The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership a few days ago issued its third-quarter report. Among the interesting nuggets is the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Preserve Route 66 road trip generated more than 1,000 news stories and drew a potential audience of 1.15 billion. Here are the tidbits from the report: --- The National Trust's … Continue reading Stories on Preserve Route 66 trip drew potential audience of 1.1 billion
Category: Maps
What path would the Route 66 National Historic Trail take?
Someone on a Route 66 thread on Facebook -- I don't remember where -- recently wondered what alignments would be covered in the proposed Route 66 National Historic Trail being considered by Congress. The bill, H.B. 801, states the trail "includes all the alignments of U.S. Highway 66 in existence between 1926 and 1985, extending … Continue reading What path would the Route 66 National Historic Trail take?
Expanded Pulaski County brochure includes obscure Route 66 alignment
The Pulaski County Tourism Bureau in Missouri announced this week it expanded its Route 66 Driving Tour brochure for the first time since 2001, including adding an obscure Route 66 alignment of which few people are aware. The bureau stated the brochure offers more than 66 points of interest, 10 detour-worthy side trips and seven roadie-inspired … Continue reading Expanded Pulaski County brochure includes obscure Route 66 alignment
New Route 66 Navigation app offers turn-by-turn directions
A Slovakian company has developed the first Route 66 app for iPhones that offers turn-by-turn directions, and an Android version should be ready in the coming weeks. Route 66 Navigation's full abilities will cost $49.99 for a yearly subscription -- a price that may make some roadies blanch. But its many features might lessen the … Continue reading New Route 66 Navigation app offers turn-by-turn directions
Book review: “The Route 66 Adventure Handbook” (fifth edition)
Bigger and better. That's the takeaway from Drew Knowles' fifth edition of his "Route 66 Adventure Handbook." Knowles keeps adding new things to new editions of his book, which comes out every five years or so. Knowles' first "Route 66 Adventure Handbook" in 2001 contained 240 pages. Subsequent editions swelled to 272, 384 and 431 … Continue reading Book review: “The Route 66 Adventure Handbook” (fifth edition)
Artist offering Route 66-inspired diorama, map to museums or collectors
Wendy Jack, a California-based artist, completed an elaborate diorama, map and other displays for a work titled "A Nostalgic Journey on Route 66" she hopes will interest museums, organizations or individuals. The work consists of an approximate 4 1/2-by-3 1/2-foot diorama of a gas station and souvenir shop, with a lot of detail, next to … Continue reading Artist offering Route 66-inspired diorama, map to museums or collectors
This shows why black people aren’t nostalgic about Route 66
Interest in the history of Route 66 largely is fueled by the memories of people who traveled the Mother Road from 1946 to the mid-1960s. It's nostalgia. Black people don't share nostalgia as enthusiastically. I surmised it was because Jim Crow laws kept African-Americans at least uncomfortable or, at worst, fearful for their lives until the civil-rights … Continue reading This shows why black people aren’t nostalgic about Route 66
100 years of drive-in theaters in one map
The first of many drive-in theaters opened in New Mexico in 1914. More than 100 years later, someone has compiled an interactive map that shows more than 4,600 drive-in theaters built in the United States. Below is a screen capture of the map, but the direct link to it is here (the map may take several … Continue reading 100 years of drive-in theaters in one map
What is the length of Route 66?
The length of the original U.S. 66 is commonly cited as 2,448 miles (although Wikipedia lists it as 2,451 miles). Stefan Joppich's research indicates through bypasses and improvements, the length of Route 66 dropped in miles to 2,278 by 1947 -- much of it through the bypass of Santa Fe, which lopped off almost 120. How long … Continue reading What is the length of Route 66?
Kingman Route 66 Walk of Fame inductees announced
Four inductees for the Route 66 Walk of Fame in Kingman, Arizona, during the Best of the West on Route 66 Festival on Sept. 25-27 recently were announced. The inductees also will be recognized as King of the Road, an honorary position that includes being as grand marshal of the festival's parade. The inductees are: … Continue reading Kingman Route 66 Walk of Fame inductees announced