Preservationists will approach county to preserve Sidewalk Highway

Route 66 fans, preservationists and area leaders met Wednesday at the historic Coleman Theatre in Miami, Oklahoma, to discuss ways to preserve an ancient stretch of Route 66 between Miami and Afton called the Sidewalk Highway or Ribbon Road. The group emerged with a consensus to talk to the Ottawa County board of commissioners, which … Continue reading Preservationists will approach county to preserve Sidewalk Highway

Route 66 a reason Trump picked Springfield for speech

U.S. President Donald Trump will give a speech today about tax reform in Springfield, Missouri, and one of the reasons he choose the Ozarks city was because of its historic link to Route 66. According to the Springfield News-Leader, a senior White House official mentioned Route 66 prominently during a conference call with reporters: "This is … Continue reading Route 66 a reason Trump picked Springfield for speech

Guinness certifies world’s largest belt buckle in Uranus, Missouri

The Uranus, Missouri complex (actually near St. Robert, Missouri) mostly is known for its silly but attention-getting name and mildly scatological puns associated with it. Now it's known as the honest-to-goodness home of the world's largest belt buckle. Louie Keen, owner and "The Mayor" of Uranus, Missouri, received word Tuesday his belt buckle that measures … Continue reading Guinness certifies world’s largest belt buckle in Uranus, Missouri

Japanese pop group Exile the Second produces “Route 66” video

Exile the Second, a pop-music band based in Japan, recently released a teaser music video for the group's upcoming single, "Route 66." In case you're wondering, the song bears no resemblance to the Bobby Troup-written classic of the same title. This video uploaded to YouTube isn't the full video, either, but a teaser of about … Continue reading Japanese pop group Exile the Second produces “Route 66” video

Veterans memorial trees planned on Route 66 in Barstow, other areas

A Route 66 enthusiast, with the help of a gardening group, plan to plant 3,200 trees along Route 66 to honor veterans, including more than 100 along the Mother Road in Barstow, California. The Desert Dispatch newspaper in Barstow had some of the details: Together with the Incredible Edible Community Garden (IEGC) organization, Conkle is … Continue reading Veterans memorial trees planned on Route 66 in Barstow, other areas

Ron “Tattoo Man” Jones is up to 162 skin markings

Someone a few weeks ago asked how many Route 66 tattoos were on the body of Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. I said it was north of 100 but had no certainty, because Jones was liable to add one any given weekend. KTUL-TV in Tulsa caught up with Jones this week when he … Continue reading Ron “Tattoo Man” Jones is up to 162 skin markings

Here’s your sign on Route 66 in Arizona

Frank Kocevar, the former owner of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, posted this clever video featuring a few signs along Route 66 in Arizona and a unique vantage point, courtesy of a drone. The segment featuring a dreamcatcher at Meteor City Trading Post is particularly impressive. https://vimeo.com/230532937 I asked Kocevar what equipment he used … Continue reading Here’s your sign on Route 66 in Arizona

Spindles from old Route 66 bridge to be sold Sept. 22

About 100 limestone spindles, or balusters, taken from a now-demolished Route 66 bridge in Carthage, Missouri, will be sold for $250 apiece on Sept. 22. The Joplin Globe reported the balusters will be sold by the nonprofit Vision Carthage organization during the Art Walk event in Carthage's downtown square. There are no per-person limits. and … Continue reading Spindles from old Route 66 bridge to be sold Sept. 22

Interior Secretary recommends Mojave Trails National Monument be preserved

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke said Thursday he's recommending none of the 27 national monuments -- including Mojave Trails National Monument in California -- under review by the Trump administration be eliminated. Although the elimination of the Mojave Trails appears to be off the table, Zinke may recommend other changes for it and … Continue reading Interior Secretary recommends Mojave Trails National Monument be preserved

Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2017 cost-share grants

The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program on Thursday announced its annual cost-share grant awards, with seven grants totaling $98,137. This year's grant awards are remarkable in their breadth, including neon-sign restorations, oral-history projects, a full assessment of Route 66's bridges, a historic-property database, an educational websites and a documentary film. Since 2001, the program has … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2017 cost-share grants