Oklahoma City’s celebration of Route 66’s 100th anniversary will leave a lasting message for future generations when a time capsule is buried beneath the towering Kicks 66 sculpture on Thursday, Nov. 12.
The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony at 9:30 a.m. near the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, where the capsule will remain sealed until 2126, marking the Mother Road’s 200th anniversary.
Inside are more than 1,300 postcards written to future Oklahoma City residents by people from 33 states and 12 countries. The collection also includes a Key to the City from Mayor David Holt and memorabilia representing life in Oklahoma City today.
The ceremony will feature remarks from Ward 7 Councilman Camal Pennington, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum President Pat Fitzgerald and local artist Cameron Eagle, who created the Kicks 66 sculpture.
Standing 35 feet tall, the giant red cowboy boot has become a distinctive roadside attraction along Route 66. Funded through MAPS 4 and inspired by the highway’s tradition of larger-than-life landmarks, the sculpture features 1.2 miles of interior LED lighting that illuminates it after dark.
The time capsule project commemorates the historic opening of Route 66 on Nov. 11, 1926, connecting today’s Oklahoma City residents with those who will celebrate the highway’s bicentennial a century from now.
Oklahoma City is home to 51.5 miles of Route 66, while Oklahoma boasts more than 400 miles of the legendary highway, more than any other state.
Kicks 66 is located in the east parking lot of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63rd St., and is accessible daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For more information about Oklahoma City’s Route 66 centennial activities, visit okc.gov/route66.
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