As cool as Steve McQueen

Ron Stahl of the Daily Oklahoman does a near-heroic job tracking down obscure museums in the Sooner State, including a few near Route 66 that escaped my notice or haven’t visited yet.

I have heard about the relatively new Route 66 Vintage Iron Museum in Miami, Okla., but didn’t know about its special collection:

One of the largest collections of Indiana-born actor Steve McQueen‘s memorabilia is in Miami, OK, at the Route 66 Vintage Iron Museum. McQueen was a motorcycle racer, and Tony Holden, the museum owner, is a Steve McQueen fan.

The Vintage Iron Museum has more than 25 old bikes, including a 1919 Australian GCS motorcycle that is believed to be the only one left in the world.

Museum manager Chris Martin said the McQueen memorabilia is a big surprise to visitors. “Most people don’t know we have McQueen stuff when they come in. Then they go ‘wow’ and get pretty excited,” he said.

Martin said the McQueen items include two motorcycles, a Husqvarna racing bike and a 1949 Indian Arrow. Fourteen of McQueen’s racing trophies also are on display.

Another one is the Elsing Museum at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. Willard Elsing collected rocks at his shop in Joplin, Mo., on Route 66 for decades and donated his collection to the university in 2001.

Another one is the Ida Dennis Willis Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys in Tulsa. There’s no Route 66 connection that I’m aware of, except the Mother Road goes through town. Still, it sounds like a side trip of interest.