A few years ago, the geodesic "Gold Dome" on Route 66 in Oklahoma City once was slated for the wrecking ball. Now it's being used as a multicultural center and office complex, reports Preservation Online, a publication by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Gold Dome, built in 1958 as a Citizen's Bank, is … Continue reading Oklahoma City’s Gold Dome finds new life
Category: History
McKinley Bridge in St. Louis will reopen next year
The historic McKinley Bridge, which connected St. Louis with Venice, Ill., for decades until its deteriorating condition forced its closure in 2001, is slated to reopen in September 2007, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Built in 1910 for railroad use and later was opened for automobile traffic, the McKinley was an … Continue reading McKinley Bridge in St. Louis will reopen next year
Students will film Route 66 documentary
A summer course at the University of New Mexico, "Highway 66 Revisited: Documentary Contemporary Route 66," will fan out students with video cameras to find stories along Albuquerque's Central Avenue, reports UNM Today. Robert Russell is teaching the course.
Keep your fingers crossed
The Carthage Press in Carthage, Mo., reports: A possible vote next week by the District 7 Transportation Enhancement Program committee may lead to the creation of a Route 66 museum in the Courthouse. The enhancement funds go toward non-transportation projections such as trails, streetscaping and museums that have a connection with Route 66. Presiding Commissioner … Continue reading Keep your fingers crossed
Riding the 844 train
Ace Jackalope of The Lope blog not only went to see Union Pacific Railroad's historic No. 844 steam engine when it made a recent stop in the Route 66 town of Claremore, Okla., but he also rode it clear to Kansas City. Click here for the story and a lot more great photos.
The father of Route 66
I found him. And appropriately enough, he's buried in a cemetery just yards from the Mother Road. The deceased person I'm referring to is Cyrus S. Avery. He's acknowledged as "the Father of Route 66." A Pennsylvania native, Avery moved to Oklahoma as a teenager. He became a successful businessman and grew especially involved with … Continue reading The father of Route 66
Barstow Route 66 Museum to celebrate sixth anniversary
The Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, Calif., is marking its sixth annivesary on Saturday, June 17. There will be a classic car show, and several Route 66 authors will be on hand to sell and sign their books, including "Route 66 Lost and Found, Vol. 2" by Russell Olsen, "Route 66 in California" … Continue reading Barstow Route 66 Museum to celebrate sixth anniversary
Painted Desert Inn reopens
The Painted Desert Inn, which was built in the 1920s amid what is now the Petrified Forest National Park, reopened on Memorial Day weekend, reports the Arizona Daily Star. Here's the news release from the National Park Service about it. It's no longer used for lodging, but as a museum. Fixing up the place … Continue reading Painted Desert Inn reopens
“Cars'” spirit of Route 66
Joe Williams of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has written a very good article about how Route 66 inspired much of the content of the "Cars" movie. Providing most of the context for the story is Route 66 author Michael Wallis. Highly recommended.
Business moving out of Tulsa Monument building
Here's one from the "snooze, you lose" department. I had noticed a couple of weeks ago that there was a sign in front of Tulsa Monument Co. that the business had lost its lease and was moving. I had meant to follow up in an effort to get more information. The Tulsa World reported Thursday … Continue reading Business moving out of Tulsa Monument building