This broadcast by New Mexico PBS station KNME has been posted on YouTube in seven parts, totaling about 55 minutes. It's an exceptional program, with fascinating interviews, well-researched history, fine cinematography and vintage photos and film. It's fairly new; you can see the Blue Swallow Motel's newer paint job in it. I commend it to … Continue reading “Route 66 in New Mexico”
Category: History
Last of the breed
Here's a short video about the last surviving gas station in the once-formidable Whiting Bros. chain. It is on Route 66 in Moriarty, N.M.
Book review: “Story of the Free 72-oz. Steak”
The first thing you notice is the cover. Beneath huge, Old West letters is a painting of a 1960s Chevrolet Impala pointed into a red-and-orange sunset, pulling into the parking lot of a restaurant with a neon sign featuring a giant cowboy and a fiberglass steer on the roof. Below that is a photo of … Continue reading Book review: “Story of the Free 72-oz. Steak”
A visit to Two Guns
This is a slide show of the ruins of the former Route 66 tourist trap of Two Guns, Ariz. Here's a history about Two Guns.
Book review: “Route 66 in St. Louis”
In addition to guidebooks devoted to all 2,400 miles of Route 66, a bunch of volumes have been published that are more narrowly focused by geography. Individual books have been devoted to the Mother Road in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and California, in addition to the cities of Los Angeles and Chicago. However, … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 in St. Louis”
A closer look at the Cyrus Avery Plaza
If you're traveling west on Route 66 near downtown Tulsa, here's a new sight you'll encounter on Southwest Boulevard approaching the Arkansas River. This is the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza. The Tulsa World on Sunday had an update about this particular Route 66 project, which should be finished sometime later this year. A big bronze … Continue reading A closer look at the Cyrus Avery Plaza
Leave the driving to them
Here's a good idea: Esotouric, a husband-and-wife team that specializes in offbeat bus tours of the Los Angeles region, led one down Route 66 on Saturday, reported the Pasadena Star-News. Sights included the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, the last commercial citrus orchard in Sierra Madre and the Golden Spur restaurant in Glendora. One particularly intriguing … Continue reading Leave the driving to them
Santa Monica Pier soon will mark 100 years
The Santa Monica Pier, which for many travelers serves as the symbolic end of Route 66, is marking the 100th anniversary of when construction on it began. The Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram published an interesting history about the pier, including these nuggets: It was originally built to help carry raw sewage out into the ocean. … Continue reading Santa Monica Pier soon will mark 100 years
Spreading the Route 66 gospel
TheDoings-LaGrange.com published a report on Route 66 enthusiast David G. Clark's presentation at the LaGrange, Ill., Library about the history of the Mother Road in Chicago. Clark does these presentations from time to time. If you've never seen them, the article at least gives a taste of what they're like. Clark also has a Web … Continue reading Spreading the Route 66 gospel
Century-old Grand Canyon business will close
Verkamp's Curios has operated on the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for 102 years -- even before Arizona became a state. However, Verkamp's will close in September, and you can blame a good chunk of that on the federal government, reports the Canadian Press: The family's final chapter at the canyon … Continue reading Century-old Grand Canyon business will close