I reckoned that a bunch of books would be released during Route 66’s centennial, and I wasn’t wrong.
Here are four titles that I was made aware of in recent weeks.
First is Cheryl Eichar Jett’s “Aprons Away: Women’s Work on Route 66” (Amazon affiliate link). A description of the book:
We’ve all heard of Route 66, but did you ever stop to think of all the women who worked along the 2,448-mile length of the most famous highway in the world? The welcoming smile from an aproned waitress offering to pour you a cup of coffee or the friendly face of the motel owner ready to rent you a room come to mind.
But thousands more worked behind the scenes at a variety of jobs, businesses, careers, and artistic endeavors during the first century of Route 66. From Chicago to Los Angeles, in cities and small towns, women pumped gas, held elected offices, painted public art murals, joined the military, reported news, and designed buildings, theme parks, fashion, and toys. Just in time for this year’s 100th anniversary of the iconic Mother Road, author Cheryl Eichar Jett examines the myriad roles women played at the crossroads of Route 66 and women’s history.
Susan Croce Kelly, a Route 66 women’s pioneer in her own right, wrote the forward.
Next is Yolanda Lopez-Muniz Rodrigo’s “Voices of Route 66” (Amazon affiliate link). She is a journalist and writer based in Zaragoza, Spain, and this is her first book devoted to the United States.
More from the author’s press kit:
Rather than functioning as a travel guide, the book presents more than forty original interviews with motel owners, restaurant owners, preservationists, museum directors, artists, historians, musicians, Route 66 association leaders and local residents from all eight Route 66 states.
Each chapter allows readers to experience Route 66 through the voices of the people who continue to live, work and preserve it every day.
The book includes conversations with:
- Route 66 association presidents
- Preservation advocates
- Historic motel owners
- Restaurant owners
- Artists
- Musicians
- Historians
- Authors
- Local business owners
- Community leaders
Also new on bookstore shelves is Roger Naylor’s “Arizona Route 66 Road Trip” (Amazon affiliate link). Naylor has written a dozen books, including others about Route 66.
Here’s what a news release stated about his latest:
Learn about the wide-open spaces, small town getaways, and mom-and-pop eateries that are still found along the Arizona portion of the Mother Road. If the Grand Canyon is the heart of Arizona, then Route 66 is the main artery.
Take the neon-lit journey of your dreams when you travel Route 66 across Arizona. Experience the freedom of the open road and the comfort of small-town hospitality. Support local businesses while savoring spectacular scenery on this journey back to simpler times with Arizona Route 66 Road Trip. The book features more than 110 restaurants, 40 motels, and 90 activities and events.
Finally, we have Phyllis Chandler Grey’s “Route 66 One Hundred Years and Beyond” (Amazon affiliate link).
It lists 600 attractions on the Mother Road and is “designed to spotlight the many attractions and curiosities that are waiting for the Route 66 traveler of today.”
In an email, she stated:
My inspiration for this book was to answer the question that I encountered from a Florida friend. “Why would you travel Route 66? It’s old and certainly there is nothing left to see.”
When I passed the 600th attraction in my book, and could have gotten to 1000, I knew that I would be sharing this book with people like my friend. Last week, I did a luncheon lecture here in Houston titled, “Let’s take a road trip on Route 66” with two jumbotron screens and music. 122 people showed up and many Texans told me they were inspired to travel, at least to the Panhandle!
Curiously, someone at the Delgadillo Gift Shop told me that business is great and they are seeing many more Americans than ever before.