The Tampa Tribune takes more of a feminist angle of Route 66 in leading off its story about 4 Women on the Route of Galena, Kan.: Think of Route 66 and several names come to mind: Bobby Troup, who wrote "Route 66"; John Steinbeck, who proclaimed it the Mother Road in "The Grapes of Wrath"; … Continue reading Adding ladies to the legend
Category: Preservation
Elvis ate here
Here's something interesting that just came from the latest newsletter by the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. The Heartland of America Heritage Museum in Weatherford, Okla., is about finished restoring the Porter House Diner, an original Valentine diner. The museum estimates the refurbishment will be done later this month or early March. The article by Marion … Continue reading Elvis ate here
Help save Bird Creek Bridge near Catoosa
I was going to write about this, but I'm going to let Route 66 author and preservationist Jim Ross hold court for a bit. This is a partial text of an e-mail he sent today: The Bird Creek Bridge (formerly known as the Verdigris River Bridge) at Catoosa near the Blue Whale now has its … Continue reading Help save Bird Creek Bridge near Catoosa
Lands bill vote delayed
The U.S. House of Representatives has delayed a vote on the Omnibus Lands Bill, which contains a measure to reauthorize the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for another 10 years. According to the Idaho Statesman, the vote was delayed because of a hangup by the National Rifle Association about gun restrictions on public lands. Supporters … Continue reading Lands bill vote delayed
New plans for Waynesville bridge proceed
The Daily Guide of Waynesville, Mo., reports that improvements to the 1923 Roubidoux Bridge, which carries historic Route 66, will proceed after fits and starts. Originally, vintage-looking lights were planned on the bridge. But preservationists were concerned that drilling holes into the structure to install them would compromise the bridge's integrity. There also were concerns … Continue reading New plans for Waynesville bridge proceed
Owner may restore Boots Motel
In a Carthage (Mo.) Press feature, Savannah's Restaurant owner Vince Scott talks about, among other things, his ownership of the Boots Motel on Route 66: Scott also owns one of the historic landmarks in Carthage, the Boots Motel. Again his intention was to buy the property and sell it quickly at a profit, which might … Continue reading Owner may restore Boots Motel
Lands bill will be voted on this week
The Omnibus Public Lands Bill, which contains a measure to reauthorize the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program for another 10 years, will be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to KC Earth Notes, a blog affiliated with the Kansas City Star. The bill was easily approved by the … Continue reading Lands bill will be voted on this week
Help protect the Pony Bridge
A few weeks ago, I read that the state of Oklahoma was putting together a list of bridges slated for repairs or replacement in the next decade or so. I'm for safe bridges as much as the next person. But I was concerned that the Pony Bridge, the amazing 38-truss span built in 1933 on … Continue reading Help protect the Pony Bridge
Historic real estate site launched
For those seeking or wanting to sell historic property along Route 66, a new site launched last week that may provide a good resourse for such things. HistoricForSale.com, a subsidiary of PreservationDirectory.com, launched on Wednesday. It's an online directory of vintage homes and historic commercial property for sale, and real-estate agents who specialize in such … Continue reading Historic real estate site launched
Rock Cafe resurrection
It appears the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., is shooting for a reopening in May -- the one-year anniversary of a devastating fire that gutted the historic building. David Burke Historic Preservation, based in Perry, Okla., is the main contractor on the reconstruction project. It has a Web page that details the ongoing work, including … Continue reading Rock Cafe resurrection