Elm trees west of Clinton, Oklahoma, documented in Michael Wallis' seminal 1990 book "Route 66: The Mother Road" have died at an alarming rate in recent years and may not be long for this world. A longtime reader with a keen eye alerted me to this a few days ago and shot a short video … Continue reading Fabled elm trees west of Clinton may not be around much longer
Category: History
Books review: “Yesterday’s Highways” and “America’s First Highways”
Prolific author Stephen H. Provost this spring released two books barely two months apart about the early history of American roads and the so-called golden age of U.S. highways. "America's First Highways" delves into the pre-1926 era when the nation's main roads -- including a precursor to Route 66 -- were named and not numbered. … Continue reading Books review: “Yesterday’s Highways” and “America’s First Highways”
Route History shop in Springfield awarded an $80,000 grant
Route History, a former gas station in Springfield, Illinois, that tells the African American experience of Route 66 and acts a souvenir shop, recently earned an $80,047 grant from the state. The grant from the Illinois Minority-Owned Business Capital and Infrastructure Program will the owners help buy the property, improve its grounds, add two staff members … Continue reading Route History shop in Springfield awarded an $80,000 grant
Baxter Springs museum holds an exhibit of late local artisan’s Pitt Pets
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
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