Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park: Route 66’s Greatest Folk Art Wonder in Foyil, Oklahoma
In the world of Route 66 roadside wonders, few stops inspire the kind of quiet awe that settles over visitors the moment they step through the fish-arch gateway at Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park in Foyil, Oklahoma. Rising 90 feet from the back of an enormous hand-sculpted concrete turtle, the World’s Largest Concrete Totem Pole is covered in approximately 200 bas-relief images — brightly painted Native American portraits, animals, symbols, and tribal scenes — the life’s work of a retired schoolteacher who spent 11 years building it alone, mostly before sunrise.
Unlike the quirky novelties scattered along the Mother Road for commercial effect, the Totem Pole Park is something deeper: a genuine act of devotion. Ed Galloway was not a professional artist. He was a woodworking teacher who cared about beauty, about the history of America’s indigenous peoples, and about leaving something lasting on the land. The result is one of the most extraordinary folk art environments in the United States — and a National Register of Historic Places landmark that belongs on every serious Route 66 itinerary.
This guide covers everything you need to know to visit Totem Pole Park: the full story of Ed Galloway and how the park came to be, a detailed description of what you’ll find on-site, directions and visiting hours, nearby Route 66 stops in northeastern Oklahoma, and why this small park 3.5 miles east of Route 66 in Oklahoma’s historic corridor earns its place among the Mother Road’s all-time greats.
The Story of Ed Galloway: A Schoolteacher’s Monument
Nathan Edward Galloway was born in Springfield, Missouri in 1880 and spent much of his childhood teaching himself to carve — mother-of-pearl buttons, small wooden figures, and furniture that showed a craftsman’s instinct for detail long before he ever received formal training. He built a studio and wood art workshop in Springfield, but in July 1913, fire consumed the building and nearly everything in it. Only one scorched sculpture survived.
Starting over without an income, Galloway moved to Oklahoma and eventually came to the attention of Charles Page, the philanthropist and Sand Springs founder who ran the Children’s Home orphanage in Sand Springs, near Tulsa. Page hired Galloway in 1914 as a manual arts teacher, a role he held for more than two decades. Every day in the shop, he taught orphan boys the patience and discipline of working with their hands. He crafted fiddles by the dozens — intricate, inlaid instruments that were never playable but were works of extraordinary decorative art. Some were made from exotic hardwoods sent back from overseas by his former students during World War II.
In 1937, Galloway retired to a small farm near Foyil, located 10 miles northeast of Claremore. He was 57 years old and had no particular plan — except to stay busy. Inspired by postcards and issues of National Geographic, he decided to build something in tribute to the Native Americans whose history he admired. He would build it from concrete, steel, and rock — fireproof materials that would not repeat the Springfield disaster — and he would build it in his front yard, beside the road, so travelers could see it.
He rose at 5:00 AM every morning and worked until past sunset. He mixed concrete by hand, bent steel rebar, and sculpted every figure with the same methodical care he had brought to his fiddles. He used 28 tons of cement, 6 tons of steel, and 100 tons of sand and rock. He worked for 11 years. In 1948, the great totem pole was complete — a 90-foot column rising from a massive concrete turtle, its surface alive with faces and animals and symbols, painted in the vivid colors he had envisioned from those magazine pages in the 1930s.
He did not stop there. Through the 1950s Galloway added smaller works to the property: an Arrowhead Totem, a Birdbath Totem, a Fireplace Totem, a Tree Totem, picnic tables and chairs carved in concrete, totem barbeque grills, bird-shaped gateposts, and the remarkable Fish-Arch gateway. He also built the eleven-sided Fiddle House — a building resembling a Navajo hogan, supported inside and out by 25 concrete totem poles, designed to display his collection of hand-crafted fiddles and woodwork.
Galloway died in 1962. After his death, the sculptures began to deteriorate from weather and neglect, and for nearly three decades the park sat quietly fading. Then, in 1989, the Rogers County Historical Society acquired the property. Working alongside the Kansas Grassroots Art Association and the Foyil Heritage Association, they launched a major restoration effort that ran from 1988 to 1998. Art conservators and engineers studied the site, repainted and replicated damaged elements, and returned the park to something close to its original brilliance. In 1999, Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Today the Rogers County Historical Society owns and operates the park. The Foyil Heritage Association assists with fundraising and grounds maintenance. Ed Galloway’s quote, painted at the entrance to the Fiddle House, captures the spirit of everything he built: “All my life I did the best I knew. I built these things by the side of the road to be a friend to you.”
What You’ll Find at Totem Pole Park: A Complete Guide
The World’s Largest Concrete Totem Pole
The centerpiece of the nine-acre park is unmistakable from the road: a 90-foot-tall concrete totem pole rising from the back of an enormous kelly-green and aqua-painted turtle. The turtle itself is a reference to a Native American creation story, and Galloway incorporated this symbolism deliberately. The totem’s base is 30 feet wide, and the entire structure weighs 134 tons.
The pole is decorated with approximately 200 bas-relief images: Native American portraits from various tribes, eagles and other birds, geometric symbols, and ceremonial figures. Near the top, four nine-foot figures each represent a different tribe. The paintings are vivid — reds, blues, greens, and golds — and catch the Oklahoma light in a way that makes the pole seem to shift in color throughout the day.
Visitors can step inside a small room at the base of the totem and look straight up through its hollow interior — a perspective that gives a sense of the structural feat Galloway accomplished working largely alone. The totem is easily photographed from multiple angles, and the surrounding grounds offer clear sightlines for wide shots that capture the full 90-foot height.
The Fiddle House Museum and Gift Shop
Ed Galloway’s eleven-sided Fiddle House is one of the most distinctive small museums on Route 66. The structure itself is a work of art: its exterior columns are concrete totem poles, and its shape echoes the form of a Navajo hogan. Inside, the museum displays approximately 100 of Galloway’s surviving fiddles — none playable as instruments, each one a showcase of inlay technique and ornamental skill. Alongside the fiddles are artifacts documenting the park’s history and Galloway’s life, plus photographs of the park at various stages of its development.
The Fiddle House also serves as the park’s gift shop, where visitors can purchase books, postcards, and Route 66 souvenirs. Of particular note is Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park: The Story Behind One of the Greatest Folk-Art Attractions on America’s Mother Road, Route 66 by Oklahoma historian John Wooley — an essential companion to any visit and also available on Amazon.
The Smaller Totems and Grounds
Scattered across the beautifully maintained nine acres are the smaller works Galloway added in the 1950s, each worth exploring on their own terms. The Arrowhead Totem, the Birdbath Totem, the Fireplace/Barbeque Totem, the Tree Totem, and the Gate Totems each reflect the same patient craftsmanship as the great pole. The concrete picnic tables are designed with totem-style supports — functional furniture that doubles as folk sculpture. The Fish-Arch gateway at the park entrance, designed to resemble a gar-like fish with bird images facing east and west, is one of the most photographed details in the entire park.
The park also includes picnic pavilions, a pet park, and nature trails, making it a genuine destination for a slow afternoon rather than a quick photo stop. Families with children will find the grounds welcoming and easy to explore. Bring a picnic — the totem-supported tables are exactly the kind of Route 66 lunch experience that makes the Mother Road memorable.
Visiting Tips: How to Make the Most of Your Stop
Totem Pole Park rewards the visitor who takes their time. Most Route 66 travelers allow 45 minutes to an hour — enough to walk the grounds thoroughly, step inside the base of the great totem, visit the Fiddle House, and have a picnic. If you’re a photographer or a folk art enthusiast, plan for two hours or more.
Morning light from the east falls across the totem’s painted faces in a particularly flattering way — arriving in the first hour after sunrise yields the best photography. Afternoon light from the west illuminates the western faces and the great turtle’s shell. The park is free to enter at any time during daylight hours, though the Fiddle House has set museum hours (see the directions table below).
Because the park sits 3.5 miles east of Route 66 on OK-28A, some travelers miss it — watch for the small sign in Foyil and plan the detour intentionally. It is well worth the short drive off the main alignment. The road is well-maintained and the park easy to find once you know to look for it.
Donations to the Rogers County Historical Society are graciously welcomed at the gift shop and help fund the ongoing restoration and maintenance that keeps this landmark standing. Buying the Wooley book is a particularly good way to support the park while taking home one of the best Route 66 reads available.
| Getting to Totem Pole Park | |
| Address | Hwy 28A, Foyil, OK 74031 (3.5 miles east of Route 66 in Foyil) |
| From Route 66 | In Foyil, turn east onto OK-28A (look for the small Totem Pole Park sign). Drive 3.5 miles. The park entrance is on the left. |
| From Claremore | 10 miles northeast of Claremore via Route 66 north to Foyil, then east on OK-28A. |
| Park Hours | Grounds open during daylight hours. Fiddle House Museum & Gift Shop: Mon–Sat 11:00 AM–3:00 PM; Sundays 12:30 PM–4:00 PM. |
| Admission | FREE. Donations to the Rogers County Historical Society are welcome and help fund ongoing restoration. |
| Gift Shop Phone | (918) 342-9149 |
Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park and Route 66: Context and Significance
The Totem Pole Park occupies a specific and important place in the Route 66 in Oklahoma landscape. Oklahoma holds more drivable miles of the original Mother Road than any other state — more than 400 miles — and its stretch is home to some of the most distinctive roadside art on the entire 2,448-mile route. The National Park Service has specifically cited Galloway’s Totem Poles alongside the Blue Whale of Catoosa as examples of “automobile-scale folk art, reflecting the ingenuity and imagination of their makers” — attractions built by individuals rather than corporations, driven by creativity rather than commerce.
That distinction matters. In an era when roadside attractions were often manufactured novelties designed to pull travelers off the highway, Galloway built something genuinely personal: a monument to a people he respected, constructed entirely by his own hands, offered freely to anyone who passed by. The Totem Pole Park has been featured in important books and articles on environmental folk art and is recognized by scholars of outsider art as one of the premier examples of the form in the American Midwest.
For Route 66 travelers in the 2026 Centennial year, the park carries additional resonance. Route 66 was commissioned in 1926 — the same decade that shaped the landscape Galloway would later populate with his concrete vision. To stand before the great totem, built by a man who retired to his farm in 1937 and simply decided to create, is to understand something essential about the spirit of the Mother Road. See the Route 66 Centennial 2026 page for events and celebrations across all eight states.
Nearby Route 66 Stops: Building Your Northeastern Oklahoma Itinerary
Totem Pole Park sits in one of the richest stretches of Route 66 in Oklahoma. The stops below can be combined with a Totem Pole Park visit into a full and rewarding day on the Mother Road.
Blue Whale of Catoosa (approx. 20 miles west)
One of the most joyful roadside attractions in all of Route 66 travel, the Blue Whale of Catoosa is a giant smiling blue whale rising from a pond, built in 1972 by Hugh Davis as a anniversary surprise for his wife. Children can swim in the pond seasonally. Free admission. The juxtaposition of the Blue Whale and Totem Pole Park — two enormous, hand-built folk art labors of love — in a single day makes for one of the most memorable Oklahoma Route 66 itineraries available.
Claremore (approx. 10 miles south)
The city of Claremore is the seat of Rogers County and the boyhood home of Will Rogers, one of the most beloved American humorists of the 20th century. The Will Rogers Memorial Museum is a deeply satisfying stop for anyone interested in Route 66’s cultural history. Claremore also offers the full range of lodging and dining options for travelers making this section their base for exploration.
Chelsea and Vinita
The small towns of Chelsea and Vinita, both on the Route 66 alignment north of the Totem Pole Park junction, offer authentic small-town Oklahoma atmosphere and several historic structures. Vinita is also home to the world’s largest McDonald’s — an interstate-spanning structure that is itself a piece of roadside history.
Tulsa
Approximately 35 miles to the southwest, Tulsa offers the full urban Route 66 experience: the Buck Atom Space Cowboy Muffler Man, historic neon, the Route 66 Historical Village, and a vibrant dining and arts scene. Tulsa is an ideal overnight base for exploring northeastern Oklahoma’s Route 66 corridor. See the complete Route 66 in Oklahoma guide for details on Tulsa and every stop across the state.
Planning Your Route 66 Oklahoma Trip
Totem Pole Park sits on the eastern segment of Oklahoma’s Route 66 corridor, making it a natural first or second-day stop for travelers heading westbound from the Kansas border toward Tulsa. For those planning the full 2,448-mile journey from Chicago to Santa Monica, northeastern Oklahoma is typically reached around Day 4 or 5 on a standard westbound trip.
For comprehensive planning resources, the Route 66 Complete Travel Guide covers all eight states. If you’re figuring out timing and pacing, the Best Time to Drive Route 66 guide and How Long Does It Take to Drive Route 66 are essential starting points. For budget planning, see the Route 66 Road Trip Budget Guide, and for what to bring, the Route 66 Packing List and Vehicle Prep Checklist has everything you need.
Traveling with children? Totem Pole Park is an excellent family stop — free, visually spectacular, and rich with conversation-starting history. See the Route 66 with Kids Planning Guide for age-by-age pacing strategies and the best family stops across all eight states.
More Route 66 Travel Resources
Route 66 — Complete Travel Guide — The full overview of all 2,448 miles: history, alignments, and what to expect in every state.
Route 66 in Oklahoma — The complete guide to Oklahoma’s 400+ drivable miles, including every major attraction, town, and stop on the state’s historic corridor.
Blue Whale of Catoosa — The free, beloved Route 66 icon just 20 miles west — pair it with Totem Pole Park for a perfect folk art day in northeastern Oklahoma.
Round Barn in Arcadia — Another iconic Oklahoma folk-built landmark, farther west on the Route 66 corridor.
Route 66 Centennial 2026 — The 100th anniversary of Route 66’s commissioning. Visit in 2026 and be part of history.
Best Time to Drive Route 66 — Season-by-season weather and crowd guidance for planning your Oklahoma visit.
Route 66 with Kids Planning Guide — Family pacing, age-by-age strategies, and the best stops for children across the entire route.
Maps, Apps, and Navigation — How to find Totem Pole Park and navigate Oklahoma’s sometimes tricky Route 66 alignments.
Route 66 State Associations — The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is an excellent resource for current events and conditions along the state’s corridor.
