Our Route 66 Adventures: Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza

Date of Visit: June 21, 2025

The Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza is located on the east side of the 11th Street bridge that crosses the Arkansas River in Tulsa. It celebrates Cyrus Avery, who is considered the Father of Route 66.

There is a parking lot for the plaza across the street up a hill and a bridge can be used to cross the road and access the plaza.

The main feature of the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza is the East Meets West sculpture with a horse-drawn carriage coming from the West meeting Cyrus Avery with his wife and daughter in a Model T coming from the East.

Cranking the Model T

Whoa!

On the west side of the plaza is the original 11th Street bridge that took Route 66 over the Arkansas River. It is now closed off with a gate and named Cyrus Avery Memorial Bridge.

Definitely plan to visit this plaza again on our Route 66 trip in 2026 because we did not realize until later that there is a pedestrian bridge behind it that goes under I-244 across the river and over to the neon sign park on the other side.

See full list of our Route 66 Adventures here.

Destination Info:

Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza

Tulsa, OK