By now, you've probably seen an Associated Press report about how an unauthorized music-video shoot Saturday turned into an impromptu street party of 300 people -- including lowriders and twerkers -- that shut down Route 66 in Albuquerque. It seems like a silly story for AP to distribute around the globe. But the news service chooses to highlight … Continue reading Lowriders, twerkers shut down Route 66 in Albuquerque
Category: Events
Record crowds attend Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
A record 38,000 people attended the annual Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, this past weekend. KOLR-TV reported 28,000 people attended on Saturday alone, with 5,000 on Friday and another 5,000 on Sunday. Vendors reported bigger crowd sizes, as well. About 23,000 people attended the 2015 festival. A record of more than 400 … Continue reading Record crowds attend Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
Melvena Heisch, Laurel Kane inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Melvena Heish and the late Laurel Kane were inducted Saturday into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame during ceremonies at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma. The ceremony also celebrated the 90th anniversary of Route 66 and marked two new exhibits at the museum -- one about folk art and another of … Continue reading Melvena Heisch, Laurel Kane inducted into Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Reports from the European Route 66 Festival
Author Jim Hinckley traveled earlier this month's to European Route 66 Festival near Ofterdingen, Germany, on behalf of the city of Kingman, Arizona, and to represent the Route 66: The Road Ahead Initiative. He promised a report about his experiences and impressions. You can read it below the fold in full -- which I encourage. But here's a summary … Continue reading Reports from the European Route 66 Festival
Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday
On Saturday, Chicago will host a 90th-birthday party for Route 66 near the eastern terminus of the Mother Road. According to Time Out Chicago, the Illinois Office of Tourism will throw up a pop-up birthday party for Route 66 on Jackson Boulevard in downtown Chicago, near Michigan Avenue, where the historic highway begins. The nearby Bow Truss coffee shop … Continue reading Chicago plans Route 66 birthday party Saturday
Jim Jones honored by Illinois Route 66 Association
Jim Jones, a longtime volunteer at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum with a longtime personal history with Route 66 in Odell, Illinois, recently was honored with the President's Award by the Illinois Route 66 Association. According to this news release from Ellie Alexander, director of tourism in Pontiac, Illinois: In making the … Continue reading Jim Jones honored by Illinois Route 66 Association
Route 66 exhibit at Missouri History Museum begins today
The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis begins today its "Route 66: Main Street Through St. Louis" exhibit through July 16, 2017. The museum sits at 5700 Lindell Blvd. (map here) in Forest Park. The Route 66 show has free admission. Here's one of the images displayed at the show, of the Chain of Rocks Bridge in 1929, shortly after it opened: The … Continue reading Route 66 exhibit at Missouri History Museum begins today
Scenes from Rockabilly on the Route
Frank Kocevar, former owner of the Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, put together this video from the recent Rockabilly on the Route festival in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Longtime Route 66 aficionados probably will recognize a few faces here. Rockabilly - 2016 Tucumcari, New Mexico from Route 66 Experience on Vimeo. The Quay County Sun … Continue reading Scenes from Rockabilly on the Route
Michael Wallis to give “state of the road” speech at Vinita festival
Michael Wallis, writer of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road" and more than a dozen other books, will give a "State of the Mother Road" speech June 18 during the Vinita Route 66 Festival in Vinita, Oklahoma. Wallis long was known for his fiery "state of the road" speeches with his big, baritone voice during … Continue reading Michael Wallis to give “state of the road” speech at Vinita festival
Jensen’s Point near Pacific reopens
The historic Jensen's Point that overlooks Route 66 near Pacific, Missouri, reopened last weekend, almost 25 years after it had been closed to the public. According to a blog post for the Washington Missourian: The landmark is now a Pacific city park and will be preserved for future generations to enjoy. There is a paved parking … Continue reading Jensen’s Point near Pacific reopens