Cyrus Avery and the Founding of Route 66

Paved roads were the exception instead of the norm in the early 20th century. As the Good Roads movement gained traction in the U.S., Tulsa resident Cyrus Avery advocated for a network of highways connecting major cities. In this episode, Trait Thompson and Dr. Bob Blackburn explore Cyrus Avery’s work building roads in Oklahoma and his influence on the creation of the Main Street of America, Route 66. Their guests are author and co-founder of the Route 66 Alliance, Michael Wallis, and Ken Busby, founding chairman of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission and co-founder of the Route 66 Alliance.