An enticing coffee-table book about Oklahoma's Route 66 was recently published by New Forums Press. It's "Once Upon a Highway: Route 66 in Oklahoma" by Oklahoma State University architecture instructor John Womack. Womack's book contains more than 150 of his detailed pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations of Route 66 sights in the Sooner State. Womack's illustration … Continue reading New book about Oklahoma Route 66 is out
Category: History
Popularity of road trips strong despite gas prices
Voice of America reports: Surveys show that half of all Americans still prefer the car for summertime vacation travel — instead of a plane, bus, or train — despite rising gasoline prices. There appears to be a resurgent nostalgia for the great American road trip, a motorized odyssey that’s long been part of the popular … Continue reading Popularity of road trips strong despite gas prices
Library to occupy historical building
A library branch in Strafford, Mo., is set to move into the old MFA Feed Store at Pine and Madison streets, and the library will have a Route 66 theme, reports the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader. Strafford native Mac Whitmore, along with a partner, was motivated to acquire the 145-year-old building. "This is an old building … Continue reading Library to occupy historical building
Grand opening set for Elk City museum
The Route 66 Transportation Museum in Elk City, Okla., will have its grand opening Aug. 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. It's reportedly going to be a casual event, and Borden's ice cream will be served. The Transportation Museum is next-door to the town's National Route 66 Museum. Kathy Anderson, former president of the Oklahoma … Continue reading Grand opening set for Elk City museum
One man’s memories of Route 66
Ninety-year-old Gene Hodkin has lived on Route 66 virtually his entire life -- first in southwest Missouri, then in the high desert of California. The Barstow Desert Dispatch mined some of Hodkin's memories. Hodkin, by the way, is the father-in-law of Deb Hodkin, who is manager/curator of the Barstow Route 66 Mother Road Museum.
A look at one of St. Louis’ Route 66 alignments
St. Louis has a tangle of Route 66 alignments, more than any city I can think of on the Mother Road. One of them is the Manchester Road alignment. The proprietor of the Adventures of Secret Agent 009 blog recently traveled down that alignment and shot a slew of photos, mostly of the unique architecture … Continue reading A look at one of St. Louis’ Route 66 alignments
A new preservation target — barns
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that a group called the Illinois Barn Alliance is trying to preserve what's left of the state's historic barns. The group is encountering two problems. One, it's not sure how many old barns are even left in Illinois. Second, farmers tend to be a practical lot and often tear … Continue reading A new preservation target — barns
A history through postcards
The Alibi, which is an alternative newspaper in Albuquerque, reports that there is a "Route 66 Through Albuquerque: A Postcard History" exhibit at the Special Collections Library at 423 Central Ave. NE through Aug. 26. Alibi staffer Steven Robert Allen writes: The highlight is a display of vintage Albuquerque postcards mounted beside captions explaining their … Continue reading A history through postcards
Tucumcari theater nominated for National Register
The Odeon Theatre of Tucumcari, N.M., which is just a few blocks north of Route 66, has been one of six theaters in New Mexico nominated to the State Register of Cultural Properties and the National Register of Historic Places, according to the Quay County Sun. In his nomination of the theater, historian David Kammer … Continue reading Tucumcari theater nominated for National Register
Memories from the Mother Road
Hank Billings' column in the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader usually contains a few gems about old, often-defunct businesses along Route 66. Monday's column was no exception. It contains items from readers about the Gillioz Theatre, Red's Giant Hamburg, and a gas-station owner who encountered John Dillinger.