City will redevelop its Route 66

The Route 66 town of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., will redevelop its portion of the Mother Road, including building a new bridge, that will carry a Route 66 theme, reported the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. As part of a Foothill Boulevard widening project, the bridge near Baker Avenue will be torn down and replaced with a … Continue reading City will redevelop its Route 66

Comprehensive study planned for Route 66 in California

The California Preservation Foundation and the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program are joining forces to begin a first-ever comprehensive study of that state's portion of historic Route 66, according to a news release Monday from the foundation. The study will be completed as a Multiple Property Documentation Form, a format used to nominate groups of … Continue reading Comprehensive study planned for Route 66 in California

Holbrook to mull opposition to bypass

I suspected that a proposed highway bypass in the Route 66 town of Holbrook, Ariz., would eventually encounter some opposition. It looks like the opposition is happening. According to the Tribune-News, the Holbrook City Council is considering a resolution to oppose a plan to route traffic from Highways 77 and 377 away from Holbrook and … Continue reading Holbrook to mull opposition to bypass

What’s special about the Mother Road?

Debra Ronca at How Stuff Works tries to answer that question. In my opinion, she does a remarkably good job in explaining Route 66's enduring attraction to travelers.

More about Santa Monica’s role on Route 66

Dan Rice, proprietor of the 66 to Cali apparel shack at the Santa Monica Pier, sent a fascinating e-mail today that gives some historical background behind the upcoming dedication of a new "End of the Trail" Route 66 sign at the pier next week. The gist of it is that Route 66's original western terminus … Continue reading More about Santa Monica’s role on Route 66

Route 66 documentary to be screened at Coleman Theatre

"Bones of the Old Road," a documentary about exploring obscure alignments of Route 66, will be screened at the historic Coleman Theatre in Miami, Okla., at 7 p.m. Nov. 24. The film's hosts, Route 66 researchers Jim Ross and Jerry McClanahan, along with "Bones of the Old Road" camera operator, producer and editor Kathy Anderson, … Continue reading Route 66 documentary to be screened at Coleman Theatre

Oklahoma, Arizona Route 66 awarded new road designations

Oklahoma Route 66 was designated a National Scenic Byway, and Arizona's Route 66 was given All-American Road status in an announcement by the U.S. Department of Transportation chief Ray LaHood on Friday. LaHood said: “By enriching the National Scenic Byways program with their own unique historical or aesthetic quality, these new additions help our national … Continue reading Oklahoma, Arizona Route 66 awarded new road designations

Refurbishing old vehicles

The Tulsa World had a couple of articles last week about old vehicles being restored to as good as new in Oklahoma. The first was about the Maggie M, an electric trolley that served the Route 66 town of Sapulpa from 1919 to 1933. After it was taken out of service, the trolley sat decaying … Continue reading Refurbishing old vehicles

Federal grants awarded for Route 66 tourism

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced several federal grants that will go toward tourism, including Route 66 sites. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, $395,000 will be used to erect "experience hubs" and signs for Route 66 from East St. Louis to Chicago. Also, in New Mexico, the state will receive $365,000 in federal funds to … Continue reading Federal grants awarded for Route 66 tourism

Blue highways turning green

Time magazine takes a look at the idea of having "green" highways in America -- historic roads that would cater to electric vehicles, cyclists and even runners. The article mentions the Mother Road in a paragraph: If other, more famous heritage routes are any indication, a green-corridor network just might work. Route 66, the classic … Continue reading Blue highways turning green