Kendall-Whittier in Tulsa in Tulsa County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)

Dry Cleaners

— Tulsa's Historic Route 66 —

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 22, 2019

1. Dry Cleaners Marker

Inscription.

Dry Cleaners. . , Before the washing machine became a standard feature in nearly every home, people took their clothes to professionals for cleaning. Four different businesses formed a "Dry Cleaner District" along Route 66. Constructed from the late 1920s to the 1940s, these machine-reliant businesses aligned with the machine-age aesthetic of the period. Their buildings exhibited elements of the popular Streamlined Moderne style, such as glass block, curving corners, and neon signs. Local residents and Route 66 motorists alike patronized the cleaners, especially traveling salesmen who had to maintain a professional appearance despite extended time on the road.

Guaranty Laundry , 2036 E. 11th Street .

Guaranty Laundry was constructed in 1928 from plans by renowned architect Bruce Goff. The massive size of the block-long building and the strong horizontal brick banding conveys associations with the commercial cleaning industry rather than the personal dry cleaning business. Guaranty Laundry provided clean linens to all of the major local hotels and restaurants. Along with Buhl Cleaners just to the west, it was one of the largest cleaners in Oklahoma before the widespread adoption of personal electric washing machines. Guaranty constructed the Streamlined Moderne fur storage building next door to the main plant in 1940. The business closed in 1966 but has been repurposed as a moving company warehouse since 1979.

Buhl Dry Cleaners , 2002 E. 11th Street.

Before the washing machine became a standard feature in nearly every home, people took their clothes to professionals for cleaning. Four different businesses formed a "Dry Cleaner District" along Route 66. Constructed from the late 1920s to the 1940s, these machine-reliant businesses aligned with the machine-age aesthetic of the period. Their buildings exhibited elements of the popular Streamlined Moderne style, such as glass block, curving corners, and neon signs. Local residents and Route 66 motorists alike patronized the cleaners, especially traveling salesmen who had to maintain a professional appearance despite extended time on the road.

Guaranty Laundry
2036 E. 11th Street

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next door to the main plant in 1940. The business closed in 1966 but has been repurposed as a moving company warehouse since 1979.

Buhl Dry Cleaners
2002 E. 11th Street

Arthur Buhl started a dry cleaning business in 1906 that he operated from 211 S. Boston Avenue until 1926. In that year, he constructed a one-story Mission Revival style building at 2002 E. 11th Street to house Buhl Dry Cleaners. The company constructed several Art Deco wings to the east and west in later years to meet the increased demand for its services, especially during and after World War l. Arthur Buhl's son and subsequent business owner, Paul Buhl, designed the distinct neon sign that drew customers to the store. The building was later converted into the 11th Street Lofts apartment building.

Erected 2019 by Tulsa Route 66 Commission. (Marker Number 9.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco, and the U.S. Route 66 series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 2036.

Location. 36° 8.865′ N, 95° 57.91′ W. Marker is in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in Tulsa County. It is in Kendall-Whittier. Marker

Dry Cleaners Marker and former location. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 22, 2019

2. Dry Cleaners Marker and former location.

is at the intersection of East 11th Street and South Victor Avenue, on the right when traveling east on East 11th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: East 11th Street, Tulsa OK 74104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Tulsa Monument Company (within shouting distance of this marker); Leyh Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Saving the Meadow Gold Sign (approx. half a mile away); The History of Meadow Gold (approx. half a mile away); The History of Neon Signs (approx. half a mile away); History of This Site (approx. half a mile away); Borden's Restaurant (approx. 0.7 miles away); Casa Loma Hotel (Campbell Hotel) (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tulsa.

Dry Cleaners Marker looking east on Old Route 66. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, October 22, 2019

3. Dry Cleaners Marker looking east on Old Route 66.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 449 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.