Missouri’s Mother Road

An intern for Joplin Metro Magazine, noting how a recent issue sports a Route 66 theme, decided to take a Route 66 trip of his own across the Show-Me State.

Webb City readies new tourism center

The new Route 66 Center in downtown Webb City, Mo., isn't set to open until Oct. 1, but it's already received visitors, reported the Joplin Globe. It even had its first official visitors this week — tourists from London who were traveling the famous highway from Los Angeles to Chicago, said Chuck Surface, director of … Continue reading Webb City readies new tourism center

A chat with Rich Henry

A couple of very young journalists talk to Rich Henry of Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Ill. Big Red is the name of the new pet rabbit that greets tourists in Rich's office.

The little-known tragedy of the Blue Hole

The Sept. 16 print issue of the Guadalupe County Communicator newspaper, based in Santa Rosa, N.M., published a long but gripping story about the town's Blue Hole. The Blue Hole is a spring-fed sinkhole about 80 feet deep, with a water temperature in the 60s year-round. For decades, it's been a popular draw for scuba … Continue reading The little-known tragedy of the Blue Hole

‘Everything I imagined and more’

Earlier this spring, it was reported that English rugby star and World Cup winner Steve Thompson was going to embark on a motorcycle ride on all of Route 66. A sports reporter from The Independent of London caught up with Thompson, 32, and asked him how it went. Thompson replied: "[...]It was a dream trip, … Continue reading ‘Everything I imagined and more’

A message from a sponsor

This is a film created about the Dodge Challenger for the Detroit car show. It's a throwback car, suitable for a throwback highway:

Two inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

Marion Davidson and the late Lucy Stansberry were announced as the inductees into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Davidson, who lives in Weatherford, is a charter member of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and has served as a longtime volunteer with the group … Continue reading Two inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

Rendezvous turns 21

John Weeks, features editor of the Redlands (Calif.) Daily Facts, talks about the very first Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino in 1990: On Sunday, the actual day of the Rendezvous, additional show cars showed up, and by the time spectators started to arrive there were about 300 gleaming pre-1967 automobiles on hand, most of … Continue reading Rendezvous turns 21

“Black Top”

Bob Hood, a singer and songwriter based in England, wrote this tune. I'll let Bob explain the story behind the song: I wrote this one early on in 2010. I intended to write a song about Neil Young driving down from Chicago to LA, but ended up writing about the people who live and love … Continue reading “Black Top”

Glimmer of hope over Route 66 bridge

St. Louis Route 66 enthusiast Joe Sonderman said he felt considerably more optimistic about the fate of the deteriorating Meramec River-Route 66 Bridge near Eureka, Mo., after a public hearing Wednesday with Missouri Department of Transportation officials and Route 66 stakeholders. Sonderman said on his Facebook account later that night: I have to say after … Continue reading Glimmer of hope over Route 66 bridge