Josh Burton of the Amarillo Globe-News does a bang-up job telling the history of Glenrio, a Route 66 ghost town on the Texas-New Mexico border that recently was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Burton talked to Phil Thomason, who wrote the proposal to put Glenrio on the National Register; Allen Ehresman, whose … Continue reading The sad story of Glenrio
Category: History
End of era at Totem Pole Trading Post (UPDATED)
The Totem Pole Trading Post on Route 66 just west of Rolla, Mo., isn't going to close. But new ownership is taking over Friday afternoon, and the name -- which has been there since 1933 -- won't stay, according to the Rolla Daily News. According to this Rolla Chamber of Commerce release, Jones did not … Continue reading End of era at Totem Pole Trading Post (UPDATED)
“Voices from Route 66”
Joe Loesch of Readio Theatre teaches eight students in an advanced voice-over class. He used those students in about a four-minute "Voices from Route 66" podcast. You can listen to it here: (Hat tip to Readio Theatre blog.)
Cyber-driving
This Associated Press article touts a bunch of Web sites for people who want to take a virtual road trip down Route 66 and other historic highways if they can't do the real thing. Many of these sites have already been linked here, but a few interesting finds turned up: StateEnds.com has a group of … Continue reading Cyber-driving
Road to Albuquerque was a “joke”
It's hard to believe now, but from 1926 until 1937, driving Route 66 from eastern New Mexico to Albuquerque was hardly a straight line. Near Santa Rosa, one had to drive north to Santa Fe, then drop southward, following a mostly parallel path of the Rio Grande, to the Duke City. The Free New Mexican … Continue reading Road to Albuquerque was a “joke”
A lodging option for Old Town tourists
Here's a place very close to historic Route 66 and the Old Town neighborhood of Albuquerque that I was previously unaware -- Bottger Mansion of Old Town. According to this travel article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Bottger, built in 1910, is the only survivor of four mansions built in Old Town. The B&B's … Continue reading A lodging option for Old Town tourists
Huge crowds expected for buried-car excavation
Organizers of the unearthing of a buried 1957 Plymouth Belvidere expect at least 50,000 visitors during the event on June 15, reported the Tulsa World. One fellow from Norway is shipping his '57 Belvidere from Norway is driving Route 66 to the time capsule's unsealing. About 1,000 tickets for the car's "unveiling" on the evening … Continue reading Huge crowds expected for buried-car excavation
Last of the Breed
Chicago Sun-Times columnist and Route 66 roadie Dave Hoekstra was in Prescott Valley, Ariz., for the first show of the Last of the Breed tour, the lucky dog. In case you haven't heard, the Last of the Breed tour features country-music legends Ray Price, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson with Western swing band Asleep at … Continue reading Last of the Breed
The summit of La Bajada Hill
Even though video can never quite do it justice, this 360-degree clip from the summit of La Bajada Hill gives you an inkling of what this primitive alignment of Route 66 is like. For a more Route 66-oriented viewpoint, go here. The road on La Bajada was Route 66 from 1926 to 1932. It contains … Continue reading The summit of La Bajada Hill
Historic Highways blog launched
The Historic Highways blog has been online only about a week, but I like it a lot already. Dave Eames of Kansas City, formerly of Tulsa, collects roadside memorabilia, including from Route 66. He seems to favor stuff from the '40s, '50s and '60s, which isn't a bad thing. The image above is from a … Continue reading Historic Highways blog launched