Duarte Historical Society to honor the Hellers when it dedicates Route 66 Room on June 30

The Duarte Historical Society & Museum in Duarte, California, will honor Claudia and Alan Heller when it dedicates a new Route 66 Room on June 30. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported the ceremony will be at 3 p.m. that day at the historical society's museum at 777 Encanto Parkway (map here). Claudia Heller was … Continue reading Duarte Historical Society to honor the Hellers when it dedicates Route 66 Room on June 30

Theater in Prescott to host a book launch for Bob Boze Bell’s “The 66 Kids”

The Phippen Museum, in honor of the Phippen's 50th-anniversary Western Art Show & Sale, will present "The 66 Kids Road Show" on May 24 with Western artist and True West magazine's Bob Boze Bell at the historic Elks Theatre in downtown Prescott, Arizona. "The 66 Kids Road Show" will premiere songs and stories about "Two-Lane Tales" and growing … Continue reading Theater in Prescott to host a book launch for Bob Boze Bell’s “The 66 Kids”

Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die” (second edition)

If you think there are a lot of "100 Things to Do" books on the market, you wouldn't be wrong. A perusal of the Reedy Press website reveals more than 80 of them, detailing U.S. destinations from Amarillo to the Wisconsin Dells. And that doesn't even count the copycat books or clickbait articles. Reedy Press … Continue reading Book review: “100 Things to Do on Route 66 Before You Die” (second edition)

Production begins today on “Route 66: The Main Street of America” documentary

John Paget, director of the award-winning "Route 66: An American Odyssey" film 30 years ago, starts production today in Oklahoma on a new documentary, "Route 66: The Main Street of America." The film will be released during Route 66's centennial in 2026. The documentary recently won designation as an Official U.S. Route 66 Centennial Project. … Continue reading Production begins today on “Route 66: The Main Street of America” documentary

Then-and-now slideshow of Albuquerque added to Central Avenue buses

Riders on Albuquerque Rapid Transit buses have a chance to glimpse at the city's past with a slideshow of Central Avenue (aka Route 66) and other landmarks from many decades ago to the current day. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the slides show Central Avenue when it was just a dirt road, then in the … Continue reading Then-and-now slideshow of Albuquerque added to Central Avenue buses

Papers of Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark are donated to OSU-Tulsa

The research materials of late Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark recently were donated to the Tulsa branch of Oklahoma State University. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association stated in a Facebook post that Clark's papers were given by her family to the association several years ago. With the donation to OSU-Tulsa, the papers are now … Continue reading Papers of Route 66 cookbook author Marian Clark are donated to OSU-Tulsa

New coffee table book, “Howdy Neighbor,” features Route 66 photographs from Southwest

A new coffee table book, titled “Howdy, Neighbor! Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arkansas," features photographs from Route 66 and other destinations in the Southwest. Co-author Stephanie Khattak stated in an email: Featured Route 66 locations include the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Tucumcari, Santa Rosa and Cadillac Ranch and many others. “Howdy, Neighbor!” was … Continue reading New coffee table book, “Howdy Neighbor,” features Route 66 photographs from Southwest

Hemmings publishes a feature on Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan

Hemmings.com, an offshoot of the popular magazine devoted to classic cars, recently published a feature on longtime Route 66 artist, author and researcher Jerry McClanahan. McClanahan runs a gallery of his artwork, called McJerry's Route 66 Art Gallery, a short distance from Route 66 in Chandler, Oklahoma, where he regularly welcomes visitors. He recently published … Continue reading Hemmings publishes a feature on Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan

Claudia Heller, longtime columnist and Route 66 historian, dies at 79

Claudia Heller, a longtime columnist for several newspapers in Southern California and an enthusiastic Route 66 researcher, died at 79. The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported she died on Dec. 11 after a lengthy illness. She and her husband of 60 years, Alan, were just a few days from each celebrating their 80th birthdays. Claudia … Continue reading Claudia Heller, longtime columnist and Route 66 historian, dies at 79

Preorders now being taken for “Backroads Guide to Route 66 Food, Lodging and Foto-Stops”

Mark Hamilton announced last week he now is taking preorders for the "Backroads Guide to Route 66 Food, Lodging and Foto-Stops," which serves as a successor of the National Historic Route 66 Federation's defunct "Route 66 Dining and Lodging Guide." The link to preorder the book through PayPal is here. The cost will be $22.95, … Continue reading Preorders now being taken for “Backroads Guide to Route 66 Food, Lodging and Foto-Stops”