Ozark Trails Section of Route 66 - Stroud, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 35° 43.445 W 096° 43.288
14S E 706089 N 3955739
This National Register listing includes a 1.3 mile section of dirt road, drainage structures, a bridge and an Ozark Trail obelisk.
Waymark Code: WM12W06
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 07/22/2020
Views: 2
The coordinates above are located at the west edge of this 1.3 mile section of dirt road (county road E890). The St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad tracks run north-south at this point. A pony truss bridge built in 1917 over the Dosie Creek on the west end of this road was part of the listing, but no longer remains. At the east end of this section of road, at County roads E890 and N3540, a 21-foot obelisk stands, marking the Ozark Trail. (Coordinates N35 43.446 W96 41.908). The roadway is as it was originally developed - dirt with some gravel, and about 18 ft. wide. It travels a straight path across the land from 1.4 miles east of Davenport to 3 miles southwest of Stroud.
The Ozark Trail was a series of locally established roadways, connected to allow for faster travel across the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri. The full story of this remarkable undertaking in American travel can be read on the NRHP nomination form. NRHP orm
This section of road was established in 1917 as part of the Ozark Trail and became part of Route 66 in 1926. A grocery and gas station were located at the east end, as well as other small businesses and a tourist camp, but all are long gone and a part of history. Hard to believe, but this isolated section of road was actually part of the 1928 Bunion Derby, a foot race from New York to Los Angeles. In 1930, Route 66 was moved north of this location, and this road remained as part of the local rural area.
The 21-foot tall concrete obelisk at the intersection of E890 and N3540 originally stood at the intersection of 3rd and 8th (present day Jct. 99 and 66) in Stroud. It was moved to its present location at a date unknown. The obelisk has a square base 48" wide and 46" high, on which a gradually tapering obelisk stands. Originally, lights were located at the top. The obelisk was painted with graffiti for years, but was later painted over with white paint, as it stands today. There were originally seven obelisks of this type across Oklahoma. Only two remain. They were painted with town names and mileage to assist travelers.