James Baughn, webmaster of the impressive Bridgehunter.com, is co-hosting the Historic Bridge Conference this coming weekend about endangered Missouri bridges, including two on Route 66. The bridges on the Mother Road are the Meramec River Bridge at Route 66 State Park near Eureka, and the Devil's Elbow Bridge in Devil's Elbow. The third annual conference … Continue reading Two Route 66 bridges in Missouri are subject of conference
Category: Bridges
A drive over Carthage’s Whee Bridge
Rich Dinkela of HookedOnRoute66.com has posted this video of what it feels like to drive over the famed Whee Bridge, aka Tickle Tummy Hill, on old Route 66 in Carthage, Mo. https://youtu.be/l5F-VnJt-kM The "whee" or tickled tummies occur because the bridge's uncommonly steep apex. Alas, a video could never replicate that sensation. The Oak Street … Continue reading A drive over Carthage’s Whee Bridge
2011 cost-share grant awards announced
Today, the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announced the awarding of 10 cost-share grants to Route 66 property owners for the 2011 fiscal year. Here's the listing, straight from the agency: Route 66 Motel sign and roof rehabilitation, Kingman, Ariz. ($10,319 federal grant, $10,319 match by owner) -- The Route 66 Motel has been a welcoming … Continue reading 2011 cost-share grant awards announced
Cruising the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge near St. Louis once carried traffic on Route 66 over the Mississippi River. Nowadays, it carries only bicycles and pedestrians, except in rare cases when caravans are allowed. Here's one of those rare cases on video, so you can experience it: https://youtu.be/uRpDukTvK8c https://youtu.be/tmJl5Nh9U1w
Ozark Trail cruise
Here's a video I made about the old Ozark Trail alignment of Route 66, west of Sapulpa, Okla. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQfAYLI9BWY This 3.3-mile section of highway (map here) predates Route 66, and it served as the Mother Road from 1926 to 1952. Highlights include the 1921 Rock Creek Bridge, ruins of the Tee Pee Drive-In theater, a … Continue reading Ozark Trail cruise
Security cameras installed at Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
After a rash of break-ins of parked cars at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in north St. Louis and Madison, Ill., in recent years, local police finally have installed security cameras at the old Route 66 site to deter criminals. According to Fox Channel 2 in St. Louis: Madison Police Chief Steven Shelby says … Continue reading Security cameras installed at Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Grant awarded to start preservation of Route 66 State Park bridge
Landmarks Association of St. Louis was given a $3,500 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation as seed money for a long-term preservation plan for the closed and deteriorating Route 66 bridge at Route 66 State Park near Eureka, Mo. According to the news release from the Landmarks Association: The master plan for the … Continue reading Grant awarded to start preservation of Route 66 State Park bridge
Pony Bridge
Here's something I filmed for a project last year. It's the historic Pony Bridge on old Route 66 near Bridgeport, Okla. The bridge was built in 1933 and is nearly 4,000 feet long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOvJIm0Qfws
A road trip in 1961
The YouTube description of this video: This clip opens with my mom holding a little home made sign that says "California, here we come, Hugh, Ag and Jeff". This was the first day of our trip west in 1961. We left from Caseville and traveled historic Route 66 the first few days. By late afternoon … Continue reading A road trip in 1961
Oklahoma Route 66 bridges will be placed on endangered list
Preservation Oklahoma is set to list Route 66 bridges and other of the historic highway's resources as one of Oklahoma's Most Endangered Historic Places in 2011, according to a news brief today in the Tulsa Beacon. Preservation Oklahoma's list will not be announced until tomorrow. But according to the newspaper, the endangered list will include: … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 bridges will be placed on endangered list