Urban Tulsa, the alternative weekly in town, has a report today about the still-being-planned Route 66 interpretive center in town.
Many of the quotes are from Michael Wallis, author of the best-selling “Route 66: The Mother Road.”
Wallis’ thoughts about the Route 66 center:
“I saw this site as the key to really push Tulsa over the top in its involvement in Route 66 on a national level,” he said.
The interpretative center will be designed to provide an interactive experience for users, rather than a more passive one. Wallis goes so far as to call it “The Route 66 Experience.”
“I’ve been bending over backwards not to use the word museum,” he said.
“I love museums, but this is not going to be walking in and seeing artifacts under glass. In fact, it will be just the opposite.”
He envisions computer-generated imagery and a variety of hands-on attractions that will appeal not just to those who traveled the road as a child, but to twentysomethings who have grown up accustomed to being engaged in such a manner. A professional staff will be on hand to assist visitors in educational and research activities, elevating the center to a sort of clearinghouse for all things Route 66.
There’s a lot there, albeit much of it already reported here. But it’s a good overview nonetheless.