A 1.3-mile stretch of old Route 66 south of Lake Springfield in Springfield, Ill., was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective May 12, reported the National Park Service in a weekly newsletter. The designation was expected after the state submitted its application to NPS. A story a few weeks ago from the … Continue reading Old Route 66 near Lake Springfield named to National Register
Month: May 2009
Where did that Ford Fairlane come from?
A bunch of people noticed the beautiful 1950s Ford Fairlane convertible that "Good Morning America Weekend" anchorwoman Kate Snow and her sister drove during a recent trip on Route 66. The Claremore (Okla.) Daily Progress answers the question on the source of the automobile. Its a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner with retractable hardtop, owned … Continue reading Where did that Ford Fairlane come from?
Cattle drive on the Mother Road
Here's something you don't see every day -- a cattle drive on Route 66. It'll happen from Bushyhead, Okla., to Claremore, Okla., from 7:30 a.m. today until about noon or so. It's part of the 63rd Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo in Claremore and in honor of late congressman and rodeo announcer Clem McSpadden, who died … Continue reading Cattle drive on the Mother Road
Meadow Gold glow
The dedication for the rebuilding of the historic Meadow Gold sign in Tulsa was Friday morning. However, the real treat was to come later, when night would fall on 11th Street and Quaker Avenue, and the sign's neon lighting would be revealed. Here it is ... Here's the view from the rear of the structure: … Continue reading Meadow Gold glow
Rock Cafe reopens to the public
The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., reopened to the public for the first time Friday morning since being heavily damaged by a fire nearly a year ago. A couple of contractors need to finish work on the historic Route 66 restaurant, and owner Dawn Welch and her crew could offer only a very limited menu, … Continue reading Rock Cafe reopens to the public
Return to the road
In 1999, Chicago-based writer Tim Steil and photographer Jim Luning embarked on a trip together down Route 66 to collect material that produced an excellent book, "Route 66." Steil also wrote an online journal during the trip, which I recommend you read. Steil and Luning are returning to the Mother Road next month, on the … Continue reading Return to the road
Route 66 Welcome Center
Here are some attractions at the new Route 66 Welcome Center off Interstate 44 near Conway, Mo. It was even better-conceived than I anticipated, especially the neon welcome sign that looks a lot like the Munger Moss Motel's in nearby Lebanon, Mo. The Missouri Department of Transportation is proud of it, and deserves to be.
Rooting them out
KFSM-TV in the Fort Smith-Fayetteville area of Arkansas went to a couple of stores that supplied rare sodas in its region in an effort to choose the best root beer. One of the root beers that was among the best was Route 66 Beer. Reporter Charles Perry described it as "a big, aggressive root beer … Continue reading Rooting them out
Rock Cafe prepares for reopening
KOTV in Tulsa has a very good article about the impending reopening Friday of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., after a devastating fire a year ago. The particularly newsworthy parts in the story are about owner Dawn Welch, near the end: Welch has written a cookbook, "Dollars to Donuts" and is due out November … Continue reading Rock Cafe prepares for reopening
Packing up the plantation
I'd forgotten about this, but Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers closed their "Pack Up the Plantation -- Live" video from 1985 with a performance of Bobby Troup's "Route 66."