Auto museum starts building expansion
Published April 20, 2026
RAI design should be completed by November
Museum officials, contractors, and community leaders celebrate the start of construction at the Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum in Sapulpa, OK.
The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum held a ceremonial groundbreaking Monday for a 7,400-square-foot addition to open in November.
The expansion, designed by Reed Architecture & Interiors of Sapulpa, will add 5,000 square feet under roof to the 12,000-square-foot complex, plus a 2,400-square-foot outdoor plaza.
“It's amazing,” Sapulpa Chamber of Commerce President Janet Birnie said of the museum plans and RAI renderings. “This is just going to be so much more eye-catching and draw people in.”
Museum Executive Director Lina Holmes said this expansion will allow their 13 Sahoma Lake Road showplace to enhance its 36-car inventory with new exhibits that change through the seasons. The addition also provides space for larger gatherings.
“This will encourage people to come in more often,” she said. “It will allow them to see all sorts of new and different things.”
Work crews with Magnum Construction of Broken Arrow were already moving earth while the museum board of directors, along with David Reed of RAI, Nick Redwine, Jessica Haire, Ron Donaldson of Magnum, and other community leaders turned over shovels of dirt Monday morning.
“Construction actually started ahead of schedule,” said Holmes, noting their need to temporarily lower their car inventory. “We had thought we had plenty of time to get things ready, but we actually had to come around and get some cars moved out of there real quick. It’s been exciting!”
The Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum will celebrate its 10th anniversary in August as construction nears its end.
“Thank you, everybody in the community,” museum founder and President Richard Holmes told the crowd and news audience gathered under the museum’s 66-foot-tall gas pump. “We really appreciate all the help and support you have given us.”
Reed Architecture founder and Principal David Reed praised the museum for what it brings to the community.
“It seems like every week there's something great happening in Sapulpa,” he said. “This is just another outstanding project along Route 66 that helps us celebrate the Mother Road’s Centennial.”
“I'm really excited for Lina and company,” said Birnie. “I think they've all done a great job.”
Magnum Construction cews at work on the museum expansion.
David Reed holds framed museum renderings steady against the breeze.