Official Visitor Guide
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OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66 OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau VisitMiamiOK.com The Premier Vaudeville Theatre of Oklahoma TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Welcome to Miami 22 Map Exceptional 3 Demographics & Facts 24 Sports 4 History 26 Activities & Recreation Entertainment 6 Itineraries 29 Arts & Culture For All Tastes & Ages 10 Coleman Theatre & Ballroom 30 Shopping 12 Historic Route 66 32 Services 14 Area Attractions 33 Local Neighbors 16 Meet In Miami 34 Restaurants Theatre Organ Performances Miami Little Theater Shows 18 Events 35 Reunite in Miami Children’s Special Events 19 Entertainment 36 Accommodations Receptions & Meetings 20 Casinos 38 Northeastern Oklahoma Country & Western Acts 21 Native American Tribes A&M College Route 66 & Bus Tours Holiday Celebrations Jazz & Dance Bands Recitals & Pageants TOURISM PARTNERS Mystery Tours Ballet & Opera Oklahoma Travel & Recreation Department Special Events TravelOK.com • 800.652.6552 Silent Movies Weddings Grand Lake Association GrandLakeFun.com • 866.588.4726 Tours by Donation: Tues-Fri 10-4 Green Country Marketing Association Sat 10-2 GreenCountryOK.com • 800.922.2118 Oklahoma Route 66 Association OklahomaRoute66.com • 405.258.0008 Oklahoma Travel Industry Association OTIA.info • 405.941.1121 The Miami Visitors Guide is published as an informative guide for visitors. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy. 918.540.2425 Photos provided courtesy: Gary Crow; Jim Ellis, MNR; City of Miami; NEO colemantheatre.org • 103 N. Main • Miami, OK A&M College; Megan Frazier Photography; Metro Bride; Artistic Expressions Photography; Tim Wemple Photography & Associates Welcome to Miami, Oklahoma! On behalf of the Advisory Board and staff of the Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), I want to welcome you to Northeast Oklahoma. You will see many extraordinary attractions and opportunities to explore as you continue through our guide. The Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau is a full service One of the highlights of tourism in Northeast Oklahoma is the bureau with experienced staff members who are eager to attract historic Coleman Theatre. This opulent structure was opened visitors from around the world to the Miami community. If you are in 1929 and has never been dark. George L. Coleman, Sr. had a looking for a great location to host a conference, sports tournament, love for vaudeville theatre and spared no expense in building the small market meeting, group tour, reunion or other group activity, Coleman Theatre. Today, thousands of visitors from around the our staff can be a great asset. Receive personal assistance for your world experience what has been named both the “Crown Jewel event with… of Route 66” and “Oklahoma’s Premier Vaudeville Palace.” Accommodations Selection • Itinerary Planning • Site Visits Theatre tours and special events are scheduled throughout the Welcome Booths • Calendar of Events • Tours & Step-on Guide year. The new Ballroom & Conference Center provides a great Group Rates • Maps & Other Brochures • Media Support location for a small group meeting or special event. Transportation Coordination • Goodie Bag Program Miami is home to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Welcome Letters from Local Offi cials As one of the top 2-year colleges in the nation, NEO prides itself on offering a quality education at a very affordable cost. As a graduate of NEO, I encourage anyone interested in a college ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS education to seriously look at the campus. NEO is the heartbeat Dr. Ron Gilbert | Brett Wisdom | Shanda Schertz | Brian Forrester of Miami and an important factor in our economic growth. Jennifer Hessee | Gary Crow | Neal Johnson, Chairman Route 66 was designated in 1926. Miami is proud to have the longest Main Street on this historic highway and also claims CITY MANAGER the oldest stretch of the original 9 foot highway, “Ribbon Road,” Dean Kruithof just south of Miami. I have lived in this area my entire life and am proud to call it CVB STAFF home. I invite you to experience Miami and Northeast Oklahoma Amanda Davis — Executive Director for yourself. The CVB is here to serve as a resource and we Sherry Spillers — Tourism Sales Coordinator are ready to assist you as you plan your trip to Miami. If you Lauren Hart — Sports & Event Coordinator are bringing in a bus or motorcycle group, a conference or Stacie Phillips — Offi ce Assistant new event, our staff is available to help with accommodation Kara Hemphill — Offi ce Assistant selection, sample itineraries, welcome bags and much more. Ann Gilbert — Distribution Volunteer Please feel free to contact the CVB with questions or for assistance in planning by calling 918.542.4435. Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau 101 N Main St (corner of Coleman Theatre) • Miami, OK 74354 Amanda K. Davis, Executive Director 918.542.4435 • 918.542.4546 (fax) • VisitMiamiOK.com Miami CVB 2 — VisitMiamiOK.com — 918.542.4435 MIAMI FACTS TRANSPORTATION CLIMATE INFORMATION Ottawa County Seat Miami Regional Airport OTTAWA COUNTY Total Area: 9.8 sq mi 918.541.2290 Average Temperature: 59 degrees Total Land: 9.7 sq mi Pelivan Transit Service Average Maximum: 70 degrees Total Water: 0.1 sq mi 918.542.1356 Average Minimum: 47 degrees Elevation: 794 ft Miami Trolley Service Highest: 116 degrees Density: 1,258.7 sq ft 918.542.1356 (7/14/54—Miami) Time Zone: Central ABC Cab Service Lowest: -25 degrees Area Codes: 539/918 918.533.4093 (1/22/30—Miami) Enterprise Rent-A-Car Days of 90 degrees or higher: 58 ROADS INTO MIAMI 918.541.9967 Days of 32 degrees or lower: 83.3 Jefferson Lines Bus Station State Routes—10, 125 Average Annual Precipitation: 44.85 (Missouri) 417.623.2500 U.S. Routes—59, 66, 69 Wettest Year: 66.90 inches (1973) Interstate—44 Driest Year: 19.89 inches (1963) SALES TAX NUMBERS Greatest Daily Rainfall: 18.81 inches (7/18/11—Miami) DEMOGRAPHICS City—3.65% County—1.35% Average Wind Speed: 8 mph Miami Population—13,570 State—4.5% Average Humidity: 72% Ottawa County Total—9.5% Population—31,848 City Hotel Tax—5% 30-Mile Population Radius of Miami—275,000 VisitMiamiOK.com — 918.542.4435 — 3 Miami HISTORY HE TOWN OF MIAMI BEGAN WITH A DREAM, T a partnership and a Congressional Act. Wayland C. Lykins, the son of a missionary to the Peoria Indians, came to the area to raise cattle in the 1890s. He had a dream of a cattle empire with Miami as the hub. Continuing to follow his dreams, Lykins went to Washington D.C. for congressional approval of a town site. It was only after Thomas Richardville, scholarly chief of the Miami Tribe Lead and zinc were fi rst discovered in the area in 1905. Mining and friend of Lykins, spoke to U.S. Indian Commissioner that the operations were running by 1907 in the “Commerce Field,” and township patent was approved. The Ottawa Tribe sold 588 acres had extended to the “Picher and Cardin Fields” in 1915–1916. for the town and the fi rst lot was sold to Dr. W.I. McWilliams in June Miami became the gateway to these mining fi elds and therefore of 1891. Dr. McWilliams received the fi rst deed to a white man in mining became a dominant part of Miami’s growth. The need Indian Territory and the town was named Miami, “My-Am-Uh,” for training of mining engineers resulted in the School of Mines after the Miami Indians. opening in 1919, eventually evolving into present day Northeastern Miami grew from a population of 300 that fi rst year to around Oklahoma A&M College. 2,500 by 1902. Many factors contributed to its growth. The rolling By 1909, modern Miami had 9 miles of cement sidewalks, one prairie was good pasture land for cattle and the area was becoming 3-story brick hotel, three bakeries, three newspapers, a modern widely known for its shipments of hay. The fi rst train arrived in waterworks system, a modern equipped fi re department, electric Miami on September 12, 1896, the Kansas City-Ft. Scott-Memphis lights, ice plant, 13 churches, two railroads, three banks, planing Railroad, which connected Miami to Baxter Springs, Kansas. This mills, lumber yards and splendid public schools. With the burst line continued until 1900 when it was extended south to Afton to of mining, the prairie town Lykins envisioned was becoming a meet the Frisco mainline. booming trade center. 4 — VisitMiamiOK.com — 918.542.4435 A vaudeville theatre and movie palace, “The Coleman Theatre Beautiful,” opened to a full house of 1,600 on April 18, 1929. Built by George L. Coleman, Sr., local mining magnate, the opulent structure with Spanish Mission Revival exterior and Louis XV interior design dazzled the audiences. From that day forward, the Coleman has never been dark. The Pensacola Dam was constructed from 1938–1940 across nearby Grand (or Neosho) River at the Grand River Valley. This dam provided both electricity to the area and jobs for many during the hard times of the Great Depression. The damming of the river created Grand Lake ‘O the Cherokees, providing recreational Today, Miami is a thriving community with a proud past. With activities for people living in the area and visitors. roots from before statehood, Miami has seen many changes. Manufacturing, on a large scale, came to Miami in 1946, with the Agriculture, trade, mining, education and industry have all played opening of the B.F. Goodrich Miami Plant. Soon to follow were Blue a role in Miami’s past progress. We look forward to experiencing Manufacturing Company opening in 1953 and U.S. Metal Container Miami’s future growth and development. moving to Miami in 1955. Many manufacturers still call Miami home. Located in the northern part of town is the G.A.R.