Death Valley National Park in Southern California is experiencing a "superbloom" of wildflowers rarely seen. According to the Orange County Register, the notoriously arid park is experiencing its "biggest bloom" of wildflowers in a decade. Desert sunflowers, yellow cups, brittlebush, gravel ghosts and desert five-spot are just some of the wildflowers now in bloom in … Continue reading Go now to see wildflower “superbloom” at Death Valley National Park
Carthage closes two North Garrison Avenue bridges
The Missouri Department of Transportation last week ordered the City of Carthage to permanently close two bridges on North Garrison Avenue that served as a longtime alternate alignment of Route 66. Josiah Bayless, Carthage Public Works director, told the Joplin Globe that they were positioning barricades on both sides of the bridges to keep motorists … Continue reading Carthage closes two North Garrison Avenue bridges
Updated “Route 66 for Kids” booklet available as a free download
Emily Priddy recently announced that her "Route 66 for Kids" travel guide has been updated for the first time in a decade, and it's now available as a free download. The 64-page booklet is available through her blog as a Google document. She wrote in the new book's introduction: Much has changed in the decade … Continue reading Updated “Route 66 for Kids” booklet available as a free download
Restoration begins on Bob Waldmire’s U-Haul truck
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association announced last week that a painted U-Haul truck once owned by the late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire is undergoing restoration. A teacher with the Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma City approached the association during its January meeting and proposed restoring it as a student project. LD’s Wrecker in … Continue reading Restoration begins on Bob Waldmire’s U-Haul truck
Crews begin demolishing historic St. Cloud Hotel in Chandler
Demolition crews have begun razing the century-old St. Cloud Hotel in downtown Chandler, Oklahoma, in recent weeks. The Lincoln County News in Chandler reported that Midwest Wrecking of Oklahoma City was working on demolishing the facade of the St. Cloud buildings at 1216 Manvel Ave. (aka Route 66). The newspaper stated it would take several … Continue reading Crews begin demolishing historic St. Cloud Hotel in Chandler
New visitors center at Blue Whale of Catoosa to hold grand opening on May 30
The local chamber of commerce announced that a grand opening will be held at the new visitors center at the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, on May 30. The event will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day, with events throughout. It includes a Route 66 Blue Whale 5K Run to start the … Continue reading New visitors center at Blue Whale of Catoosa to hold grand opening on May 30
New alternate jersey for Tulsa Drillers baseball team includes a Route 66 patch
The Tulsa Drillers minor-league baseball team, a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will play select games in an alternate uniform that includes a Route 66 patch. According to SportsLogos.net: The team’s “Tulsa Connect” uniforms celebrate Oklahoma’s oil industry with a cap logo that features an oil derrick, as well as Route 66, which … Continue reading New alternate jersey for Tulsa Drillers baseball team includes a Route 66 patch
“Women’s Work on Route 66” set for March 10 as part of Centennial Speaker Series
Historian and author Cheryl Eichar Jett will talk about "Women's Work on Route 66" on March 10 as part of the ongoing Research Route 66's Centennial Speaker Series. The live webinar will begin at 2 p.m. Eastern time or 11 a.m. Pacific. The link to the free registration is here. Her sixth book, "Aprons Away: Women’s … Continue reading “Women’s Work on Route 66” set for March 10 as part of Centennial Speaker Series
Touch Media announces Centennial Route 66 Passport coming in April
Touch Media announced the launch of the Centennial Route 66 Passport, a special edition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road as an Official Route 66 Centennial Project. Building on the success of the blue Route 66 Passport, the golden centennial edition is a luxury collector’s item with a limited print run, designed to … Continue reading Touch Media announces Centennial Route 66 Passport coming in April
Bike Across Missouri holding a Route 66 ride in September
Bike Across Missouri is hosting a Big BAM event on Route 66 in the Show-Me State to commemorate the highway's centennial on Sept. 4-10. The event will begin in Joplin and end in Eureka, just outside of St. Louis, reported the Joplin Globe. It includes stops in Willard, Lebanon, Wayneville, Rolla and Cuba. This is … Continue reading Bike Across Missouri holding a Route 66 ride in September