Many people have visited the wondrous Shaffer Spring Goldfish Bowl on Oatman Road (aka Route 66) between Kingman and Oatman in western Arizona. However, many of you probably don't know about the history of this bowl fed by a natural spring from the side of a mountain. Herberta Schroeder, in a special article for the … Continue reading A history of the Shaffer Spring Goldfish Bowl
Category: Attractions
Photo deck dedicated for “Ship It on the Frisco” trestle
Shrewsbury, Missouri, last week dedicated a new photo deck so visitors can take a photograph of the historic "Ship It on the Frisco" train trestle that goes over Route 66 in the city. St. Louis Route 66 historian Norma Maret Bolin said the photo deck is in the lower Kenrick shopping center area and near the new Aldi's … Continue reading Photo deck dedicated for “Ship It on the Frisco” trestle
Neon sign returns to Kingman’s Route 66 for first time in nearly 70 years
This week, a neon sign on Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona, that was taken down during the late 1940s was returned to the Mother Road in the same city where it was erected. Route 66 author Jim Hinckley explained in an email: The sign stood on Chadwick Drive. This road carried National Old Trails Highway … Continue reading Neon sign returns to Kingman’s Route 66 for first time in nearly 70 years
The first episode of “Jim Hinckley’s America — A Trek Along Route 66”
Promote Kingman recently released the first in what will be a series of videos called "Jim Hinckley’s America -- A Trek Along Route 66." The video by MyMarketing Designs was screened a few weeks ago in Kingman, Arizona, and it recently was embedded on the Promote Kingman webpage. It features local author and Route 66 advocate Jim Hinckley … Continue reading The first episode of “Jim Hinckley’s America — A Trek Along Route 66”
Why Carlinville has so many Sears homes
I'd long known the Route 66 town of Carlinville, Illinois, had a high concentration of Sears homes. But I'd never known exactly how many and why. KSDK-TV in St. Louis recently posted this story about Sears homes and Carlinville. And here's the gist of the story that answered my questions: The Carlinville neighborhood is known as … Continue reading Why Carlinville has so many Sears homes
Trump’s order to review national monuments ultimately may not mean much
President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued an executive order to review the designation of about two dozen national monuments since 1996, including the new Mojave Trails National Monument along Route 66 in Southern California. However, the order may not be as grave as environmentalists and Route 66ers fear. The president said he wanted to overturn … Continue reading Trump’s order to review national monuments ultimately may not mean much
Contents of Granny’s Closet restaurant in Flagstaff to be auctioned
Almost all the memorabilia and contents inside the closed Granny's Closet restaurant and bar in Flagstaff, Arizona, will be auctioned April 28. Flagstaff Auctions will begin the auction at 10 a.m. that day for the Route 66 landmark at 218 S. Milton Road, reported the Arizona Daily Sun. However, the old tractor and lumberjack statue near the … Continue reading Contents of Granny’s Closet restaurant in Flagstaff to be auctioned
Fort Reno loses state funding, cuts hours deeply
Oklahoma state government's dire financial situation apparently forced it to halt funding for Fort Reno near El Reno, Oklahoma, just off old Route 66. According to a report by KOCO in Oklahoma City, the historic fort -- which dates to the 1870s -- that once was open daily but Christmas and Thanksgiving now is greeting tourists only three … Continue reading Fort Reno loses state funding, cuts hours deeply
Revamped finale at Meramec Caverns
A few days ago, a friend of mine commented on Facebook she and her children took a tour of Meramec Caverns in Stanton, Missouri, including the big light-show-and-music finale in the caverns' Theatre Room. She mentioned Celine Dion sang "God Bless America" during the finale. Not Kate Smith's version? It had been a mainstay of … Continue reading Revamped finale at Meramec Caverns
Fundraiser for Route 66 license-plate wall exceeds goal
An online fundraiser to build a huge Route 66 map made of New Mexico license plates near Edgewood, New Mexico, recently exceeded its goal by more than $1,000. According to the FundRazr campaign launched by Roger Holden of RETRO — Relive the Route, it had generated $5,500 in pledges -- well above the goal of … Continue reading Fundraiser for Route 66 license-plate wall exceeds goal