Longtime Route 66 museum curator Wanda Queenan dies

Wanda Queenan, 91, longtime currator of the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma, and co-owner of the now-closed Queenan's Indian Trading Post on Route 66 on the edge of town, has died, according to her daughter. Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home in Clinton, Oklahoma, is in charge of arrangements. I'll post more information about the funeral … Continue reading Longtime Route 66 museum curator Wanda Queenan dies

Long-delayed overpass project in Missouri may restart

A long-dormant project to beautify a Route 66 overpass in Sunset Hills, Missouri, may be active again after a local group meets with the Missouri Department of Transportation, reported the South County Times. The Sunset Hills Special Projects Committee, which met for the first time since 2008, met last week to talk about proposed improvements … Continue reading Long-delayed overpass project in Missouri may restart

St. Louis cemetery named to National Historic Register

Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, which dates to 1849, was listed to the National Register of Historic Places effective July 3, according to an email a few days ago from the National Park Service. Ironically, the cemetery contains several gravesites or mausoleums -- including the Louis Sullivan-designed Wainwright Tomb -- that already were listed on … Continue reading St. Louis cemetery named to National Historic Register

National Trust wants Painted Desert facility restored

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is lobbying to preserve and restore the nearly 50-year-old Painted Desert Community Complex inside the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The complex is the only building designed by acclaimed architect Richard Neutra in the National Park Service system. The building was brought a then-unusual Mid-Century Modern style to the park. … Continue reading National Trust wants Painted Desert facility restored

Questions for Clint Eastwood and his Tucumcari time

David Stevens, editor of the Clovis News Journal and Portales News-Tribune in New Mexico, in a column said he had a few questions for potential interview subjects about long-ago local issues. Stevens' wish list had some urgency because all the people "are getting old," he said. One of those interview subjects would be actor Clint Eastwood, … Continue reading Questions for Clint Eastwood and his Tucumcari time

Kickstarter fundraiser launched to restore sign

The new owners of Cindy's Eagle Rock Restaurant in Los Angeles have begun a Kickstarter campaign to preserve the historic diner's vintage sign, reported the Los Angeles Times. Monique King and Paul Rosenbluh bought the restaurant and reopened it in April. And, so far, they seem to be good stewards: They've kept the original booths, … Continue reading Kickstarter fundraiser launched to restore sign

New statues coming to Route 66 in Illinois

A series of new statues and wayside kiosks will be erected in nine towns along Route 66 in Illinois, according to a news release. The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway project was paid for by grants from National Scenic Byway Program and the Illinois Office of Tourism. The new kiosks and statues add to the 31 wayside exhibits and … Continue reading New statues coming to Route 66 in Illinois

“Return to Route 66”

A reader tipped me off about Kingman, Arizona, resident Chris Commisso, who wrote this song and shot the video on the Mother Road in Kingman. https://youtu.be/wL0eWO_19c0 It seems to be a mix of jazz, hip-hop and 1960s lounge. I like it a lot. Commisso has his own YouTube channel here. His official website is here.

Los Angeles and Woody Guthrie

Folk singer Woody Guthrie's many links to Route 66 have been long documented. However, this excellent clip by filmmaker Aric Allen shows that Los Angeles played a crucial role in Guthrie's road to fame in 1937. Amazingly, many of the places where Guthrie hung around in L.A. still exist, as this film shows. https://youtu.be/FCh4O9nv0mo (Image … Continue reading Los Angeles and Woody Guthrie

How did the Kingman Route 66 festival do?

The answer: Pretty well; thanks for asking. The town of Kingman, Arizona, hosted the annual International Route 66 Festival for the first time last weekend. I've cobbled together some highlights from the event: Estimated attendance, according to the Kingman Daily Miner newspaper, was 6,000, which was in line with forecasts. About 60 percent of festival attendees … Continue reading How did the Kingman Route 66 festival do?