Preservation Oklahoma recently placed the famous Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, on its 2016 list of Oklahoma's Most Endangered Historic Places. The endangered-places listing was announced in April in Tulsa. The State Historic Preservation Office published the list in its current issue of the Preservation Oklahoma News. This is how Preservation Oklahoma listed the bridge, which also is … Continue reading Pony Bridge added to Endangered Places list
Category: Bridges
“Ship It on the Frisco”
A song off The Bottle Rockets' new album, "Ship It on the Frisco," sent me down a rabbit hole researching a certain Route 66 overpass and the railroad that once traveled on it. The song (download MP3 here) is found on The Bottle Rockets' excellent album, "South Broadway Athletic Club" (the album's title comes from a historic place on South Broadway in … Continue reading “Ship It on the Frisco”
The result from the photo session at the Meramec River Bridge
On Saturday, Route 66 fans and preservationists were invited to the Route 66 State Park office near Eureka, Missouri, for a photo shoot at the Meramac River Route 66 Bridge for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s “This Place Matters” campaign. Here is the result: The photo also is being used in the GoFundMe page for the bridge. Various … Continue reading The result from the photo session at the Meramec River Bridge
New plan suggests Gasconade River Bridge will be saved
It appears the Missouri Department of Transportation will repair and reconstruct the closed Gasconade River Bridge that carries old Route 66 near Hazelgreen, Missouri, instead of a new bridge being built in its place. A draft of the state's 2017-2021 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program was released late in the week. It isn't set in stone, but page 16 of … Continue reading New plan suggests Gasconade River Bridge will be saved
Volunteers needed for photo shoot at Meramec River bridge
Route 66 fans and preservationists are asked to show up at the Route 66 State Park office near Eureka, Missouri, this weekend for a photo shoot at the Meramac River Route 66 Bridge for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's ongoing "This Place Matters" campaign. The session will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 14. … Continue reading Volunteers needed for photo shoot at Meramec River bridge
Hundreds show up for Gasconade River Bridge rally
Hundreds of historic preservationists and Route 66ers showed up Saturday afternoon for Gasconade River Bridge rally near Hazelgreen, Missouri, to persuade the Missouri Department of Transportation to preserve the Route 66 bridge. KY3 in Springfield, Missouri, posted this good report from the rally: Based on the station's reporting, it seems MoDOT will not reopen the … Continue reading Hundreds show up for Gasconade River Bridge rally
A new view of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Jeff Pierson recently took his drone copter onto the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis and got some fascinating footage from the air. Not only do you get an overhead view of the 1929 bridge, but also the two remarkably close looks of the intake towers in the Mississippi River that once helped supply water … Continue reading A new view of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Munger Moss Motel to mark 70th birthday Saturday
The Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon, Missouri, will be marking its 70th birthday Saturday with music, food and dancing. There's a triple reason for the celebration, however. The Route 66 motel's owners, Bob and Ramona Lehman, will mark their 45th year along Route 66. And Route 66 itself will mark its 90th anniversary later this year. … Continue reading Munger Moss Motel to mark 70th birthday Saturday
Barnes Town and Country store may close this month
The Barnes Town and Country store, which has served customers along Route 66 west of Springfield, Missouri, since 1934, likely will close by the end of the month unless someone buys the business. Brothers Rick and Randy Perryman have run the Barnes Town and Country in the little hamlet of Elwood Siding for more than 40 … Continue reading Barnes Town and Country store may close this month
Book review: “Route 66 Crossings”
Because so many Route 66 books have entered the marketplace over the past three decades or so, one initially wonders why Jim Ross' new volume about historic bridges on the Mother Road hasn't been done before. But as one dives deep into "Route 66 Crossings" (hardback, 200 pages, color photographs, University of Oklahoma Press, $29.95), becomes clear why … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 Crossings”