Recently, I ventured up Route 66 from Tulsa to Foyil and then on Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park. The park was built by a retired shop teacher, Ed Galloway during the period 1937 to 1961. The signature piece is the 90 feet totem above. It is built of sandstone, with a concrete skin, reinforced with steel and wood. And as you can see it is decorated elaborately. After Galloway’s death in 1961 the park went into slow decline until the Rogers County Historical Society and the Kansas Grassroots Arts Association restored it in the 1990’s.
Here is the other side. You can see that Galloway has the totem sitting on the back of a turtle. The turtle is a natural sandstone outcrop on the site that the artist incorporated into the structure. This also shows a little better the decorations.
I am not sure what the symbology of the snake in the mouth is about.
Some examples of the Native American decorations.
The inside of the first floor is open and is also decorated. There seems to be lots of discussion about the difference between biggest totem pole, largest, tallest, etc. I am not worried about it.
Here are a couple more totems. That are yet others. There is also a visitor center/gift store and a short nature trail.
Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park is a great Route 66 attraction and is in very good shape. Check out the this National Park Service site for more information.
I am linking to Our World Tuesday
Here is a blog post I made of the park six years ago when son Logan visited with me.
Wow, I’m glad they saved that impressive folk art! Hadn’t heard of this and we’d definitely stop to see it if in the area.
Wow! You are finding some of the most interesting places to photograph around the Sooner state. I barely remember the existence of this park but I don’t believe that I have ever visited it. Thanks for sharing this with us Yogi. Happy trails!
Wow – that is fabulous!
Wow Yogi, you are finding some of the most interesting places to visit in the Sooner state. For some reason this place sticks in the back of my mind as if I was aware of it previously, but I know that I have never actually visited this site. Something else to add to my “to do” list. Have a blessed week.
I’d love to visit this place. The totem is fabulous!
Amazing place
An impressive totem and other works of art. It always makes me feel good to hear of restorative work being done, and now we can enjoy it thanks to you.
That’s one awesome totem pole, whether it’s the tallest, biggest, or largest. I like that it sits on the back of a turtle, presumably representing the earth. Fun place. Glad it’s being maintained.
Beautiful photos of the totem poles on Rt 66 ~ fun place.
Happy Day to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
I’d like to see that in person. That was one tall ladder the artist used.
This is so amazing! I think, I should have known about this when I lived in Kansas (late 1970’s) or Arkansas, near the Oklahoma border (early 1980’s). But that would have been before it was restored.
This is fascinating, and I am so glad they preserved it. I would love to know more about the symbolism. Very interesting.
Hello, what a neat looking totems. The turtle is cute! Great photos. Enjoy your day and week ahead!