Something that existed for nearly 40 years in Edmond, Okla., before Route 66 was established is still standing today -- the 1889 Territorial School House, which is believed to be the first schoolhouse built and opened after the Oklahoma Land Run. Paul Sanders' family was the longtime owner of the building, which was used as … Continue reading Schoolhouse predates the road
Category: History
A look back at a grand old hotel
I wasn't aware of this longtime landmark on Route 66 in Bloomington, Ill. But Bill Kemp, an archivist for the McLean County Museum of History, wrote an interesting article for the Bloomington Pantagraph about the Tilden-Hall Hotel in the downtown area. The six-story hotel was at Madison and Washington streets in Bloomington. It opened about … Continue reading A look back at a grand old hotel
Reimagining the Route
This is a well-done video about Route 66 from the Center for Creative Land Recycling. It explains how the Mother Road -- especially in the desert Southwest -- is being revitalized with brownfields remediation, alternative energy, outdoor recreation and historical tourism.
More about NAU’s Route 66 exhibit
JackCentral.com, a student-run site of The Lumberjack newspaper in Flagstaff, Ariz., contains a more detailed look at the "Route 66 in Arizona: Don't Forget Winona!" exhibit at Northern Arizona University's Cline Library. The exhibit debuted the week of the recent Route 66 Festival in Flagstaff and will remain on display through July 2010. The pictures … Continue reading More about NAU’s Route 66 exhibit
National Park Service launches Route 66 site
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is already under the auspices of the National Park Service. But the NPS recently launched a Route 66 "Discover Our Shared Heritage" travel itinerary site that should prove useful to novice travelers and be informative to researchers. Funded in part by American Express and the World Monuments Fund, the … Continue reading National Park Service launches Route 66 site
Car crash destroys historic Kingman building
The historic Kingman Cab Co. building that stood on Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz., was razed Tuesday after a car crash heavily damaged the structure, reported the Kingman Daily Miner. More details: Police found a stolen car with heavy front-end damage off of Hualapai Mountain Road they believe may be connected to the hit-and-run. The … Continue reading Car crash destroys historic Kingman building
Kingman Powerhouse to mark its centennial
The Powerhouse in Kingman, Ariz., once called the Desert Power & Water Co., will be celebrating its centennial next month, reported the Kingman Daily Miner. Here's a brief history: One hundred years ago, the Powerhouse (Desert Power & Water Company) first lit up the mines in Goldroad, Oatman and Chloride. By October, most businesses downtown … Continue reading Kingman Powerhouse to mark its centennial
Route 66 rivalry
Urban Tulsa, an alternative weekly newspaper, published an interesting article about the longstanding rivalry between the Route 66 communities of Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Among the people interviewed was Michael Wallis, author of "Route 66: The Mother Road" and a longtime Tulsa resident. The story is long, but worth your time.
Historic Mayo Hotel reopens in Tulsa
The iconic Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa, which had been shuttered for almost 30 years, held a limited "soft" opening Monday, reported the Tulsa World. The Mayo, at 115 W. Fifth St., is about two blocks from the downtown Route 66 alignment of Seventh Street. The Mayo dates to the 1920s, is listed on the … Continue reading Historic Mayo Hotel reopens in Tulsa
Route 66 display being installed in Carthage
A Route 66 historical display that mimics the original Boots Drive-In restaurant in Carthage, Mo., is being installed now at the iconic Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, reports the Joplin Globe. At 18 feet wide and 13 feet tall, the display is a representation of the front of the former drive-in that will hold artifacts … Continue reading Route 66 display being installed in Carthage