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
Category: History
‘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
Cahokia Mounds featured in National Geographic
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, located on an older alignment of Route 66 near Collinsville, Ill., is featured in an excellent article in the current issue of National Geographic. The story reportedly has boosted number of visitors at Cahokia Mounds and prompted a follow-up story by the Suburban Journals of St. Louis. The National Geographic article … Continue reading Cahokia Mounds featured in National Geographic
Maplewood adds Route 66 plaques to sidewalks
The St. Louis suburb of Maplewood, Mo., has added commemorative Route 66 metal plaques along its historic downtown area, according to an article in the Maplewood-Brentwood Patch. The markers are situated in the sidewalk in historic Maplewood, commemorating longtime and bygone sights from Route 66's heyday, including six businesses from those days that endure to … Continue reading Maplewood adds Route 66 plaques to sidewalks
Pontiac museum in Pontiac will open in July
It's official: A museum featuring Pontiac vehicles is scheduled to open July 21 in the Old Square West building in downtown Pontiac, Ill., according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. The Pontiac City Council approved a contract Monday with Tim Dye of Broken Arrow, Okla., so he could bring his collection of Pontiac and Oakland cars and … Continue reading Pontiac museum in Pontiac will open in July
Tucumcari will host video kiosks about Route 66 history
The Tucumcari Convention Center will host a couple of video kiosks that will show DVDs about the Route 66 history of Tucumcari, N.M., and the surrounding area, according to the Quay County Sun. The community development office and the Tucumcari Chamber of Commerce began working with a graphic design company Janice St. Marie in Santa … Continue reading Tucumcari will host video kiosks about Route 66 history
Historic building in Joliet will be torn down
The century-old White Store in downtown Joliet, Ill., will be razed to make way for a new building being erected by Joliet Junior College, reported the Herald-News. The four-story White Store at 235 Chicago St. (on the Illinois 53 alignment of Route 66) will be demolished in about 20 days, the newspaper reported. Workers will … Continue reading Historic building in Joliet will be torn down
The roots of Taco Bell
I didn't know this, but the beginnings of the Glen Bell and his now-ubiquitous Taco Bell restaurant chain began at a corner eatery on Route 66 in San Bernardino, Calif. According to OC Weekly: This taco comes from the above restaurant, which is the exact location where Bell's Hamburgers and Hot Dogs opened in 1952: on … Continue reading The roots of Taco Bell