TOWER THEATRE Aglow in neon, Uptown
STATE CAPITOL COMPLEX
23rd is a star thoroughfare on Route 66, and the Tower Theatre its lead actor. Open since 1937, the Art Deco icon originally
Rising over the Northeast side of OKC like a beacon,
the Oklahoma State Capitol was designed in classic Greco-Roman style by architect Solomon Layton and built of white limestone and pink granite between 1914 and 1917. And the capitol didn’t get a dome until 2002, capped with a Native American statue commemorating the state’s rich Indigenous history. Under the dome, visitors will find the largest public art galleries in Oklahoma. Be sure to visit the Tribal Flag Plaza, featuring flags representing the recognized tribes in Oklahoma, displayed around an earthen mound inspired by Spiro Mounds, the only prehistoric Indigenous archaeological site in the state.
served as a 1,500-seat movie house, drawing cinephiles for film premieres and screenings for decades. After closing in 1989, the property re- emerged in 2017 as a live music venue. Films occasionally still screen in the auditorium, along with traveling acts and themed events. Restoration efforts preserved the majesty of the building, including its neon sign, which still lights the way along 23rd Street.
OKC DISTRICTS Route 66 winds through several vibrant districts in OKC, each offering its own attractions and atmosphere.
CHEEVER’S CAFE Just down the street from the Tower Theatre, another Route
These include Uptown 23rd with eclectic photo-ops and dining, and the Asian District, dotted with dim sum parlors, bubble tea shops and Asian markets. The 39th Street District is the only gayborhood on the route, home to OKC’s most popular gay bars, clubs and an annual Pride festival. Other notable districts include the Adventure District, offering action-packed amenities like the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Remington Park and the OKC Zoo, and the Britton District, a postcard- perfect stretch of murals, shops, cafes and a distillery. And don’t forget to stop for photos at Will Rogers Theatre in the Western Avenue District.
66 icon has roots of its own. Cheever’s Cafe, ranked among
OKC’s best restaurants, has been serving contemporary Southern and Southwestern food since 2000.What makes the restaurant particularly notable is the fact that the first baby born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Belle Cunningham, was born in this very building — a former home that became a flower shop after the burgeoning businesswoman married Lawrence “L.L.” Cheever. The business closed in the mid-‘90s, but the 20-foot flower case remains (albeit instead of flowers, it’s wine and desserts), providing a unique opportunity to dine amongst OKC history.
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