One of the fabled moments of Route 66 history was 1928's Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby. Going more than 3,200 miles from Los Angeles to New York City, it gave early publicity to the fledgling U.S. Highway 66 and provided fame and $25,000 in prize money to Oklahoma native Andy Payne, … Continue reading Event revives the Bunion Derby
Category: History
“Hooked on 66” site launched
Richard Dinkela II's new website, HookedOnRoute66.com, has been live for a few days. But today was when he announced the launching of the site. Dinkela, a St. Louis resident, says it isn't just a fan site, but also a resource for those wanting to find the more obscure alignments of the Mother Road: What most … Continue reading “Hooked on 66” site launched
Arroyo Seco Parkway named to National Register
The Arroyo Seco Parkway Historic District, a highway that once carried Route 66 in Los Angeles County, was named to the National Register of Historic Places effective Feb. 4, according to a National Park Service e-mail. According to the e-mail, the historic district covers California Highway 110 from a four-level interchange in Los Angeles to East … Continue reading Arroyo Seco Parkway named to National Register
Happy ending to petroglyphs vandalism
In August, ancient petroglyphs east of Route 66 near Williams, Ariz., were found vandalized by spray paint. Experts believe the petroglyphs at Keyhole Sink are at least 1,000 years old. But according to Seth Muller at the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff, the paint has been removed and the petroglyphs mostly restored: In November, Weintraub and … Continue reading Happy ending to petroglyphs vandalism
Primitive roads
Here's something fun: A two-part video about the primitive alignment of Route 66 at La Bajada Hill in New Mexico by a brave soul to drove it in an SUV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K_brKoTSpA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DgLAyXwW84 Here's a short clip on the Cuervo Cut-off of Route 66, near Cuervo, N.M. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uGJLtNHYaw A drive on Oatman Road (aka Route 66) … Continue reading Primitive roads
A history of bottle trees
I thought the dozens of bottle trees erected by Elmer Long along Route 66 in Oro Grande, Calif., were a one-of-a-kind. But apparently not, according to an article by Virginia Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Bottle trees are a long-standing Southern thing, embedded in the life tapestries of African Americans, especially in the Mississippi Delta. … Continue reading A history of bottle trees
An impressive tenure
The business section of the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader turned its spotlight to Barnes Town & Country Furniture, which has been on Highway 266 (aka Route 66) west of town for 77 years. That's just a few years after Route 66 was certified in 1926. Co-owner Randy Perryman attributed the store's longevity to low overhead and … Continue reading An impressive tenure
‘Legitimate’ Route 66 museum may open in Berwyn
Jon Fey of Downers Grove, Ill., is looking to open a legitimate Route 66 museum in the Mother Road city of Berwyn, Ill., instead of a small-time one, according to Suburban Life Publications. Fey rearranged his SWF Products storefront at 7003 Ogden Ave. (Route 66) so that it may be a permanent location for the museum. … Continue reading ‘Legitimate’ Route 66 museum may open in Berwyn
‘I have a dream …’
(This was originally posted four years ago. It's appropriate to repost it for the holiday.) This is the full version of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. https://vimeo.com/14517748 So what does King have to do with Route 66? Well, there's this passage: There are those who are asking the … Continue reading ‘I have a dream …’
Lyons Indian Store moving to Tulsa’s Blue Dome District
Lyon's Indian Store, an American Indian memorabilia store that's been in Tulsa's art deco Warehouse Market Building on Route 66's 11th Street for decades years, is moving to the city's Blue Dome District in a matter of days. Ed Sharrer, a city planner, revealed the Lyon's impending move on his Twitter account today. Lyon's is moving … Continue reading Lyons Indian Store moving to Tulsa’s Blue Dome District