The Santa Monica Pier, the traditional western endpoint of Route 66, will undergo major reconstruction that may start as soon as next month, according to the Santa Monica Mirror. According to the newspaper: In all, a 360-foot by 36-foot portion of the Pier, or 12,960 total square feet, will be demolished and then reconstructed over … Continue reading Santa Monica Pier soon may undergo major renovations
Category: Attractions
Turning the mundane into art
Take a look at the above street scene in Los Angeles. See anything unusual? If you haven't noticed it, a closer look: That object decorated in a Route 66-themed scene and other bright colors is a common utility box, located in East Hollywood at the corner of Normandie and Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66). … Continue reading Turning the mundane into art
Sentiment grows to tear down Cadillac Ranch
Residents of Amarillo, Texas, are debating whether to dismantle Stanley Marsh 3's Cadillac Ranch art installation near Route 66 in the wake of sex-abuse allegations against him, reported Texas Monthly magazine. Since October, Marsh, 74, has been embroiled with civil lawsuits, then criminal indictments, over allegations that he sexually abused teenage boys. Naturally, this hasn't sat well … Continue reading Sentiment grows to tear down Cadillac Ranch
“American Giants” video series coming to YouTube
This looks like fun. Stone Baker soon will launch "American Giants," a series of online films about Muffler Men -- the tall fiberglass figures that graced roadside America during the 1960s and '70s. Baker uploaded a teaser video about his project: https://youtu.be/MUCZyAs0fAo The unique Gemini Giant at the Launching Pad restaurant on Route 66 in … Continue reading “American Giants” video series coming to YouTube
Google Maps Street View comes to the Grand Canyon
Route 66 fans often use Street View on Google Maps to vicariously travel the Mother Road, as this demonstration video from 2010 shows: https://youtu.be/PTeCqnBuDdU Now, Street View has arrived at one of the most popular side trips for Route 66 travelers -- Grand Canyon National Park. According to Google's official blog today, Google Maps now … Continue reading Google Maps Street View comes to the Grand Canyon
Sites in the Southwest kissed by snow
I found another superb time-lapse video, by Henry Jun Wah Lee of Evosia Studios, of the Southwest, including the Petrified Forest National Park and the Grand Canyon. But the star is Monument Valley after a light snowfall: Manic Star - Timelapse Tour of the American Southwest from Henry Jun Wah Lee / Evosia on Vimeo.
Spectacular views of the Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona has long been a popular side trip for Route 66 travelers. Here's likely best video of the park you'll see, courtesy of Lee Kirchner and Kevin Rossi of GOTM Films. Grand Canyon : Blink of Time from GOTM Films on Vimeo. Another excellent video, shot by Dan Carter … Continue reading Spectacular views of the Grand Canyon
Man rescued from Meteor Crater mine shaft
A California man was rescued from deep into a mine shaft Thursday at Meteor Crater in Arizona after he inexplicably jumped into it, according to the Arizona Daily Sun in nearby Flagstaff. The newspaper said: The man says he illegally hiked to the bottom of the crater and jumped down a 100 foot mine shaft … Continue reading Man rescued from Meteor Crater mine shaft
Tourism in Pontiac rises 25 percent in 2012
The Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill., saw a 25 percent rise in the number of visitors from 2011 to 2012, according to a news release Monday from Pontiac Tourism. Pontiac Tourism director Ellie Alexander said almost 23,000 tourists signed the guestbook at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in the year that … Continue reading Tourism in Pontiac rises 25 percent in 2012
“CBS Sunday Morning” segment on New Mexico
Today on "CBS Sunday Morning," a short segment about the 101st anniversary of New Mexico's statehood mentioned the Mother Road quite prominently.