Half-mile section of original Route 66 added to National Register

A half-mile section of original Route 66 near Depew, Oklahoma, was added to the National Register of Historic Places, according to an email from the National Park Service. The section of road runs east of Milfay Road for 0.46 miles. CLARIFICATION: I had the Google Street View map in the right place, but facing the … Continue reading Half-mile section of original Route 66 added to National Register

Proposed Chicago park may include Route 66 museum

View Larger Map A small lot on the corner of Wabash Avenue and Adams Street in downtown Chicago that's planned as a Chicago Symphony Orchestra Park may include a small Route 66 museum to recognize its location on Route 66, according to a story in DNAinfo. The so-called pocket park would sit just west of the … Continue reading Proposed Chicago park may include Route 66 museum

California Route 66’s declining condition will be discussed Thursday

The poor or deteriorating condition of roads or bridges along the Route 66 corridor in California will be part of an online discussion Thursday regarding the California Route 66 Management Plan from Barstow to Needles. Lardner/Klein Landscape Architects, the contractor preparing the management plan, will host the webcast from 10:30 a.m. to noon Pacific time … Continue reading California Route 66’s declining condition will be discussed Thursday

Kiosk, rest area built near Riverton roundabout

A rest area and informational kiosk recently were built at the roundabout near Riverton, Kansas, that intersects Route 66 and U.S. 400, reported KOAM-TV. The Kansas Department of Transportation built them after receiving a $20,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration. They were designed by nearby Pittsburg State University students. KDOT officials say the informational … Continue reading Kiosk, rest area built near Riverton roundabout

Traveling Route 66 exhibit planned for Europe

Three men are planning an unprecedented traveling Route 66 exhibit that will be taken around Europe -- which is a hotbed of enthusiasm for the Mother Road. The men planning the exhibit are Jim Farber, who helped shepherd the current "Route 66: The Road and the Romance" exhibit at the Autry National Museum at Los … Continue reading Traveling Route 66 exhibit planned for Europe

Route 66 expert worries about traffic congestion in Chicago suburbs

A prominent Route 66 expert wrote a letter to a village, expressing his concern that truck traffic will negatively impact tourism on the Mother Road in Will County, Illinois, reported Suburban Life Publications. John Weiss, who won the prestigious Steinbeck Award for historic preservation with his late wife Lenore in 2002 and has written several books … Continue reading Route 66 expert worries about traffic congestion in Chicago suburbs

Road to Our Lady of the Highways Shrine will close for repairs this fall

A badly deteriorated section of Interstate 55 west frontage road between Farmersville and Raymond in Illinois -- best known as a section of Route 66 that passes in front of the historic Our Lady of the Highways Shrine -- will be closed for repairs for several weeks starting in late September, according a story in The … Continue reading Road to Our Lady of the Highways Shrine will close for repairs this fall

High school class makes superb film about Route 66

The film class of Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma, uploaded this 10-minute film about Route 66 in the last few days. This well-edited clip features Tulsa-area Route 66 experts Marian Clark and Michael Wallis. https://youtu.be/zBYoEVIvuKs This sort of excellence isn't new for the Jenks High School film class. It won an Emmy award in 2012 for … Continue reading High school class makes superb film about Route 66

Rock Creek Bridge may reopen in next month

The historic Rock Creek Bridge, which has been closed to traffic since March 2013, may reopen to lighter vehicles sometime next month, according to a city official in nearby Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Suzanne Shirey, president of the Sapulpa Area Chamber of Commerce, revealed the plans for the 1921 bridge during an email a few days ago: We … Continue reading Rock Creek Bridge may reopen in next month

The darker side of Route 66

The Autry Museum in Los Angeles recently uploaded a few more videos of interviews with longtime residents of Route 66. The museum is preparing for its "Route 66: The Road and the Romance" exhibit that starts June 8. But there's nothing particularly romantic about these clips. As a good museum should, these delve into the … Continue reading The darker side of Route 66