On Sunday, the Amarillo Globe-News (free registration required) published an article about nearby Vega, Texas, and its Route 66 heritage. The article contained some updates on a few longtime favorites: Dot Leavitt, founder and caretaker of Dot's Mini-Museum, died about a month ago. But the museum was willed to her daughter, Betty Carpenter, and she's … Continue reading Route 66 in Vega
Author: Ron Warnick
I'm the editor and publisher of Route 66 News, a clearinghouse of events, information, and entertainment pertaining to historic U.S. 66, the Mother Road.
“I Have a Dream”
This is the full version of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. So what does King have to do with Route 66? Well, there's this passage: There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" [...] We can never be satisfied as … Continue reading “I Have a Dream”
Our Lady of the Highways now has a Web site
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Highways, which has stood along Route 66 near Raymond, Ill., since 1959, now has a Web site that was launched a few days ago by Peter Stork, of Digital Route 66 fame. Stork tells me of the site: I've developed it for my future in-laws (Illinois Rt 66 … Continue reading Our Lady of the Highways now has a Web site
“Albuquerque Rising”
That is the title of this excellent travel article from the Los Angeles Times. Click here and find out why.
Cheetah Girls launch MySpace site
The Cheetah Girls, a female trio that's gained a huge preteen and teen audience, launched a MySpace site last week. In case you're wondering what the Cheetah Girls have to do with the Mother Road, a few months ago they recorded a new version of the Bobby Troup classic, "Route 66," to help boost interest … Continue reading Cheetah Girls launch MySpace site
Home’s Underground Railroad lore doesn’t match reality
Just south of Towanda, Ill., just off of old Route 66 is a stately home called Towanda Meadows. Because of its proximity to a set of railroad tracks, it reputedly was a haven for escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad. It's a fascinating story. Too bad it's not true. Towanda Meadows is indeed … Continue reading Home’s Underground Railroad lore doesn’t match reality
Power outages begin
The National Weather Service has issued ice storm warnings from the Oklahoma-Texas Panhandle border clear into central Illinois. That means that power outages are almost inevitable. According to various newspapers and wire services: The St. Louis region has about 120,000 customers without power Saturday morning, mostly north and west of the city. Springfield, Mo., reports … Continue reading Power outages begin
A tasty wager
Before a big football game, it's common for the governors of the teams' respective states to make a friendly wager. It's not a serious thing, but serves more as a small publicity boost for companies and products in each state. For instance, if a team from Wisconsin is involved, it's certain the wager will involve … Continue reading A tasty wager
More bad weather
I'm told that many Japanese tourists travel Route 66 in January. If so, they picked the wrong weekend for a road trip. According to the National Weather Service, a winter storm is causing problems all the way from central Illinois to northern New Mexico this weekend along or near the Mother Road. Nearly all of … Continue reading More bad weather
Riding with The King
This combination of a slide show and film footage from a group's motorcycle trip through the desert Southwest in April 2006 is better than most that I see on YouTube. I also approve including the hit remix of "A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley.