Jim Conkle of the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation announced Monday that he will be embarking on a Route 66 Caravan to mark attractions on the road in summer 2008, similar to the one he led in 2003. Hampton Inn was the sponsor nearly five years ago. It will participate, but won't be a major … Continue reading Route 66 Caravan returning in 2008
Category: Attractions
A tour of the Victorville Route 66 Museum
If you've never been to the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, this three-part video by Best Syndication provides a good overview of what it's like. Museum volunteer Bruce Davis does a yeoman's job in explaining the background of many displays.
Aussie reporter checks out Oklahoma’s 66
Washington correspondent Michael Rowland of the Australian Broadcasting Corp. took time off from the Beltway and checked out old Route 66 and some Harley riders on it in northeastern Oklahoma. You can view the eight-minute video here in both Windows Media Player and RealPlayer in both broadband and dialup speeds. It's a well-done, well-edited segment. … Continue reading Aussie reporter checks out Oklahoma’s 66
Springfield festival sets records
It sounds like the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Ill., experienced an extremely successful weekend. From the Springfield Journal-Register: A total of 1,169 vehicles were registered for the event, which ran Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, breaking last year’s record of 900. “It was a huge jump, especially in a year when … Continue reading Springfield festival sets records
Need a lift?
It looks like the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum and Livingston County War Museum, which are part of the same complex in Pontiac, Ill., will have an elevator by next summer. The Pontiac Daily Leader reports that the City Council authorized an architect to proceed with those plans. The elevator would provide access to … Continue reading Need a lift?
Round Barn in Arcadia receives grant
The Round Barn in Arcadia, Okla., is receiving a $50,000 grant from the Oklahoma Centennial Commemoration Commission, reported the Edmond Sun. The money will be used for improvements to its restrooms and parking lot. Also, a new sign and a sidewalk around the 1898 structure will be built.
Living in Tijeras Time
While driving on old Route 66 to Albuquerque during the weekend, we stumbled onto the Tijeras Open-Air Arts Market in the mountain town of Tijeras, N.M. It's on the grounds the Imagine Gallery and Coffee House. There, we saw a mix of paintings, pottery, sculpture and photographs. There also were locally grown apples and barbed-wire … Continue reading Living in Tijeras Time
Skywalk road update
Roadside America has an interesting update about the horrible, 14-mile Diamond Bar Road that leads to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, which is off Route 66. The developers of Skywalk spent millions of dollars on their horseshoe-shaped walkway, but apparently couldn't spent a million or two more to improve the primitive road leading to it. Complaints … Continue reading Skywalk road update
An interesting view
Using the recent $300,000 grant for a bicycle trail as a springboard, the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph's editorial board ponders why Route 66 has such an enduring appeal to tourists: What draws these people? Maybe it is John Steinbeck's reference to "The Mother Road" in his novel, "The Grapes of Wrath," or the old "Route 66" … Continue reading An interesting view
A stroll through Seligman
Here's a video of the funky sights of the quintessential Route 66 town of Seligman, Ariz. You'll see a lot of the Sno-Cap Drive-In, Angel Delgadillo's barbershop and other businesses along the main drag.