Get your kicks UNDER Route 66! The Route 66 Pedestrian Underpass Mural in Chelsea, Oklahoma, takes you on a colorful journey through the town’s history, right beneath the legendary Mother Road.
There are plenty of chances to drive or walk on Route 66, but it’s not every day you get to walk under it. The pedestrian underpass in Chelsea was originally built to provide a safer crossing for locals during a time when the road above bustled with traffic. Rather than dodging speeding cars, pedestrians could slip beneath the highway, emerging safely on the other side.
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Chelsea’s underpass is one of only a few along Route 66—others can be found in Pontiac and Odell, Illinois, and Sayre, Oklahoma. But this one doesn’t just serve a purpose, it tells a story.
After sitting neglected for years, the underpass was cleaned up and transformed in 2016. Local artist Kenneth Hollingshead was commissioned to bring its walls to life with a vibrant mural designed to resemble a collection of framed photographs. Each “photo” panel captures a key moment or place in Chelsea’s past, including:
- Frisco Depot
- Indian territory
- Chelsea, OK 1907
- Oklahoma’s First Oil Well
- Feed Mill & Cotton Gin
- Phillips 66 Gas Station
- Pryer Creek Bridge
- Chelsea, I.T. Est. 1889
- The Sears House
- End of the Trail
- the Chelsea Motel
- A Cattle Drive
- Route 66
At the heart of the mural, a bold Route 66 shield bursts forward with the words “The Mother Road.” The opposite wall has been left blank on purpose so visitors can sign their names and mark their moment on Route 66 history.
You can park in the pharmacy lot to explore the site. The site is enhanced with directional signs point to iconic Route 66 stops like the Blue Whale, Coleman Station, Chicago, and Santa Monica. And you’ll spot signs inviting you to “Get Your Kicks Under Route 66.”
And don’t miss the Bob Waldmire U-Haul Truck parked just outside, another great photo op at this uniquely under-the-radar (and under-the-road) Route 66 stop!
Photos of the Route 66 Pedestrian Underpass Mural in Chelsea, Oklahoma
