main Street)
Start your visit to Miami at this iconic burger joint with the yellow Ku-Ku bird out front. Read my post about Ku-Ku burger here.
Coleman Theatre (103 N. Main Street)
This beautiful building was built by George Coleman for the purpose of bringing culture to Miami. George did just that, hosting vaudeville productions, big screen actors, and other types of entertainment.
Take a free tour of the Coleman and admire the stunning architectural elements of this building up close. Read my post about the Coleman Theatre here.
Gateway Sign (Half a block south of Vintage Iron)
This sign is a replica of the one constructed in the 1900s which welcomed visitors who traveled by rail. The original sign was torn down in the 1930s, and this replica was installed in 2012.
Today, it makes for a nice photo op with the Miami’s historic Main Street buildings in the background.
Marathon Service Station (331 S. Main Street)
This small canopied building looks like a brightly-colored Greek temple to me. Built in 1929 by Transcontinental Oil, which was soon acquired my Marathon Oil, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
Here’s its claim to fame: It’s the oldest standing Marathon Oil Station in the country. No one has yet to prove that there’s an older one, so there you have it.
While the Neoclassical facade of the building is fun to look at, be sure to see the side of the building where there’s an outline of a marathon runner imprinted in the brick.
Ribbon Road (Scroll down for directions)
I followed the advice (and directions) from a local resident and followed Main Street south of Miami to a section of road that was used as part of Route 66 from 1926 to 1937. I’m glad I did, because driving on this pavement was my favorite part of this trip to Miami.
The original highway is an Oklahoma National Historic Landmark and was used for four years before becoming part of Route 66. What makes this road so curious is that it’s just 9 feet wide. A possible reason for this is that funds were tight when Oklahoma was building its infrastructure, so rather than covering half the mileage, the decision was made to cover half the width.
Today, there’s a layer of gravel on top of the original pavement, and I have to confess that this gravel layer threw me for a loop. I thought I was headed down the wrong road and even turned back at one point.
After consulting Google Maps (amen for that), I forged ahead. It was totally worth it.
Seeing that quirky ribbon highway stretching out in front of me, knowing that it was vintage pavement, was a really cool feeling.
My late father-in-law was a huge Route 66 enthusiast. From 1949 to 1959, his family used to travel Route 66 from Illinois to Arizona to visit family, and you can read about his memories of those trips here.
Because this ribbon-road portion of Route 66 had closed by 1937, I’m pretty sure my father-in-law never knew about it.
But as my minivan moved over the almost century-old pavement on that scorching July day, I like to think that he was in the passenger seat, thoroughly delighted to share my experience of discovering a “new” old section of his beloved Route 66.
Directions to the Ribbon Road
Take Main Street south out of Miami.
When it curves to the right, it turns into E St. SW. Continue on the road until you come to a “T.”
Turn right onto E 130 Road.
When the road curves sharply to the left, it becomes S 540 Road.
One more sharp curve – this time to the right, and the road will become E 140 Road. When this road reaches Highway 69, you will see the monument dedicated to the Ribbon Road.
Get a sneak peek of Ribbon Road by looking up these directions on Google Maps. It’s a neat way to see another view of this historic highway.
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This article was commissioned by the Joplin CVB, however the opinions expressed are purely my own. The purpose of Joplin MO Life is to highlight all the best that our area has to offer, and when an article is written about a restaurant, business, attraction, or event, it is because I have had an enjoyable experience and want to share it with others.
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Living Life to The Fullest!
I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.
