Oklahoma City Museum Opens Faces of the Mother Road
The Oklahoma History Center Museum now hosts an exhibition featuring portraits of residents captured along Route 66.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Historical
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The Oklahoma History Center Museum has opened a new exhibition titled Faces of the Mother Road. The display showcases portraits taken by photographer S.J. Tyler, who captured the lives of people traveling the historic Route 66 corridor.
Why it matters
The exhibition offers a rare look at historical life along the Mother Road through original glass-plate negatives that were lost for decades. These images provide a visual connection to the individuals who shaped the culture of the region throughout the mid-20th century.
The collection features prints produced from original glass-plate negatives discovered by Adam Forgash in 2023. The exhibition is hosted at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive and remains accessible to the public through April 2027.
The players
Oklahoma History Center Museum
This facility is a major repository for state history located in Oklahoma City.
S.J. Tyler
He was a professional photographer who operated a studio in the town of Afton for nearly four decades.
Adam Forgash
He is the researcher responsible for the recent rediscovery of the original photography negatives.
The details
The portraits were originally captured by S.J. Tyler, who managed a photography studio in Afton from 1913 to 1950. After Adam Forgash rediscovered the collection in 2023, the museum processed the negatives to create the current series of prints for the public.
Timeline
S.J. Tyler operated a photography studio in Afton from 1913 to 1950.
Adam Forgash rediscovered the negatives in 2023.
The exhibition opened at the Oklahoma History Center Museum on October 22, 2026.
The exhibition is scheduled to close in April 2027.
Culture Shift
This exhibition aligns with the broader societal trend of reclaiming and digitizing lost cultural artifacts to preserve local history. By highlighting everyday people, it shifts the focus from grand historical landmarks to the personal experiences of those living along transit corridors.
Residents in Oklahoma City can visit the museum at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive to view the collection. The gallery is open to the public daily between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The takeaway
These rediscovered portraits remind us that history is often preserved in the private collections of everyday citizens. Readers interested in their own local history should consider exploring personal archives or family records that may hold significant cultural value.
What happens next
The exhibition at the Oklahoma History Center Museum is scheduled to remain open daily until its final day in April 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about local heritage by visiting the Historical section of our site.
More information
For additional details on the exhibition and museum hours, visit the Oklahoma History Center information page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KODE 12.
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