Bill Farnham, a commissioner for the Pulaski County, Mo., board, appears to be doing his darnedest to repair the deteriorating Devil's Elbow Bridge in the Route 66 settlement of Devil's Elbow. From the Waynesville Daily Guide: Pulaski County Commissioner Bill Farnham has made restoration of the Devil’s Elbow Bridge on the original path of Route … Continue reading In praise of a public official …
Category: Highways
Lake Overholser Bridge
I can't tell whether this video is from someone hanging a camera out the car window or attaching it to a bicycle. But this is footage of someone crossing the Lake Overholser Bridge. It was built west of Oklahoma City in 1924, predating Route 66. But it became a prominent alignment of the Mother Road. … Continue reading Lake Overholser Bridge
Ambitious plans for Miami
This story from the Miami (Okla.) News-Record about the town's future tourism efforts caught my eye with this excerpt (boldface type is my emphasis): Oklahoma is already investing in international tourism as state tourism officials have partnered with the state of Kansas to commit a half-million dollars to target international travelers. Barger said the investment … Continue reading Ambitious plans for Miami
Flooding closes part of Route 66 in Missouri
Route 66 enthusiast and radio announcer Joe Sonderman in St. Louis reports that parts of Route 66 through central Missouri are closed because of flooding after torrential rains, and waters aren't going to recede for at least another day or so. It seems the best resource to check on current conditions is this interactive map … Continue reading Flooding closes part of Route 66 in Missouri
Route 66 stretch may be added to National Register
A section of old Route 66 on the southeast edge of Springfield, Ill., has been recommended by a state advisory panel to the National Register of Historic Places, reports the Springfield Journal-Register. According to the article, it's a 1.3-mile section of road between East Lake Shore Drive and New City Road, south of the lake. … Continue reading Route 66 stretch may be added to National Register
“Carefree highway, let me slip away on you …”
Here's a slideshow that goes with Gordon Lightfoot's hit, "Carefree Highway." The images aren't strictly from Route 66, but sentiment is.
‘They’re looking for that Route 66 experience’
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation and the University of Oklahoma have been scheduling meetings around the state to get public input on how to promote Route 66, which is applying for national recognition as a Scenic Byway. Many of these stories run the usual gamut of opinions. But this story by the Edmond Sun contained … Continue reading ‘They’re looking for that Route 66 experience’
Route 66 bridge booster named Citizen of the Year
From the Waynesville (Mo.) Daily Guide: The woman who began the drive to place vintage lighting on the Historic Route 66 bridge over the Roubidoux Creek in Waynesville has been named Citizen of the Year by the Waynesville-St. Robert Chamber of Commerce. Charli Hartley, a lifelong resident of Waynesville, was nominated by All-American Security, a … Continue reading Route 66 bridge booster named Citizen of the Year
San Bern’s Fifth Street Bridge coming down
The old Fifth Street Bridge that carried Route 66 over Interstate 215 in San Bernardino, Calif., is going to be demolished soon, making way for a new Fifth Street bridge. It's part of a long-planned I-215 widening project. However, people will have the opportunity to take pieces of it home as a Route 66 souvenir, … Continue reading San Bern’s Fifth Street Bridge coming down
A look at the ol’ Mother Road
An outfit called Trumbly Productions posted this short documentary about Route 66 in Oklahoma, especially in the western half of the state. You also get a look inside the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City.