Using a bunch of upcoming Route 66 festivals in Southern California as a news hook, Carol Bidwell of the Long Beach Press-Telegram writes a good article about the Mother Road's history and where it stands at the present day. It includes talk about what happens after the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program ends in 2009. … Continue reading Route 66: Where it’s been, where it’s going
Category: History
Building in Chicago named to National Register
This is going to be obscure except for the most rabid of Route 66 enthusiasts in the Windy City. But it was announced a couple of days ago that the International Tailoring Company Building at 847 W. Jackson Blvd. in Chicago was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also known as the … Continue reading Building in Chicago named to National Register
Restoration of Macoupin County Courthouse sought
Sheriff Don Albrecht has a two-pronged plan for the the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville, Ill. First, place it on the National Register of Historic Places. Second, use that designation to help get federal grants to restore the historic building, reports the Springfield Journal-Register. The sandstone exterior of the landmark, Albrecht says, needs refurbishing, but … Continue reading Restoration of Macoupin County Courthouse sought
Seligman Harvey House set to be torn down today
The Havasu, a Harvey House on an old alignment of Route 66 in Seligman, Ariz., isn't scheduled to be torn down until sometime today, but its obituary has already been written by the Prescott (Ariz.) Daily Courier. When word leaked out about five years ago that the BNSF planned to demolish the hotel, Seligman residents … Continue reading Seligman Harvey House set to be torn down today
“A City at the End of the World”
This is a 1993 broadcast from PBS station KNME-TV in Albuquerque, split into three parts of eight to 10 minutes each. The commentary is by V.B. Price, a University of New Mexico faculty member who is an environmental and architectural preservationist. Because of Albuquerque's massive growth in recent decades, Price was greatly concerned the city … Continue reading “A City at the End of the World”
First look of Carthage museum coming up
The public will get its first look at a Route 66 display for the Jasper County Courthouse on April 16, reports the Carthage (Mo.) Press. The person in charge of the Route 66 display is Brad Belk, executive director of the nearby Joplin Museum Complex. The cost of the museum is being partially paid for … Continue reading First look of Carthage museum coming up
Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued
David King Dunaway, a professor at the University of New Mexico, has done a lot of historic research about Route 66 and helped others do the same with his oral history workshops. He also produced the excellent the "Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story" for radio. We've met Dave at just about every significant … Continue reading Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued
The man behind the big totem pole
The Edmond (Okla.) Sun has a story about Ed Galloway, the fellow who created Totem Pole Park near Route 66 in Foyil, Okla.
Book details Ash Fork’s history
Using the recent release of Marshall Trimble's "Images of America: Ash Fork" by Arcadia Publishing as a jumping-off point, the Prescott (Ariz.) Daily Courier also does a pretty good job of laying out the Route 66 town's history. You'd be hard-pressed to find a burg with as much bad luck as Ash Fork: But within … Continue reading Book details Ash Fork’s history
When Two Guns was Canyon Diablo
The Route 66 ghost town of Two Guns, Ariz., has a rather ominous name. But its former moniker was Canyon Diablo, essentially meaning Devil's Canyon in Spanish. Clay Thompson, who answers history questions to the Arizona Republic, recounts the town's rather colorful history.