The Blue Whale and Route 66


The Blue Whale of Catoosa has been closely associated with Route 66 since its construction in 1972 by Hugh S. Davis as an anniversary gift to his wife, and it’s lived rent-free in my head as a site I’ve always looked forward to seeing in-person. There are a lot of interesting sites to see along the route, but the Blue Whale stands out to me as iconic and one of the more incredible. 

1. Blue Whale of Catoosa sign. June 10, 2026.
2. Full Blue Whale of Catoosa sign. June 10, 2026.
3. Directions to famous stops along Route 66. June 10, 2026.

I was surprised upon arriving that the Blue Whale sits right off the road, visible even without stopping. Nearly every photo I can ever remember seeing shows the Blue Whale isolated, set against the green woods behind it, with no one else in the frame. Imagine my surprise upon arriving to find that not only can you see the whale out in the open, but there’s a visitor center (under construction) and a paved parking lot as well (apparently it used to be gravel). Because so many photos show the whale as an isolated stop, I wanted to be sure to include as much context as I could.

4. A woman smiles at the small child in her arms while standing at the entryway to the whale’s mouth. June 10, 2026.
5. A young man casts his fishing line into the pond while standing next to the Blue Whale of Catoosa. Route 66 can be seen in the background
6. A woman and child walk into the mouth of the whale. Route 66 can be seen in the background. June 10, 2026.
7. A young man is seen fishing from the tail of the Blue Whale of Catoosa. June 10, 2026.
8. The Blue Whale of Catoosa in-full with anglers fishing the pond in the background. June 10, 2026.
9. The visitors center at the Blue Whale of Catoosa. June 10, 2026.