Book review: “Lincoln Highway Companion”

A number of guidebooks about the Lincoln Highway, an important predecessor to historic Route 66, exist for several states that the road traverses. However, Brian Butko's "Lincoln Highway Companion" (Stackpole Books, 192 pages, $26.95 retail) is the first book of which I'm aware that tries to compile all of the coast-to-coast road's unique motels, restaurants, … Continue reading Book review: “Lincoln Highway Companion”

Part of eastbound 66 in Chicago closed

David G. Clark, an expert on Route 66 in the Chicago area, reports that a portion of eastbound Jackson Boulevard, aka Route 66, in Chicago will be closed to traffic until April 2010 for bridge repairs. Clark makes some suggestions on his blog: What does this mean to the Route 66 traveler? Well, if you … Continue reading Part of eastbound 66 in Chicago closed

Expansion of El Garces project tentatively approved

The expansion of a parcel map for the El Garces rehabilitation project in Needles, Calif., was approved by the city's planning department, reported the Needles Desert Star. El Garces is a long-abandoned Harvey House that Alan Affeldt, the savior of La Posada in Winslow, Ariz., is working to restore. El Garces, when it is restored, … Continue reading Expansion of El Garces project tentatively approved

More about the historic stretch near Springfield

Route 66 News was the first to have this story a few days ago, but the Springfield (Ill.) Journal-Register has elaborated about an old stretch of Route 66 south of Lake Springfield being designated to the National Register of Historic Places. According to the nomination, the Springfield road was typical of two-lane, access highways in … Continue reading More about the historic stretch near Springfield

Old Route 66 near Lake Springfield named to National Register

A 1.3-mile stretch of old Route 66 south of Lake Springfield in Springfield, Ill., was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective May 12, reported the National Park Service in a weekly newsletter. The designation was expected after the state submitted its application to NPS. A story a few weeks ago from the … Continue reading Old Route 66 near Lake Springfield named to National Register

Cajon Pass interchange project includes reopening Route 66

The Inland Press-Enterprise reports that the California Department of Transportation wants to rebuild the bottlenecked interchange of Interstates 15 and 215 in Cajon Pass, and that the plan includes bringing back a portion of Route 66 there. All plans for the new interchange include connecting Cajon Boulevard from Kenwood Avenue to Glen Helen Parkway. By … Continue reading Cajon Pass interchange project includes reopening Route 66

Marker at Sidewalk Highway proposed

Laurel Kane of Afton Station and other roadies are trying to raise money to buy and erect a monument at the south end of the fabled Sidewalk Highway of Route 66 north of Afton, Okla. Kane provides the details on her Thoughts from a Route 66 Business Owner blog: The $3920 cost of the installation … Continue reading Marker at Sidewalk Highway proposed

Flooding closes Route 66 in northeastern Oklahoma

Northeastern Oklahoma has been deluged by rain, including seven inches in one day in Mayes  and Rogers counties. KJRH-TV in Tulsa reported Friday that parts of Route 66 in Claremore were closed because of high water. I've heard there was flooding on 66 around Chelsea, too. The Tulsa World reported that Route 66 had reopened … Continue reading Flooding closes Route 66 in northeastern Oklahoma

Quite a find

Longtime roadie Kip Welborn was near the Route 66 town of Devil's Elbow, Mo., when he found something interesting. I'll let him tell the story: When we got to Devils Elbow, a bizarre find ... we stopped at the scenic overlook. ... I climbed down the hill in search of old beer cans ... did not … Continue reading Quite a find

Mystery of the Missing Monument

Delbert Trew, who owns a ranch on old Route 66 near Alanreed, Texas, and has been a longtime Route 66 supporter, writes in the Amarillo Globe-News about a long-missing Texas highway monument that once greeted Route 66 westbound travelers at the border town of Texola, Okla., during the mid-1930s. It was an art-deco, granite monument … Continue reading Mystery of the Missing Monument