John Watson of the Cleburne (Texas) Times-Review has an article about the formerly “world’s largest McDonald’s restaurant” that squats over Interstate 44 near Vinita, Okla.
It’s not on the classic alignment on Route 66, but a lot of roadies check it out anyway because it’s so quirky.
This is the massive arch-shaped building that’s actually built over the interstate, and you can eat a Big Mac there while traffic zips by under your feet.
What was interesting was Watson’s description of the Will Rogers memorabilia at that site, which I overlooked in the times I was there:
Near the McDonald’s entrance is a large statue of Will Rogers with his lariat held high in the air.
A plaque on the base of the statue states, “The Legislature of Oklahoma provided the opportunity for this statue to be erected as a monument to Will Rogers, favorite son of the state, renaissance man of the West, and a humorist who brought a smile to the face of America.
“Will Rogers, a Native American who united the ancient legacy of the Cherokee people with the philosophies and technologies embraced by all mankind, was a writer, actor and humorist whose cowboy figure cast a new and warm glow of reasoning across the far reaching strata of humanity.
“Dear to his fellow citizens, Will Rogers has given the world an immortal example of high values and righteousness that beam far into tomorrow.”
On entering the lobby you see several pictures of Will Rogers on the wall plus a small TV monitor showing one of his old movies. The lobby is a miniature Will Rogers Museum.
One of the pictures has the following caption beneath it: “We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.”
Based on that last quote, it sounds like Rogers was at least 30 years ahead of his time in regards to civil rights.