A National Trust for Historic Preservation steering committee soon may make recommendations for the future of the long-troubled Southwest Museum in Los Angeles. Those include adding a restaurant to the grounds and expanding its focus beyond displaying Native American artifacts. An LA Curbed report summarized some of the proposals. The National Trust interviewed dozens of stakeholders for their ideas for the Southwest … Continue reading Southwest Museum’s possible future laid out in report
Category: History
A word from our sponsor …
If you're not already stuffed from your Thanksgiving dinner, you might have an appetite after viewing this advertisement from a Route 66 classic in Springfield, Illinois. https://youtu.be/Jc38qN0VMrw The Cozy Dog Drive-In has operated along Route 66 on Springfield's south side since 1949. although it dates back further than that. More about the restaurant's history and … Continue reading A word from our sponsor …
Desert Motors in Victorville changes owners
The Desert Motors car dealership in Victorville, California, best known for its vintage neon sign along Route 66, recently changed owners for the first time in more than 60 years, according to the Victorville Daily Press. Not to worry, though. The newspaper said the new owner, Sam Shihab, will continue to keep up the sign after … Continue reading Desert Motors in Victorville changes owners
The glow of El Vado
Maybe by the year 2017, we'll get to see this again. Dan Uscian recently uploaded footage from June 1994 when the neon tubing of the historic El Vado Motel along Route 66 in Albuquerque still glowed brightly, including its memorably designed sign. https://youtu.be/gKxg7BUSLX0 No one has seen this sight in more than a decade. A developer … Continue reading The glow of El Vado
Andy Warhol’s visit to Clanton’s Cafe
Pop artist Andy Warhol's pivotal 1963 highway journey from New York City to Los Angeles -- including much of Route 66 -- was chronicled in Deborah Davis' new book, "The Trip." But a recent interview with Davis by the Tulsa World newspaper reveals a tidbit from Warhol's journey not included in the book -- Warhol dined in the famed Clanton's Cafe … Continue reading Andy Warhol’s visit to Clanton’s Cafe
A closer look at the Lebanon Route 66 museum
Reporter David Oliver of KOLR-TV takes a detailed look at the Route 66 Museum and Research Center tucked into Lebanon-Laclede County Library in Lebanon, Missouri. Curator Mark Spangler said he gets new items for the museum almost daily. He explained what the museum is trying to do: "We try to represent the large roadside accommodations … Continue reading A closer look at the Lebanon Route 66 museum
DVD review: “Exit Zero”
The new 26-minute film "Exit Zero" doesn't so much explore the history of the Route 66 ghost town that straddles the Texas-New Mexico border as give an atmospheric look of what's there now and glimpses of what was there before. Here's the trailer for the film: https://youtu.be/0ClyUztE_FM Like Unoccupied Route 66's previous film about the deserted Painted Desert … Continue reading DVD review: “Exit Zero”
“Father of Route 66: Cy Avery”
Author Susan Croce Kelly began her "Father of Route 66: Cy Avery" presentation during the Miles of Possibility Conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, by imagining what would have happened if Edwardsville hosted a good-roads conference 100 years ago. The city, which had about 5,000 residents, probably would have drawn a number of attendees well beyond the town's … Continue reading “Father of Route 66: Cy Avery”
“Cultural Heritage Tourism: Why People Travel Route 66”
A marketing professor revealed a little-known word -- anemoia -- he'd discovered only in the past year that probably explains why many people explore Route 66. Nick Gerlich, a professor at West Texas A&M and an avid explorer of old Route 66, explained during his presentation Oct. 31 at the Miles of Possibility Conference in Edwardsville, Illinois, that anemoia … Continue reading “Cultural Heritage Tourism: Why People Travel Route 66”
“The Hidden Voices of Route 66”
David Dunaway's keynote speech, "The Hidden Voices of Route 66," to begin the Miles of Possibility: The Edwardsville Route 66 Conference on Oct. 27 at the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, Illinois, set a candid tone for much of the weekend's presentations. Using audio clips from his "Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story" audio program and excerpts … Continue reading “The Hidden Voices of Route 66”