Don't anticipate the primitive La Bajada Hill alignment of Route 66 southwest of Santa Fe, New Mexico, to be reopened to off-roaders or hikers anytime soon. A pueblo group recently accused the U.S. Bureau of Land Management of not doing enough to protect sacred sites in the Caja del Rio Plateau area (aka La Bajada) … Continue reading Desecration of petroglyphs probably means La Bajada access won’t be reopened anytime soon
Category: History
Federal legislation would designate Chisholm Trail a national historic trail
The 19th-century Chisholm Trail, which crosses Route 66 in western Oklahoma, is being considered by Congress for national historic trail designation, according to the state's lieutenant governor. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, who leads the state's tourism department, stated in a Facebook post a few days ago: No state can match Oklahoma’s heritage and history, … Continue reading Federal legislation would designate Chisholm Trail a national historic trail
Route 66 matchbook cover database is looking for more submissions
A group of Route 66 enthusiasts has amassed an online image collection of about 650 matchbox covers from businesses in Texas that existed along the Mother Road, and they now looking for submissions from the other seven states. Phil Gordon stated in an email that contributors who scanned and uploaded images of the matchcovers have … Continue reading Route 66 matchbook cover database is looking for more submissions
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $4,000 in grants for varying projects
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway this week announced it awarded a total of $4,000 in grants to four byway members, including one that has created the Largest Tire on Route 66. It is the second round of grant awards from the byway. According to a news release: Byway Project Funds are to support events, … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $4,000 in grants for varying projects
“Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road” to be broadcast in March
Katrina Parks' documentary about women who played a significant role in the history of Route 66 finally will be coming to television screens in March. Parks announced on Facebook last week her "Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road" will air on American Public Television. In a follow-up message with Route … Continue reading “Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road” to be broadcast in March
Book review: “Here We Are … on Route 66”
Prolific author Jim Hinckey's new book "Here We Are ... on Route 66" (Amazon link) contains plenty of color photos of easily recognizable landmarks along the Mother Road. Don't let the familiarity fool you. This volume is more of a deep dive into the obscure past of selected towns along the Mother Road. Noting that … Continue reading Book review: “Here We Are … on Route 66”
Joe Sonderman’s “Route 66 Then and Now” book finds an unexpected second life
Thanks to an out-of-the-blue feature by a British newspaper, Joe Sonderman's "Route 66 Then and Now" book suddenly has found new interest nearly four years after its publication. Sonderman's "Route 66 Then and Now" (Amazon link) was published by London-based Pavilion Books in May 2018. The book compares old images of Route 66 to what … Continue reading Joe Sonderman’s “Route 66 Then and Now” book finds an unexpected second life
Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities
A forthcoming exhibit at Northern Arizona University's Cline Library in Flagstaff will undertake a deeper dive into the minority communities that have populated and affected the highway. "The Shades of Route 66 in Arizona: Celebrating Diversity along Arizona’s Historic Route 66" exhibit, according to a news release from the university, "will explore, document and share … Continue reading Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities
Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio who was interviewed in documentary, dies at 89
Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio at the Texas-New Mexico border who was interviewed in a documentary about the Route 66 ghost town, died on New Year's Eve in nearby Vega, Texas. He was 89. If you have a few minutes, read the colorful obituary on Nixon's life. It's apparent he enjoyed his time on … Continue reading Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio who was interviewed in documentary, dies at 89
Frankoma Pottery to open a store in Oklahoma for the first time in more than a decade
Frankoma Pottery, a fixture along Route 66 near Sapulpa, Oklahoma, for decades until its factory closed in 2010, soon will open a new shop and manufacturing facility in the nearby city of Glenpool. The company stated in a Facebook post last week it was building the facility at 171st Street and U.S. 75 in Glenpool, … Continue reading Frankoma Pottery to open a store in Oklahoma for the first time in more than a decade