One of several redevelopment proposals for the west side of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis contains a replica of the long-gone toll house that stood on that site. The Great Rivers Greenway, which controls the bridge as a vital link over the Mississippi River to a series of pedestrian and cycling … Continue reading Replica of toll building proposed for Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis
Month: September 2019
Lake Overholser Bridge in OKC closed to traffic after problem found
The Lake Overholser Bridge in Oklahoma City recently was closed to vehicular traffic after an inspector found a problem in the historic Route 66 span. Longtime Route 66 advocate Kathy Anderson posted this message on Facebook from Melvena Heisch, a recently retired Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Officer: All, just heard back from the City Planning … Continue reading Lake Overholser Bridge in OKC closed to traffic after problem found
Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln will try to break world record of Abe lookalikes
This weekend's 49th annual Abraham Lincoln National Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln, Illinois, will attempt to break a world record for the most people dressed as Honest Abe in one place. According to a news release about the Sept. 21-22 festival: The public is invited by the Logan County Tourism Bureau to help break the World … Continue reading Railsplitting Festival in Lincoln will try to break world record of Abe lookalikes
Arizona Route 66 Association gives $50,000 to NAU to preserve documents
The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona announced Tuesday it created a $50,000 endowment to help Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff preserve and digitize Route 66 documents and photographs in the university's collection. From left, Sean Evans, Northern Arizona University's Cline Library, Angel Delgadillo, Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona president, Cynthia Ann Childrey, dean … Continue reading Arizona Route 66 Association gives $50,000 to NAU to preserve documents
Book review: “The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66”
Shin Yin Khor's graphic memoir "The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66" turns out to be an unusual travelogue. Not only is it created by a comic artist, but it comes from the perspective of a young American from the so-called Left Coast who was born in another country. Subtitled "Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler … Continue reading Book review: “The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66”
Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal
The president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association reported parts of the neon sign for the Brookshire Motel in Tulsa were sold off piecemeal to a local collector, and the rest likely will be gone soon. The Brookshire Motel neon sign in 2005 Rhys Martin on late Sunday passed along on Facebook the news he … Continue reading Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal
Former owner of Nona’s Kitchen in Waynesville indicted for failing to pay taxes
Julie Marlea Harmon, the former owner of the once-popular but now-closed Nona's Kitchen in downtown Waynesville, Missouri, was indicted on felony counts of failing to pay her taxes. Darrell Todd Marina of the Pulaski County Daily News landed the scoop and posted it Friday on Facebook. More details: According to court documents filed Tuesday by … Continue reading Former owner of Nona’s Kitchen in Waynesville indicted for failing to pay taxes
Latest Oklahoma Tourism video focuses on Blue Whale, Molly’s Landing in Catoosa
Last month, the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department and Broken Arrow-based Retrospec Films announced they would launch a year-long series of road-trip films, including Route 66. One of their earliest films featured the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Pops in Arcadia and Living Kitchen in Depew — all along Route 66. This week, they featured the Blue Whale and the Molly's Landing restaurant and taco truck … Continue reading Latest Oklahoma Tourism video focuses on Blue Whale, Molly’s Landing in Catoosa
A closer look at the new neon coming for Tally’s Good Food Cafe in Tulsa
With the recent story about the restoration and relighting of the neon sign for Billy Ray's BBQ and Catfish in Tulsa, the local newspaper mentioned Tally's Good Food Cafe also had received a grant for new neon on the Route 66 restaurant. Intrigued, I contacted Dennis Whitaker, a planner for the Indian Nations Council of … Continue reading A closer look at the new neon coming for Tally’s Good Food Cafe in Tulsa
Couple wants to eventually open a winery in Vega
Talk about a long-term project -- a couple in Vega, Texas, is growing about 3 acres of grapes in the Route 66 town, and they hope to open a winery there within five to 10 years. A reporter from ABC-7 in nearby Amarillo recently caught up with Thomas Johnson, who moved to Vega from Wyoming … Continue reading Couple wants to eventually open a winery in Vega