Historical Marker Program

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1928 Route 66 Footrace

Rogers County
Location: at the intersection of Poplar Street and East 4th Street in Foyil
Coordinates: 36.435019, -95.520072
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): Foyil Heritage Association
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Social/Culture

In 1928, Andrew Hartley Payne of Foyil won a transcontinental footrace from Los Angeles to New York City in 573 hours, 4 minutes, and 34 seconds. He became known as one of the greatest long-distance runners in American history. The race route through Oklahoma followed US-66.

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Clement Vann Rogers

Rogers County
Location: on the grounds of the Will Rogers Birthplace Ranch, Oologah vicinity
Coordinates: 36.467200, -95.665550
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): Oklahoma Centennial Commission
Topics: American Indians; Government; Territorial Period, 1861–1907

Born in the Going Snake District, Cherokee Nation, Clement (Clem) Vann Rogers was the only son of Sallie Vann and Robert Rogers Jr. He was educated in the Cherokee Nation. He married Mary America Schrimsher and served in the Cherokee Confederate Cavalry. Clem and Mary eventually established a 60,000-acre ranch in the Cooweescoowee District. In 1870 they built their log-walled white house on the Verdigris River, where Will Rogers was born in 1879. Clem served on the bench in the Cherokee Senate and at the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention. After Mary’s death in 1890, Clem moved to Claremore where he was active in politics, banking, and business. He is buried in Chelsea. Rogers County was named in his honor.

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Port of the Plains

Rogers County
Location: approximately two miles north of Catoosa on the grounds of Rogers Point Park
Coordinates: 36.211544, -95.721841
Material: Other (Stone with bronze plaque)
Sponsor(s): Port of Tulsa Propeller Club
Topics: Industrial Period, 1941–1982; Transportation; Water

Head of navigation for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, the Tulsa Port of Catoosa is located one mile upstream from this marker. The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System is a 448-mile channel stretching from the Mississippi River up the Arkansas and Verdigris Rivers to the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. Barges are raised a total of 420 feet via 17 locks and dams from the Mississippi to Catoosa, and the entire waterway connects with much of the nation’s 29,000 miles of inland waterways.

Note: This marker could not be located.

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Pryor Creek Bridge

Rogers County
Location: northeast of Chelsea on OK-66
Coordinates: 36.538600, -95.414700
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): Chelsea Area Historical Society
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Transportation

The Pryor Creek Bridge was built in 1926 and carried traffic on US-66 from 1926 to 1932, when a new alignment of Route 66 bypassed the bridge. The bridge is 123 feet in length with a total width of 19 feet. It is the only remaining unaltered example of a modified Pratt through truss bridge in Oklahoma.

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Will Rogers Highway

Rogers County
Location: on the grounds of JM Davis Arms & Historical Museum in Claremore
Coordinates: 36.314700, -95.614950
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): City of Claremore
Topics: Early Statehood, 1907–1941; Transportation

US Highway 66 opened on November 11, 1926. It was nicknamed the Will Rogers Highway in honor of writer, humorist, and actor Will Rogers, who was born on a ranch north of Claremore.