In May, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Gov. JB Pritzker announced $4 million in grants for various projects along Route 66, including one to Springfield for an "interactive metaverse exhibit" that would focus on "the lived experiences of Black Americans traveling or living in communities along Route 66 throughout its history." Last week, … Continue reading “Interactive metaverse exhibit” coming to Springfield involves Negro Motorist Green Book
Category: History
Filmmakers of a documentary on women of Route 66 to launch a summer tour on June 14
The creators of the "Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road" documentary film will launch a summer tour with a screening on June 14 in Springfield, Missouri. The 7 p.m. event at Duane Meyer Library, Room 101, in Missouri State University Libraries will include a panel discussion with filmmakers, the Chix … Continue reading Filmmakers of a documentary on women of Route 66 to launch a summer tour on June 14
Home movie footage from 1977 shows Fort Courage and Flintstones Bedrock City in Arizona
Steve Palmer recently posted online some film footage taken during a family vacation in 1977. It shows Fort Courage in Houck, Arizona, and Bedrock City north of Williams, Arizona. https://youtu.be/KaYmXc7EmSU Fort Courage has been abandoned for years and is deteriorating to the elements and vandals. According to Atlas Obscura, Fort Courage was built in the … Continue reading Home movie footage from 1977 shows Fort Courage and Flintstones Bedrock City in Arizona
Hickory House Bar-B-Q in Sapulpa soon will close after 41 years
The Hickory House Bar-B-Q restaurant in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, will close after serving residents and Route 66ers for 41 years. The restaurant at 626 N. Mission St. (aka Route 66) soon will be put up for sale after it serves its final meals Saturday. Co-owner Roberta Ortiz told the Sapulpa Times, which broke the story, that … Continue reading Hickory House Bar-B-Q in Sapulpa soon will close after 41 years
Amarillo’s Natatorium marks its 100th anniversary this summer
The Natatorium, also known as The Nat, in Amarillo, Texas, will mark the 100th anniversary of its completion in July. The approaching centennial first was flagged by Charlie, a Route 66 fan, at Mix94.1 radio in Amarillo. Natatorium is just a fancy word for swimming pool. It opened up in the summer of 1922.The Natatorium … Continue reading Amarillo’s Natatorium marks its 100th anniversary this summer
Donut Man to mark its 50th year tomorrow with a giveaway of 500 doughnuts
The Donut Man along Route 66 in Glendora, California, is celebrating its 50th year in business starting at 8 a.m. Monday with a free anniversary sprinkle doughnut with a $5 purchase The Glendora shop is not only giving away the doughnuts but so is its newer shop inside the Grand Central Market in downtown Los … Continue reading Donut Man to mark its 50th year tomorrow with a giveaway of 500 doughnuts
Castaneda Hotel wins state preservation award
The Castaneda Hotel of Las Vegas, New Mexico, recently won a 2022 CPRC Heritage Preservation Award for architectural heritage from the New Mexico Historic Preservation Commission. The state historic preservation office posted this on social media about the award: Affeldt and Mion also own the historic Plaza Hotel in downtown Las Vegas, New Mexico, and … Continue reading Castaneda Hotel wins state preservation award
Son of Springfield Inn owner makes a documentary about motel’s sad decline
Shyam Rama, a son of the former owner of the Springfield Inn in Springfield, Missouri, has co-created a short documentary film about his childhood and his former home's sad and startlingly quick decline. A redeveloper of the Route 66 motel earlier this year announced plans to put a Whataburger restaurant and other businesses there. Rama … Continue reading Son of Springfield Inn owner makes a documentary about motel’s sad decline
The strange tale of Mrs. Orcutt’s driveway near Newberry Springs
It sounds like the stuff of fiction: The federal government relented and built a more than 4-mile-long driveway to the home of a resolute widow who lived near Newberry Springs, California, and insisted her home have access to old Route 66. The driveway then became an illegal test track for Car and Driver magazine. The … Continue reading The strange tale of Mrs. Orcutt’s driveway near Newberry Springs
“Route 66: The Mother Road” film from 1994 uploaded to the Internet Archive
The 88-minute film "Route 66: The Mother Road" which starred bestselling author Michael Wallis and his wife Suzanne in 1994, recently was uploaded to the Internet Archive for everyone to enjoy. The out-of-print film often also was titled "A Journey Down Route 66." A few copies on VHS or even DVD could be found on … Continue reading “Route 66: The Mother Road” film from 1994 uploaded to the Internet Archive