Neighborhood opposition shoots down Bonnie and Clyde B+B

Opposition from the neighborhood thwarted a zoning permit request to convert a garage apartment in Joplin, Mo., that was once used by famed outlaws Bonnie and Clyde into a bed-and-breakfast, reports the Joplin Globe. The apartment, which was used by the Barrow gang for 12 days in 1933 before shooting their way out and killing … Continue reading Neighborhood opposition shoots down Bonnie and Clyde B+B

A rare and old grain elevator

Bill Kemp, an archivist with the McLean County Museum of History, wrote an interesting article in the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph about the history of grain elevators. In particular, he focuses on the J.W. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum in the Route 66 town of Atlanta, Ill. The Hawes elevator was built in 1903 and is one … Continue reading A rare and old grain elevator

The end and the beginning

I found this item in the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph in the How Time Flies section: 25 years ago Oct. 8, 1984: Route 66 is now officially gone. A six mile stretch of Interstate 40 replaced the last of the "Mother Road" near Wilcox, Arizona. I-55 replaced Route 66 in Illinois. Along the Chicago-Los Angeles route, … Continue reading The end and the beginning

Schoolhouse predates the road

Something that existed for nearly 40 years in Edmond, Okla., before Route 66 was established is still standing today -- the 1889 Territorial School House, which is believed to be the first schoolhouse built and opened after the Oklahoma Land Run. Paul Sanders' family was the longtime owner of the building, which was used as … Continue reading Schoolhouse predates the road

A look back at a grand old hotel

I wasn't aware of this longtime landmark on Route 66 in Bloomington, Ill. But Bill Kemp, an archivist for the McLean County Museum of History, wrote an interesting article for the Bloomington Pantagraph about the Tilden-Hall Hotel in the downtown area. The six-story hotel was at Madison and Washington streets in Bloomington. It opened about … Continue reading A look back at a grand old hotel

Reimagining the Route

This is a well-done video about Route 66 from the Center for Creative Land Recycling. It explains how the Mother Road -- especially in the desert Southwest -- is being revitalized with brownfields remediation, alternative energy, outdoor recreation and historical tourism.

More about NAU’s Route 66 exhibit

JackCentral.com, a student-run site of The Lumberjack newspaper in Flagstaff, Ariz., contains a more detailed look at the "Route 66 in Arizona: Don't Forget Winona!" exhibit at Northern Arizona University's Cline Library. The exhibit debuted the week of the recent Route 66 Festival in Flagstaff and will remain on display through July 2010. The pictures … Continue reading More about NAU’s Route 66 exhibit

National Park Service launches Route 66 site

The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is already under the auspices of the National Park Service. But the NPS recently launched a Route 66 "Discover Our Shared Heritage" travel itinerary site that should prove useful to novice travelers and be informative to  researchers. Funded in part by American Express and the World Monuments Fund, the … Continue reading National Park Service launches Route 66 site

Car crash destroys historic Kingman building

The historic Kingman Cab Co. building that stood on Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz., was razed Tuesday after a car crash heavily damaged the structure, reported the Kingman Daily Miner. More details: Police found a stolen car with heavy front-end damage off of Hualapai Mountain Road they believe may be connected to the hit-and-run. The … Continue reading Car crash destroys historic Kingman building

Kingman Powerhouse to mark its centennial

The Powerhouse in Kingman, Ariz., once called the Desert Power & Water Co., will be celebrating its centennial next month, reported the Kingman Daily Miner. Here's a brief history: One hundred years ago, the Powerhouse (Desert Power & Water Company) first lit up the mines in Goldroad, Oatman and Chloride. By October, most businesses downtown … Continue reading Kingman Powerhouse to mark its centennial