The building that housed the first Dairy Queen restaurant, located along old Route 66 in Joliet, Ill., has been designated a local landmark by the city council, reported The Herald-News. The two-story brick storefront at 501 N. Chicago St. (map and Google Street View image here) now houses a local church, but is little-changed otherwise. … Continue reading First Dairy Queen designated a landmark
Category: History
Promotional trailer for Coliseum documentary
Jim Marcacci and Bruce Logsdon of Sound & Image Videography are producing a documentary about the history of the colorful Coliseum music venue in Benld, Ill., which is on an older alignment of Route 66. Sound & Image has just released a 9-minute promotional video. You'll see a lot of good memorabilia and information. The breadth … Continue reading Promotional trailer for Coliseum documentary
Train may be moved to Route 66 Station this month
Volunteers may move a historic steam locomotive to Route 66 Station park in the 3700 block of Southwest Boulevard in Tulsa later this month, according to the Tulsa World. The operative word is "may," because the group of railroad buffs has blown a number of self-imposed deadlines before. Later this month, a steam locomotive, a … Continue reading Train may be moved to Route 66 Station this month
Wayside exhibit installed in Virden
A new wayside exhibit about Route 66 and a violent labor battle in 1898 was installed Sunday in Virden, Ill., reported the Springfield State Journal-Register. Virden sits on the 1926-30 alignment of Route 66 south of Springfield. The wayside exhibit stands at Downtown Virden Park. The Battle of Virden, as it's called, occurred on Oct. … Continue reading Wayside exhibit installed in Virden
Good tribute, sloppy publicity
Today, I found this news release about a parade and tribute to the late actor Steve McQueen today in Los Angeles: The Jules Verne Festival and the City of Los Angeles are proud to announce the Kick-Off to the Steve McQueen 30th Anniversary Celebration. On Sunday November 7th, four days before the Official Tribute event, … Continue reading Good tribute, sloppy publicity
Walking the Sidewalk Highway
Daniel Johnson is embarking on a coast-to-coast walk to spread the Gospel of Christ. He's covered more than 2,700 miles so far, and that included a stroll on the fabled "Sidewalk Highway" of old Route 66 near Miami, Okla. This video segment proves to be informative and whimsical, without the preaching that you might expect.
The ghost of the Painted Desert Inn
I didn't know this about the historic Painted Desert Inn, located in the Petrified Forest National Park. Apparently I have a new contender for the top ghost sites on Route 66 that I posted yesterday. According to National Parks Traveler: Almost 60 years ago, during the evening of April 9, 1953, the Painted Desert Inn … Continue reading The ghost of the Painted Desert Inn
“The Route 66 of the West”
The Press-Enterprise posted a fascinating historical article about U.S. 395, which goes 1,400 miles from Canada to Mexico through Washington, Oregon and California. Route 66 obviously stays true to U.S. 66, the Mother Road. But we're happy to occasionally give some bandwidth to other notable historic highways. From the article: U.S. Route 66 is a … Continue reading “The Route 66 of the West”
A view from Pacific’s bluff
The Missourian in Washington, Mo., has posted a fascinating story about the famous bluff in Blackburn Park in Pacific, Mo. This landmark is right on Route 66, at the intersection of Osage Street and Second Street. The story bristles with interesting history, including: Even many locals are unaware there is access to the top of … Continue reading A view from Pacific’s bluff
Barney’s Beanery marks 90th year
Barney's Beanery, a West Hollywood restaurant based on Route 66, is marking its 9oth anniversary this month. And the Los Angeles Times today has one of the most attention-getting lead paragraphs I've read: It's a story so revolting and so legendary that it has achieved near mythical status. One night in the 1960s, during a … Continue reading Barney’s Beanery marks 90th year