The Santa Monica History Museum in Santa Monica, California, is hosting a new exhibit, "California's Route 66: Hiding in Plain Sight," through Oct. 19. The museum explains what's in store with the exhibit on its website: To illustrate the Route’s history, the exhibition will feature artifacts such as early driving guides, iconic signage and ephemera, … Continue reading Santa Monica History Museum hosting Route 66 exhibit through mid-October
Category: History
Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies
Elmer Long, the eccentric creator of the beloved Bottle Tree Ranch on Route 66 near Oro Grande, California, died June 22 after a bout with lung cancer. He was 72. Kelly Donovan, an administrator of Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch page on Facebook, announced Long's death during a post on the page Friday afternoon. No obituary … Continue reading Elmer Long, creator of Bottle Tree Ranch, dies
J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum marks 50th year
The J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma, marked its 50th year of operation last weekend. During the ceremony Saturday, a time capsule was sealed so it can be opened during the museum's 100th anniversary. Among these things it contains are 16 essays from Claremore Public School fourth-graders offering ideas of what Claremore … Continue reading J.M. Davis Arms and Historical Museum marks 50th year
“A Matter of Time” book about Route 66 coming in October
"A Matter of Time," a photo-driven book about familiar and forgotten places on Route 66, will be coming in October from the University of Oklahoma Press. The 272-page book, subtitled "Route 66 Through the Lens of Change," by German photographer Ellen Klinkel and West Texas A&M marketing professor Nick Gerlich documents 101 spots along Route … Continue reading “A Matter of Time” book about Route 66 coming in October
Grassroots Baseball tour looking for obscure baseball sites on Route 66
The Grassroots Baseball tour this summer needs suggestions on less well-known baseball sites on or near Route 66. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is helping the soon-to-retire Baseball Hall of Fame president, Jeff Idelson, and photographer Jean Fruth as they explore Route 66. According to the partnership: “We are looking for kids, adults, stickball … Continue reading Grassroots Baseball tour looking for obscure baseball sites on Route 66
Formosa Cafe officially reopens June 28 after two years of renovations
The historic and celebrity-laden Formosa Cafe in West Hollywood, California, officially will reopen June 28 after two years and $2.4 million worth of renovations. The Hollywood Reporter reports the revamp will "make it look almost exactly the same" from before its closing. More from the exclusive report, which included a sneak peek of the interior: … Continue reading Formosa Cafe officially reopens June 28 after two years of renovations
Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee
The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act bill advanced Wednesday out of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works and will head to the full Senate floor. The bill, introduced as S1014 by Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on April 3, was given a letter of support by the Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee
New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena
A new, huge and vintage-style Coca-Cola mural, complete with a Route 66 shield, recently was painted onto a prominent building in downtown Galena, Kansas, where two Route 66 alignments meet. The century-old building sits at Kansas Route 66 (the newer alignment) and Main Street (aka old Route 66). A local television station recently reported about … Continue reading New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena
Markley Shovel, a predecessor to Big Brutus, is dedicated
A century-old coal-mining shovel that served as a much-smaller predecessor of the Big Brutus shovel was dedicated Saturday at the Big Brutus Visitors Center in West Mineral, Kansas. According to an Associated Press article, Perry Markley designed and built by hand the smaller shovel in the early 1900s using junkyard parts. The machine was one … Continue reading Markley Shovel, a predecessor to Big Brutus, is dedicated
Grandchildren of Dixie Truckers Home founders pay a visit
Two grandchildren of the couple that founded the Dixie Truckers Home in McLean, Illinois, recently paid a visit to the site for the first time in years. Steve Jordan and Cathy Greeneberg, descendants of the Route 66 truck stop's original owners John and Viola Geske, sat down with a crew from WMBD-TV at what now … Continue reading Grandchildren of Dixie Truckers Home founders pay a visit