A new museum aimed at Route 66 travelers and other tourists is holding a grand opening Saturday in Oklahoma City -- the American Pigeon Museum and Library. The Oklahoman newspaper produced this video about it: The newspaper said: The museum and library will contain numerous photographs, paintings, trophies, artifacts, collectables and much more memorabilia. [...] … Continue reading Pigeon Museum in Oklahoma City holding grand opening
Category: History
Remnants of Club Cafe soon will disappear
The neon signs and building of the long-closed Club Cafe restaurant in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, likely will vanish by summer's end unless an unlikely savior is found, according to today's print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator, based in Santa Rosa. Known since 1935 for its sourdough biscuits, New Mexican cuisine and its trademark … Continue reading Remnants of Club Cafe soon will disappear
High school class makes superb film about Route 66
The film class of Jenks High School in Jenks, Oklahoma, uploaded this 10-minute film about Route 66 in the last few days. This well-edited clip features Tulsa-area Route 66 experts Marian Clark and Michael Wallis. https://youtu.be/zBYoEVIvuKs This sort of excellence isn't new for the Jenks High School film class. It won an Emmy award in 2012 for … Continue reading High school class makes superb film about Route 66
East St. Louis bank building added to National Register
The Union Trust Bank Co. building in downtown East St. Louis, Illinois, recently was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The well-preserved structure at 200 Collinsville Ave. (map here) was listed May 27, according to an email last week from the National Park Service, which runs the National Register. The building was on … Continue reading East St. Louis bank building added to National Register
Rock Creek Bridge may reopen in next month
The historic Rock Creek Bridge, which has been closed to traffic since March 2013, may reopen to lighter vehicles sometime next month, according to a city official in nearby Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Suzanne Shirey, president of the Sapulpa Area Chamber of Commerce, revealed the plans for the 1921 bridge during an email a few days ago: We … Continue reading Rock Creek Bridge may reopen in next month
The little-known POW graves of Oklahoma
Not many people know this, but about 70 prisoners-of-war are buried just off Route 66 in Fort Reno west of El Reno, Oklahoma. They are Germans and Italians captured during World War II and brought to the Sooner State until the war was over. Heidi Brandes of the Reuters news service has some of the … Continue reading The little-known POW graves of Oklahoma
What’s left of Ted’s Bull Pen
The dude who created this video, Adam the Woo, is adamantly irreverent. However, this is his fascinating closer look at an abandoned Route 66 truck stop, Ted's Bull Pen, in Ash Fork, Arizona. https://youtu.be/VCcXrhdTD1A An Internet link indicates Ted's was open as recently as 1998. And I found this document from 2012 that indicated Pilot … Continue reading What’s left of Ted’s Bull Pen
DVD review: “Exploring Route 66: The Mother Road”
David Bowyer's new DVD documentary, "Exploring Route 66: The Mother Road," doesn't explore the entire length of Route 66 -- hence the subtitle "Volume 1" that hints of future editions. But it proves to be a worthwhile addition to a roadie's video library, especially for those who love the desert Southwest. "Exploring Route 66" takes … Continue reading DVD review: “Exploring Route 66: The Mother Road”
Illinois Route 66 Museum marks 10th anniversary Saturday
It's hard to believe, but the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac already is marking its 10th anniversary Saturday. According to a news release from Pontiac Tourism: To commemorate this milestone, the museum will hold a special open house on that day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Museum marks 10th anniversary Saturday
The former glory of the Bel-Aire Motel
The historic Bel-Aire Motel in Springfield, Illinois, is known for its retro neon sign and Sputnik structure on the roof. It's also known for hundreds of code violations and criminal activity by many of its tenants. It didn't used to be the latter. Columnist Dave Bakke of the Springfield State Journal-Register spoke to the daughter of … Continue reading The former glory of the Bel-Aire Motel