Bill Kinder, co-owner of the Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., showed us new murals that recently were painted by a traveling artist. These murals are painted inside the garages that are next to the rooms. The murals really bring vibrant color in an unexpected place.
Category: History
Grand Canyon Park marks 90th anniversary
The Associated Press has a story about the Grand Canyon celebrating its 90th anniversary as a national park. Some highlights of the article: The park was declared several years before Arizona became a state. About 44,000 visited it the first year. Now, 4.5 million visit annually. The Grand Canyon isn't on Route 66, but is … Continue reading Grand Canyon Park marks 90th anniversary
Roads to Lincoln
A lot of people are going to explore Illinois this year because this is the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth. During a recent presentation, Chicago Route 66 expert David G. Clark explained how to get the most mileage out checking historical sites within the Land of Lincoln, according to Shopper Source Online: By following Route … Continue reading Roads to Lincoln
Smithsonian takes a dour look at the Mother Road
Megan Gambino in the March issue of Smithsonian magazine takes a somewhat dour look at the Mother Road. Here's an excerpt: Writing about the Joad family's journey from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to the promised land of California in The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck famously called Route 66 the "mother road." But today … Continue reading Smithsonian takes a dour look at the Mother Road
Film footage of Route 66 from the 1950s
Here's a find: film footage of Route 66 during the 1950s. You'll see a lot of stuff that's changed or gone in those two minutes. It's owned by FootageWorld.com, which specializes in stock footage for license for telecasts, film and the like. More footage can be seen here (QuickTime is required to view). It's a … Continue reading Film footage of Route 66 from the 1950s
Boots Drive-In featured in Route 66 display
The former Boots Drive-In restaurant will be re-created in a Route 66 display in the Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, Mo., reports the Joplin Globe. A replica of the building front is just starting to take shape at a workshop in Carthage. When finished, it will occupy space in the main floor of the historic … Continue reading Boots Drive-In featured in Route 66 display
Motel history
David Wilkening at Hotel Interactive has a pretty good article about historic motels along Route 66. Not only does Wilkening talk to longtime roadies Johnnie Meier and Jim Conkle, but he speaks with the owners of the Motel Safari in Tucumcari, N.M.; the Rodeway Inn in Williams, Ariz., Wild West Junction of Williams; and the … Continue reading Motel history
Nothing minor about it
Llewellyn Toulmin has a story in The Sentinal Newspapers about a trip on Route 66, with most of the material taking place in Illinois and Missouri. Then there's this passage: The history of Route 66 is fascinating but complicated. It was not envisioned as a major road at first, as witnessed by its number. In … Continue reading Nothing minor about it
A Muffler Man primer
Carrie Steinweg, a correspondent for The Times in Munster, Ind., has an excellent overview of the significance and history of Muffler Men -- the fiberglass giants that were (and still are) used by businesses to get the attention of potential customers. Many of the statues were purchased by muffler shops -- hence, the Muffler Man … Continue reading A Muffler Man primer
Remembering RoVal’s
The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin uncovered a story from Route 66's past about the long-gone RoVal's steak house in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., at 11871 Foothill Blvd. (aka Route 66). The restaurant's namesake, RoVal Jones, died at age 89 last week. RoVal's first restaurant was on Ninth Street in Rancho Cucamonga. But its second location on … Continue reading Remembering RoVal’s