Sally Bourne Ferrell of Chandler, Oklahoma, an early leader in the creation of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and one of the champions in restoring a historic armory that became the Route 66 Interpretive Center, was announced as an inductee to the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame, according to a report in The Oklahoman newspaper. The induction … Continue reading Route 66 advocate named to Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame
Category: History
Grant sought for new roof on Navajo County Historic Courthouse
Navajo County will submit a cost-share grant application to help pay for new roof on its historic courthouse in Holbrook, Arizona, according to the The Tribune-News. The application for $30,000 is through the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. If awarded, Navajo County likely will have to share the cost of the roof 50/50 or supply … Continue reading Grant sought for new roof on Navajo County Historic Courthouse
University developing mobile archive of Missouri’s Route 66 motels
Missouri State University is developing Project MO Tell, a mobile archive that shows and explores all the Route 66 motels in the Show Me State. The university is one of the repositories for Route 66's archives. Two university researchers, Thomas Peters and David Richards, recently received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation … Continue reading University developing mobile archive of Missouri’s Route 66 motels
New documentary delves into Nob Hill’s history
A new, 12-minute documentary was produced about the Nob Hill neighborhood of Albuquerque, which set to mark its 100th anniversary next year. This video contains some boosterism, but it also has a lot of history and vintage photos about that now-hip section of town, including about its founder, "Colonel" D.K.B. Sellers. And, since Route 66 … Continue reading New documentary delves into Nob Hill’s history
A glimpse at a water intake tower at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
The director of Public Utilities in St. Louis offered a Fox2 reporter in St. Louis a rare inside look at one of the century-old water intake towers near the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge carried Route 66 from Illinois into St. Louis until it was turned into a pedestrian … Continue reading A glimpse at a water intake tower at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
“Painted Desert Trading Post” documentary is online
KC Keefer's 18-minute documentary, "Painted Desert Trading Post," about the long-closed Route 66 landmark of the same name in eastern Arizona, went live on YouTube at midday Sunday. The film, hosted by Route 66 researcher Nick Gerlich, is part history lesson and part contemplative atmosphere. And be sure to see the final few minutes of … Continue reading “Painted Desert Trading Post” documentary is online
Santa Monica Pier laying claim to Popeye’s inspiration
Compelling evidence exists that the inspiration to the Popeye the Sailor Man cartoon was inspired by a real-life sailor who hung around the Santa Monica Pier in California, reported the Santa Monica Daily Press newspaper. Trouble is, a small town on the Mississippi River in Illinois that is the creator's hometown also makes a strong … Continue reading Santa Monica Pier laying claim to Popeye’s inspiration
Route 66 exhibit was ‘most popular’ in Autry history
The just-completed "Route 66: The Road and the Romance" at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles was declared "the most popular show in the history of the museum" by its president. That pronouncement was made by museum president Richard West, according to Jim Farber in an email Thursday. Farber shepherded the creation of the … Continue reading Route 66 exhibit was ‘most popular’ in Autry history
Barstow will dedicate new mural Saturday
A bank building in Barstow, California, will unveil Saturday a new mural about the region's turquoise history, according to a report in the Desert Dispatch. Union Bank at 239 E. Main St. (aka Route 66) will unveil the mural at 10 a.m. Saturday. It was created by local artist Juliette Tison, who has painted 21 … Continue reading Barstow will dedicate new mural Saturday
Interview with “The 66 Kid” author
Artist and western historian Bob Boze Bell was interviewed for about 13 minutes by a PBS television station at Arizona State University about his new biography, “The 66 Kid: Raised on the Mother Road," that deals primarily with his childhood in the Route 66 town of Kingman, Arizona. https://youtu.be/2OfK_nB1SFc?t=12m10s I've embedded the video so it … Continue reading Interview with “The 66 Kid” author