25 Oklahoma Goldback

The young woman on the Oklahoma 25 Goldback embodies the timeless virtue Hospitalitas, or Hospitality. Bathed in golden light, she sits gracefully on the hood of a classic 1960 Chevrolet Impala 348 Convertible. She gazes toward the horizon with a welcoming smile, representing the open-hearted spirit of Oklahoma along the nation’s most iconic highway: Route 66.

This piece is set during the golden age of the American road trip—a period from the 1940s to the 1960s when Route 66 thrived as a symbol of freedom, discovery, and adventure. The drive itself was part of the destination, and few places played a more central role in that journey than Oklahoma.

Commissioned in 1926, Route 66 carved a bold path through the heartland, stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica. For many small towns across Oklahoma, it was their first direct link to the national highway system, turning quiet crossroads into vibrant hubs of American life.

During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Route 66 became a road of survival as thousands of Oklahomans journeyed west. John Steinbeck called it the “Mother Road” because it carried entire generations through hardship toward new beginnings. But in the postwar decades, that same road blossomed into something new: a living symbol of American hospitality.

To meet the steady flow of travelers, Oklahomans built unforgettable roadside attractions, including the Blue Whale of Catoosa, the Round Barn in Arcadia, the Pops 66 Soda Ranch, and the Golden Driller of Tulsa. These quirky businesses served as heartfelt invitations to experience Oklahoma’s charm firsthand. They welcomed strangers like old friends, much like the Rock Café sign glowing in the background—an original Route 66 diner has endured the Dust Bowl, fire, and the test of time. The artwork brings all of these stories together into a nostalgic visual tapestry. 

A hawk soars above the figure, symbolizing the freedom of the open road. Delicately placed in her hair and on her lap is the Oklahoma Rose, the state’s official flower and a symbol of enduring beauty, pride, and grace. She represents every Oklahoman who has ever poured a cup of coffee, fixed a flat tire, offered a warm meal, or simply smiled and waved at someone passing through. 

As Hospitalitas reminds us, greatness lies not only in where you’re going, but in how you’re treated along the way. And so, at the bottom of this note, an enduring truth is written: “The open road knows no strangers.”