Day 17 Miami, OK

One of the best features of traveling Route 66 is its small towns.  Miami, pronounced My-am-muh, Oklahoma rolled out its welcome mat for our Adventure Caravans tour!  This town of 13,000 people has a main street with diagonal parking and a most enthusiastic visitor coordinator.  

We began our visit with a stop at baseball great Mickey Mantle's humble boyhood home.  The current owner is restoring the house, and takes great delight in sharing the home with baseball enthusiasts.  Of course, many of us needed to pose in front of the tin barn where Mantle's father and grandfather began pitching to him.  

The tin barn appears as it was during Mantle's childhood…but has been given new supports to ensure its safety.  













Our next stop in MIami was Vintage Iron --- a motorcycle shop and museum -- and Liz had a little fun on this Indian Motorcycle.  









As we visit these small towns, it seems that many of them have had wealthy philanthropists who have helped the community.  The Dobson family was that family in Miami, and we visited the Dobson Museum of local history and the Dobson home.  Miss Nellie Dobson was the last survivor of her family, and stipulated that her family home built in 1915-1916 would be maintained by the local historical society. 
Soloman and Nellie Dobson traveled to Oklahoma with their four children to become one of the first families in Miami.  


Miami was a lead and zinc mining town and in its early years the owners of the mines wanted to be sure that there would be top quality entertainment in the town.  The Coleman Theatre was built in 1919 as a vaudeville/movie theater and has never closed.  Its original Mighty Wurlitzer Organ has entertained generations.  And we were invited to have lunch on the very stage where legendary performers brought theater to Miami.  

As our hosts shared the story of the Coleman Theater, the pride and personal commitment to the restoration and preservation of their town's treasure was obvious. After a fine lunch buffet, we explored the green room, balcony, and adjacent meeting space --- all beautifully restored to its former glory!  


Our first stop in Oklahoma has been a treat. Tomorrow ---  a bus tour of Claremore and Tulsa!