A historian with the National Park Service is searching for surviving buildings once listed in the "Negro Motorist Green Book" travel directory from 1936 to 1964, and he's asking for roadies' help in finding them along Route 66. The Negro Motorist Green Book was an annual guidebook for black drivers during the Jim Crow era. … Continue reading Where are the surviving Green Book businesses?
Category: History
A chat with the co-owner of Del’s Restaurant
As part of his "Genuine Route 66 Life" series, KC Keefer interviews Yvette Peacock, co-owner of Del's Restaurant in Tucumcari, N.M. The restaurant opened in 1956. https://youtu.be/6SBJc09POqY And although Del's naturally plays up the beef part of its menu, its Mexican dishes are praised far and wide. (Image of the Del's sign by "Caveman Chuck" … Continue reading A chat with the co-owner of Del’s Restaurant
St. Clair museum will get new digs on Route 66
The St. Clair Historical Museum, destroyed by fire last week, will receive a new home for at least six months along Route 66 in St. Clair, Mo., reported the Washington Missourian. The Lindemanns, who own the St. Clair Health Mart Pharmacy, 855 N. Commercial Ave., have agreed to donate office space next door to their … Continue reading St. Clair museum will get new digs on Route 66
Elvis driving old Route 66 in Arizona
There's not much of a description to this video, except we know it's primarily Elvis Presley visiting Meteor Crater off Route 66 in Arizona in June 1967. All of the footage appears to be home movies. You'll also see glimpses the American Indian souvenir shops -- including Chief Yellowhorse's -- at the New Mexico-Arizona state line, … Continue reading Elvis driving old Route 66 in Arizona
Fire destroys St. Clair museum
A fire Sunday night destroyed a century-old building in downtown St. Clair, Mo., that housed the St. Clair Historical Museum, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Washington Missourian. The museum at 280 Hibbard St. stood about two blocks south of Route 66, and it housed a Route 66 exhibit. The building previously was an … Continue reading Fire destroys St. Clair museum
The keeper of the Route 66 Trailhead Park’s grapevines
The grapevines growing at Route 66 Trailhead Park in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., serve an ornamental purpose, but they hold a historical aspect as well. Gino Filippi, a city counciler for nearby Upland, Calif., and the son of local vintner Joseph Filippi, volunteers to help prune and maintain the 36 fledgling Mission grapevines at the park, … Continue reading The keeper of the Route 66 Trailhead Park’s grapevines
A trip down Memory Lane in a 1950 Hudson
Here's a nearly quarter-century-old video from Dan Uscian cruising Route 66 near Lexington, Ill., in his 1950 Hudson, including a 1926 alignment now called Memory Lane that includes re-creations of vintage billboards. The original stretch of Route 66 in Lexington is open for pedestrians or cycling, but townsfolk reopen it for vehicular traffic on special … Continue reading A trip down Memory Lane in a 1950 Hudson
Has a sea change occurred with Route 66 tourism?
About 100 residents of the St. Louis suburb of Crestwood, Mo., recently gave opinions on how to revitalize the Watson Road, aka Route 66, according to an article in Call Newspapers. It's encouraging enough so many showed up to an alderman's town-hall meeting. But what intrigued me is so many people cited Route 66 as … Continue reading Has a sea change occurred with Route 66 tourism?
Sapulpa tourism advocate named Citizen of the Year
Russell Crosby of Sapulpa, Okla., on Thursday was named the city's 2013 Citizen of the Year for his work on the famed trolley car on Route 66 and other tourism attractions over the years, according to the Sapulpa Daily Herald. His list of accomplishments is impressive: His contributions in Sapulpa include the transformation of an … Continue reading Sapulpa tourism advocate named Citizen of the Year
Public meetings set for California Route 66 management plan
The Bureau of Land Management and the California Historic Route 66 Association are scheduling two public hearings later this month about a proposed Route 66 Corridor Management Plan from the western edge of Barstow, Calif., to the Colorado River in Needles, Calif. All members of the public are invited to these meetings: Tuesday, Feb. 25, … Continue reading Public meetings set for California Route 66 management plan