It would be hard to miss the 25-foot tall yellow compass at the north end of the pony bridge on historic route 66 heading toward Hinton. It’s huge. It’s yellow, the same yellow as the spans that give the pony bridge its name. The construction of the compass – think draw a circle, not plot a direction – also mimics the bridge’s riveted steel spans. The bridge, when first constructed in the 1930s, was considered a marvel of modern engineering. It was repaired, reconstructed and reopened in 2022.
But why is the compass there?
According to Joel Gavin, director of marketing and communications for the Oklahoma Arts Council, the compass is part of a program that places art in public places and is also part of the still growing Route 66 Art Trail.
That program plans to place art all along the historic highway. The number of pieces continues to evolve, Gavin said. Once sites are approved working with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, a site committee that includes community members puts out a call for artists’ ideas for the installation.
“So they are designed to reflect the values and stories of that community,” Gavin said. Each installation is unique.
The first, a ginourmous push pin, was placed near Wellston in April, where the turnpike crosses 66. It signifies the midway point of the famous route. Since then two other pieces have been placed nearby.
Gavin said the nearby businesses have benefitted from increased tourism as people stop to take photos and spend their dollars. The push pin, he said, was recently featured in the New York Times as well as enjoying multiple posts on social media.
The compass sculpture may symbolize the resiliency of Oklahomans in the face of adversity and also acknowledges the early kitchy signage common along the highway.
There is ample parking near the sculpture allowing visitors to exit the road, park nearby and take photos at the site. It is always open and is free of charge to access.
It was built by RE:site, an art firm out of Texas that was a finalist in the competition to create the World Trade Center Site memorial.