The Baxter Springs Historical Museum in Baxter Springs, Kansas, is holding an exhibit of a deceased local artisan who made unique tiny sculptures from peach pits, called "Pitt Pets." Duane M. Lee, who died at age 65 in 2005, made an estimated 10,000 of his Pitt Pets, according to his son Don, and gave them … Continue reading Baxter Springs museum holds an exhibit of late local artisan’s Pitt Pets
Category: History
Meteor City Trading Post being restored with a little help from their friends
The Meteor City Trading Post eventually will reopen for the first time since 2012 after its new owners have received a hand up from nearby Route 66 businesses and enthusiasts. The Arizona Daily Sun in a feature story recounts the three-year saga of Joann and Michael Brown of Indiana, who bought the abandoned and vandalized … Continue reading Meteor City Trading Post being restored with a little help from their friends
Smithsonian Channel puts ‘Green Book: Guide to Freedom’ episode online
If you've got about an hour to kill, I highly recommend you watch "The Green Book: Guide to Freedom" that originally aired on the Smithsonian Channel in February 2019. The full 51-minute video showed up Monday on the Smithsonian's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/xjAppLwDm6U For the uninitiated, the Negro Motorist Green Book was published during the Jim … Continue reading Smithsonian Channel puts ‘Green Book: Guide to Freedom’ episode online
Historic Central Camera store goes up in flames during unrest in Chicago
The historic Central Camera store along Route 66 in downtown Chicago burned Saturday night amid unrest over the death a few days ago of an African-American man in Minneapolis police custody. The store's neon sign, however, appeared to be intact. A reporter with the CBS-TV affiliate in Chicago reported the store 332 S. Wabash Ave. … Continue reading Historic Central Camera store goes up in flames during unrest in Chicago
Retiring Public Radio Tulsa director plans books on Route 66 motels, theaters in Tulsa
Pierce Pennant Terminal in Tulsa Steve Clem, operations director at Public Radio Tulsa for 11 years, retired last week from his post and is planning two books about defunct theaters and Route 66 motels in that city. During a Q&A session with his now-former employer, Clem revealed about projects he has in the hopper: PRT: … Continue reading Retiring Public Radio Tulsa director plans books on Route 66 motels, theaters in Tulsa
A look at Amarillo from nearly 60 years ago
For a fun look into the past, take a look at this 15-minute promotional film that touted the virtues of the Route 66 town of Amarillo, Texas, and the surrounding region. The film was created between 1962 and 1964 by Southwestern Public Service Company and the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. The colors of this clip … Continue reading A look at Amarillo from nearly 60 years ago
Ski Lodge Roof House in Daggett will be converted back into a visitor center
The famous Ski Lodge Roof House along Route 66 in Daggett, California, will be restored and brought back to its original purpose as a visitors center. Delvin Roy Harbour posted this bit of information Sunday on Facebook: Terri Terry, secretary and editor for the Daggett Historical Society, confirmed the news in a text message and … Continue reading Ski Lodge Roof House in Daggett will be converted back into a visitor center
Waynesville marks 30th year of Missouri’s Route 66 declared a historic district
Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission member Jackie Welborn (left) and former Missouri state Rep. Jim Mitchell attended Mayor Luge Hardman’s proclamation signing ceremony Thursday evening. Pulaski County Tourism Bureau was represented by Laura Huffman (right). The mayor of Waynesville, Missouri, on Thursday signed a proclamation recognizing the upcoming 30-year anniversary of Missouri’s designation of its … Continue reading Waynesville marks 30th year of Missouri’s Route 66 declared a historic district
Statue of Liberty replicas contain their own historical cachet
A story in the Tulsa World over the weekend sent me down a rabbit hole to find more about small-but-nicely-crafted replicas of the Statue of Liberty that were installed in 200 towns across America seven decades ago. The Tulsa newspaper noted the 8 1/2-foot-tall Statue of Liberty at 17th Street and South Harvard Avenue in … Continue reading Statue of Liberty replicas contain their own historical cachet
Part of Fort Courage Trading Post in Arizona damaged by fire; three arrested
Three people were arrested after an arson fire over the weekend destroyed one of the structures for the closed Fort Courage Trading Post complex near Houck, Arizona. Puerco Fire and EMS posted on its Facebook page: Southern Navajo Nation News posted a video from a bystander of the fire in progress: The Apache County arrests … Continue reading Part of Fort Courage Trading Post in Arizona damaged by fire; three arrested