A word from our sponsor

This television ad for the China-based Foton Motor Co. was uploaded a few days ago by Michael Wong, who was the spot's visual and artistic director. You'll see an Arizona Historic Route 66 road sign make a brief appearance. https://youtu.be/RGBJltoGcI8 Yes, I do believe the Chinese hold a certain fascination for the Mother Road.

An introduction to the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program

I was pleasantly surprised to see this new video pop up in my feed. It's a 5 1/2-minute primer on the history of Route 66 and the purpose of the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. https://youtu.be/6SMonr1_M-w More about the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program can be found here. It may be a federal government program, … Continue reading An introduction to the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program

Crown Candy Kitchen marks 100th year

The Crown Candy Kitchen restaurant in St. Louis is marking its 100th year north of downtown St. Louis. More incredibly, it's been owned by the same family the entire time. Crown Candy Kitchen isn't on Route 66. But it's such a historic landmark, many Route 66 travelers seek it out anyway. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch … Continue reading Crown Candy Kitchen marks 100th year

New operator sought for Palms Grill Cafe, but it will remain open

The nonprofit board that owns the historically restored Palms Grill Cafe building, which sits along old Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Ill., is seeking a new operator for the restaurant by May 1, but it will likely stay open in the interim. The Atlanta Public Library Board owns the Downey Building where the restaurant operates. … Continue reading New operator sought for Palms Grill Cafe, but it will remain open

A look at retro tobacco ads

Frank Kocevar of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Ariz., put together this video about vintage cigarette advertisements, including radio clips, from the 1940s and '50s. It's startling to see doctors and nurses touting the health benefits of smokes. Cigarette advertising ended on television by 1970. https://youtu.be/1ySHMwf8ZRY Kocevar says that some of the images of memorabilia … Continue reading A look at retro tobacco ads

Maybe you can help find a lost dog

Thousands of pleas to help find lost dogs get posted on telephone poles, in newspapers, and on bulletin boards across the country. One is probably tacked up in your neighborhood now. Having lost a dog in recent years, I can relate to the worry. But because this website focuses on news along Route 66, I … Continue reading Maybe you can help find a lost dog

“The Mother Road”

Here's one of our all-time favorite songs about Route 66 -- starring Alan Rhody and a lot of nice country guitar licks. https://youtu.be/7CFPqjw5KVM The song was included in the "Songs of Route 66" compilation album, which apparently is available only in CD form here. An acoustic version of Rhody's song can be downloaded for 99 … Continue reading “The Mother Road”

Confirmed: Depew was first town bypassed by U.S. 66

About six months ago, Frank Gifford of rt66pix.com found strong preliminary evidence that indicated Depew, Okla., was the first official Route 66 town bypassed by a later alignment of the Mother Road. This past week, Gifford said he has confirmed that Depew was indeed the first Route 66 community bypassed, in 1928. He calls Depew "the original … Continue reading Confirmed: Depew was first town bypassed by U.S. 66

St. Louis baseball legend Stan Musial dies

Stan Musial, the greatest player for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and one of the city's most beloved figures, died at age 92 on Saturday, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other media outlets. We'll let sports writers across the globe wax eloquently about Stan the Man's awesome batting statistics and his humble public … Continue reading St. Louis baseball legend Stan Musial dies

Carlyle Motel sign disappears

On a trip Saturday to check the Green Chile Kitchen on Route 66 in Yukon, Okla., we were dismayed to find that the historic Carlyle Motel neon sign on Oklahoma City's west side had been removed. The sign had been replaced with a nondescript, orange-and-white lettered backlit sign. A source I checked with the Oklahoma … Continue reading Carlyle Motel sign disappears