Clinton - Hub City of Western Oklahoma
Welcome to Clinton, home of the first state sponsored Route 66 Museum. Our community owes its beginnings to two men, J.L. Avant and E.E. Blake, who in 1899 decided to locate a town in the Washita River Valley. Because of government regulations that any individual Indian could only sell half of their 160 acre land allotment, Avant and Blake purchased 320 acres from four different Indians - Hays, Shoe-Boy, Nowahy and Night Killer, at a cost of $8000 to originate a small settlement called Washita Junction.
Once Congress approved, the sale was granted in 1902 and Washita Junction quickly developed. During an attempt to start its own post office, Washita Junction learned that the name they had chosen for their city would not be accepted by the postal department, so they chose to name the town after the late Judge Clinton Irwin. The Frisco Railroad later turned the town into an important shipping center for the area.
When Historic Route 66 was established, Clinton quickly took advantage of the opportunity with several new businesses, including the locally famous Pop Hicks Restaurant, which opened in 1936. Unfortunately, Route 66 's oldest operating restaurant burned down in 1999. People still ask about it. Clinton was the one time home of the National Highway 66 Association which operated for almost thirty years beginning after World War II. Though the association was disbanded in the 1980s, it instilled in Clinton an adhering interest in the Mother Road and the town became home to the first state sponsored Route 66 Museum in the nation. While you are here, be sure to stop by and see it for yourself.
In fact, this year we are proud to be the host of the The National Route 66 Festival, an event devoted to celebrate Historic Route 66, the "Mother Road". We are hosting this event in conjunction with Oklahoma's Centennial celebration for 2007. Oklahoma is home to more drivable miles of the Mother Road than any other state.
During the Festival you will find a true piece of small town Americana, steeped in the golden age of Route 66. You will be able to talk with famous Route 66 authors and artists who strive to preserve the Road through their work. At the Car and Motorcycle Show, owners will showcase their well preserved and restored vehicles from the past 100 years. This and additional planned events with make National Route 66 Festival a must do for this summer. Don't miss Hot Dog Daze (aka Weiner Nationals), on July 21, 2007! Events include Wiener Dog Races, sidewalk sales, free hot dogs from Bar-S Foods and a parade.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Sources:
Wikipedia
Clinton Chamber of Commerce
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
Travel OK
