Right along Route 66 in Elk City, Oklahoma, the Old Town Museum invites travelers to step off the asphalt and walk straight into another time. This isn’t just a building filled with antiques — it’s a full reconstruction of a historic frontier town, complete with wooden homes, vintage storefronts, and that unmistakable feeling of stepping into living history.
You’ll wander through a charming replica village that includes a diner, saloon, barber shop, post office, and even a fully recreated doctor’s office — each one set up just as it might have been over a century ago. One of the most touching sights is the first wooden house ever built in Elk City, constructed in 1901 by John Hollis, now carefully preserved and labeled with house number 5. With its white clapboard siding and period interior, it’s a quiet reminder of how life once began here.
And while Elk City tells many stories, one of the boldest belongs to a bull — a legendary rodeo icon known as 018 Cowtown. A commemorative plaque on the museum grounds shares his story:
“018 COWTOWN 1978 – 1993
His hot brand number was 018 But he was called Ole Cowtown. Many a bullrider put a rope on him And most every time they hit the ground.
Over 350 times they nodded their heads But only 5 made the judges book. Ole Cowtown not only would toss them off But his reputation said he would also book.
Eighteen hundred pounds of new brindle brahma Bennie Beutler got him as a four year old From Howard and Grant Harris of Cowtown Rodeo He’s one they wished they’d never sold.
PRCA Stock Contractors must have liked him And the bullriders allowed their respect to show. Twice he was NFR Bucking Bull of the Year And in 1985 he was voted Best of all Pro Rodeo.
A lot of good bulls have come and gone That have caused many a bullrider to frown. Here lies one of the most feared that ever was He was branded: 018 - Cowtown.”
This unique mix of local pride, Route 66 charm, and frontier history makes the Old Town Museum one of those places that surprise you. You come for a quick stop — and end up wandering through a village that feels like it stood still in time, somewhere between the spirit of the Wild West and the hum of classic Americana.
And even if you happen to pass by when the museum buildings are closed, don’t skip the stop.
You can still stroll through the open-air village, peek into the shopfronts, and feel the past around you. It’s quiet, peaceful, and rich in atmosphere — a perfect little detour for anyone chasing the soul of the Mother Road.
