Rhys Martin
@rhysfunk.com
Photographer, writer, and traveler from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Prez of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and Preserve Route 66 Manager for the National Trust for Historic Preservation (views are my own, though.) Puns.
Trailer for the new John Paget Route 66 documentary, coming to historic venues on the Mother Road in Sept/Oct! www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7MM...
ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA | Official Roadshow Trailer
YouTube video by First + Main Films
youtube.com
A new Route 66 monument in Sayre, Oklahoma. It is a great example of using the road's familiar iconography and merging it with the authentic local story.
Route 66 Centennial Caravan – The Journey Begins On the morning of June 6th, 2026, I woke up before my 6:00 AM alarm went off. It was Day One of the Route 66 Centennial Caravan – so much planning and preparation had led to that day. I went to the lobby to get a cup of coffee and a quick bite,…
Route 66 Centennial Caravan – The Journey Begins
On the morning of June 6th, 2026, I woke up before my 6:00 AM alarm went off. It was Day One of the Route 66 Centennial Caravan – so much planning and preparation had led to that day. I went to the lobby to get a cup of coffee and a quick bite, where I bumped into a few of my Caravan compatriots that were similarly wrestling with too much excitement to sleep any longer. This would become my pattern for the next three weeks, my tradition: wake early, eat a small breakfast, make last-minute preparations, and get our group out the door on time.
rhysfunk.com
Route 66 Centennial Caravan – Setting the Stage From June 6th to June 20th, I helped lead the Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan. It was exhausting, exciting, devastating, and rewarding. Overall, it exceeded my expectations, though that came with a high cost. It was the first time…
Route 66 Centennial Caravan – Setting the Stage
From June 6th to June 20th, I helped lead the Main Street of America Route 66 Centennial Caravan. It was exhausting, exciting, devastating, and rewarding. Overall, it exceeded my expectations, though that came with a high cost. It was the first time I had traveled Route 66 from end-to-end in a single trip. For the next few weeks, I will be writing in detail about our journey across the country and you will hopefully understand why I chose all of those words. But first, I need to write about how it all came about.
rhysfunk.com
New neon in Tulsa! Sign #87 installed with the assistance of the city's Route 66 Neon Sign Grant program.
This is a big deal! This has the potential to be transformative for the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.
Route 66 Centennial License Plate Now Available for Ordering — Oklahoma Route 66 Association
100 prepaid signups are needed before the plates enter production and you can sign up today!
oklahomaroute66.com
Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s official centennial T-shirt features Bob Waldmire artwork The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced that its 2026 Route 66 centennial T-shirt features artwork from late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. Waldmire, a well-traveled hippie whose intricate…
Oklahoma Route 66 Association’s official centennial T-shirt features Bob Waldmire artwork
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced that its 2026 Route 66 centennial T-shirt features artwork from late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. Waldmire, a well-traveled hippie whose intricate pen-and-ink drawings were beloved by the Route 66 community, was also the inspiration for Fillmore the Volkswagen minibus in Disney-Pixar’s 2006 "Cars" film. He was also the son of Ed Waldmire, who founded the iconic Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant along Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois.
route66news.com
We need help! @oklahomaroute66.com is staffing a rest stop for Tulsa Tough in Kellyville, right off of Rt 66. We need folks that can hand out provisions and encouragement the morning of June 7! Click this link and the pw (RT66) will be there - click Submit and the info will populate. Free Shirt!
Volunteer with Tulsa Tough, Inc.
Volunteer with Tulsa Tough, Inc.
tulsatoughinc.volunteerlocal.com
I thought a full Howdy would be too intense, so I opted for a light Howdy instead.
Route 66 Kicks Into Gear for the Centennial It's 7:00 in the morning and Westside Lilo's opens for business. The first customer in the door is an old man, and the waitress has a cup of coffee on his table before he sits down. In 20 minutes, the entire dining room is full. There's electricity in…
Route 66 Kicks Into Gear for the Centennial
It's 7:00 in the morning and Westside Lilo's opens for business. The first customer in the door is an old man, and the waitress has a cup of coffee on his table before he sits down. In 20 minutes, the entire dining room is full. There's electricity in the air. Brenda Bryant, owner and operator of Westside Lilo's, starting her day. It's the day before the 37th annual Fun Run, an event put on by the Arizona's Route 66 Association to celebrate the first segment of the famous highway that was designated as historic.
rhysfunk.com
On this day in 1926, Route 66 got its number. It was originally going to be Highway 60 but a conflict with the Governor of Kentucky meant a new number had to be selected. Tulsan Cyrus Avery was a deciding factor in the decision...and the rest is history! Check out today's Google Doodle!
I met a couple of cool travelers from Germany today - they are driving an East German car all the way across Route 66! oklahomaroute66.com/news/trabi-o...
A German Companion on Route 66 — Oklahoma Route 66 Association
by Rhys Martin As I stood outside of Sweetie Pie’s Amish Bakery and Café on Tulsa’s stretch of Route 66, I could hear the little car coming. It wasn’t struggling, per se, but the engine just sounde...
oklahomaroute66.com
My friend from IL: hey I bumped into someone that knows you! I forgot to get their name. Me: Oh, that's nice. Where were you? Them: The airport. Me: (do I know anyone that's going on a trip?) Them: In Miami! Me: Well, I hope that forever mystery person has a safe flight.
Ten minutes away! See y'all soon. speakers.researchroute66.org/session-over...
04-Mother Road Book, broad perspectives - Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series | ResearchRoute66
Explore the centennial, history, and culture of America’s iconic Mother Road through scholarly talks and archival resources. the Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series presented by Research Route 66
speakers.researchroute66.org
Sapulpa's Rock Creek Bridge, once feared to be lost to the wrecking ball, is now the centerpiece of a public park. Great job to all involved - another great addition to Oklahoma's Route 66 corridor!
Great news for one of Route 66's most beloved landmark legacy businesses!
Route 66 News@route66news.bsky.social · 4mo agoRich Dinkela purchases the historic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba Today, Rich Dinkela and his wife, Christina, closed on the purchase of the landmark Wagon Wheel Motel along Route 66 in Cuba, Missouri. Dinkela said they bought the property for $1 million. He said there would be a "lull" of one to two…
On Tuesday, April 14th I will be joining Ken Busby and Michael Wallis for a discussion about how Route 66's past brought us to today and how it can lead us into the road's future. Register and join us, won't you? speakers.researchroute66.org/session-over...
04-Mother Road Book, broad perspectives - Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series | ResearchRoute66
Explore the centennial, history, and culture of America’s iconic Mother Road through scholarly talks and archival resources. the Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series presented by Research Route 66
speakers.researchroute66.org
When I gotta get inside to take a conference call, suddenly it's time for a sniffari in the backyard. C'MON BUDDY!
My wife and her mom opened an antique/upcycle shop in Tulsa last year. I told em, "Hey, you should call it Bad Penny...because it always comes back around!" I laughed at my own joke, her mom didn't like it, Sam had to think about it...and now there's a neon sign blazing brightly with it. #Route66
So far, the music at this restaurant has consisted of Our Love's in Jeopardy, Another One Bites the Dust, and MacArthur Park. Someone is playing a subtle Weird Al playlist.
Accelerating Through 2026 The last time I took the time to sit down and write a post here, it was January. The Drive Home tour had just come through Tulsa. I had spent a few days in Arizona and was marking the anniversary of my father's passing. It's been about two months since then. I just marked…
Accelerating Through 2026
The last time I took the time to sit down and write a post here, it was January. The Drive Home tour had just come through Tulsa. I had spent a few days in Arizona and was marking the anniversary of my father's passing. It's been about two months since then. I just marked the anniversary of my mother's passing while I was on the road in western Oklahoma. Things are moving so fast right now and I can't believe we're halfway through March already. I'm going to try to make this more substantive than just a photo slideshow of what I've been up to but it's hard not to because there's so much to cover!
rhysfunk.com
Model A's at the Sophian Plaza in Tulsa, which is also celebrating 100 years this year!
