Waylan’s Ku Ku Burger in Miami
The Oklahoma Historical Society and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) are pleased to announce the National Register of Historic Places designation for the following property in Oklahoma. The National Register of Historic Places is our nation’s official list of properties significant in our past.
Ottawa County
Waylan’s Ku Ku Burger
915 N. Main St., Miami
Waylan’s Ku Ku Burger, located in downtown Miami, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its historical significance as a commercial development along historic Route 66. The Ku Ku’s Googie-styled architecture has been a mainstay in Miami since its opening in 1965 and is indicative of commercial buildings designed to attract the attention of passing motorists with bold colors, swooping rooflines, and neon signs. Waylan’s is the last survivor of the Ku Ku chain that once boasted over 200 locations across the Midwest. It is still fully operational, with owner Eugene Waylan manning the grill and selling delicious burgers and shakes, as he has for the last 50 years.
21 Crossing and Ranch
Woods-Major Counties,
21 Crossing and Ranch,
Vicinity of Waynoka
The 21 Crossing and Ranch, located in Woods and Major counties, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places at the state level for its association with early exploration and settlement of the Cherokee Outlet and western Oklahoma, and for early methods and routes of transportation prior to and during European settlement of Oklahoma and Indian Territory. With a period of significance stretching from 1878 to 1945, the property—including the river crossing, rock cairns, natural springs, and bridge piers—communicates the significance as a critical transportation corridor in northwestern Oklahoma. The 21 Crossing and Ranch is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its potential to yield information important to Oklahoma history, including the 1843 Dragoon expedition led by Captain Nathan Boone through the region.
Ranger Theater
Woods County,
Ranger Theater
416 Flynn St., Alva, Woods County
The Ranger Theater, located in the heart of downtown Alva, has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places at the local level for its significance in entertainment and recreation. Opening in 1936 with an inaugural showing of comedian Joe E. Brown’s “Polo Joe,” the highly decorated glass doors and lobby of the Ranger became an instant hit and continued to entertain the local citizenry for over two decades. Today, the Ranger Theater serves as a visual reminder of one of Alva’s thriving movie theater options during the Golden Age of Hollywood, with its Art Deco interior remaining virtually untouched since its closing in 1954.
