Catherine Watson recounts her visit to the ancient American Indian city of Acoma Pueblo, a few miles south of Route 66 in the New Mexico desert. She not only toured the city, but she also descended from the mesa via an old footpath -- the same one that residents have used for centuries. Go read … Continue reading A visit to Acoma Pueblo
Category: History
Lunch at Lucille’s Roadhouse
While briefly at a hotel in Weatherford, Okla., on Wednesday, I chatted with a young man behind the front desk. He'd mentioned he worked evenings at the new Route 66-themed restaurant in town, Lucille's Roadhouse. I asked him what's the best thing on the Lucille's menu. He grinned. "The fried onion burgers. Definitely," he said. … Continue reading Lunch at Lucille’s Roadhouse
A look at the planned Route 66 Station
I've acquired computer artist's renderings of the Route 66 Station park, which will be in the 3900 block Southwest Boulevard in Tulsa, in a current vacant lot cross the road from Daniel Webster High School. Route 66 Station will be funded by the Tulsa County Vision 2025 sales tax. I'm told it should be bidded … Continue reading A look at the planned Route 66 Station
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge nominated to National Register
The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which once carried Route 66 from Madison, Ill., to north St. Louis, has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places, reports digitalBurg.com of Warrensburg, Mo. The nominations will be considered by the Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation on Aug. 11 in St. Joseph. The image above … Continue reading Old Chain of Rocks Bridge nominated to National Register
New book about Oklahoma Route 66 is out
An enticing coffee-table book about Oklahoma's Route 66 was recently published by New Forums Press. It's "Once Upon a Highway: Route 66 in Oklahoma" by Oklahoma State University architecture instructor John Womack. Womack's book contains more than 150 of his detailed pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations of Route 66 sights in the Sooner State. Womack's illustration … Continue reading New book about Oklahoma Route 66 is out
Popularity of road trips strong despite gas prices
Voice of America reports: Surveys show that half of all Americans still prefer the car for summertime vacation travel — instead of a plane, bus, or train — despite rising gasoline prices. There appears to be a resurgent nostalgia for the great American road trip, a motorized odyssey that’s long been part of the popular … Continue reading Popularity of road trips strong despite gas prices
Library to occupy historical building
A library branch in Strafford, Mo., is set to move into the old MFA Feed Store at Pine and Madison streets, and the library will have a Route 66 theme, reports the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader. Strafford native Mac Whitmore, along with a partner, was motivated to acquire the 145-year-old building. "This is an old building … Continue reading Library to occupy historical building
Grand opening set for Elk City museum
The Route 66 Transportation Museum in Elk City, Okla., will have its grand opening Aug. 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. It's reportedly going to be a casual event, and Borden's ice cream will be served. The Transportation Museum is next-door to the town's National Route 66 Museum. Kathy Anderson, former president of the Oklahoma … Continue reading Grand opening set for Elk City museum
One man’s memories of Route 66
Ninety-year-old Gene Hodkin has lived on Route 66 virtually his entire life -- first in southwest Missouri, then in the high desert of California. The Barstow Desert Dispatch mined some of Hodkin's memories. Hodkin, by the way, is the father-in-law of Deb Hodkin, who is manager/curator of the Barstow Route 66 Mother Road Museum.
A look at one of St. Louis’ Route 66 alignments
St. Louis has a tangle of Route 66 alignments, more than any city I can think of on the Mother Road. One of them is the Manchester Road alignment. The proprietor of the Adventures of Secret Agent 009 blog recently traveled down that alignment and shot a slew of photos, mostly of the unique architecture … Continue reading A look at one of St. Louis’ Route 66 alignments