Friends of the Mother Road have scheduled a work day starting at 9 a.m. Saturday to do some landscaping around the Stanley Cour-Tel neon signs and other Route 66 artifacts at Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Ill. It's advised to bring shovels, iron rakes and weed trimmers. Also, the group is also going to box … Continue reading Work day scheduled at Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Category: Preservation
Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program may be renewed
The Cibola County Beacon in New Mexico passes on what could be extraordinarily good news: Judging that a federal program to preserve aspects of historic Route 66 is helping breathe new life into rural America, U.S. Senator Pete Domenici has offered legislation to ensure its continuation for another decade. Domenici has introduced the Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program may be renewed
Pit stop for Model T drivers
The Model T Club of Southern California and other Ford enthusiasts made a stop Wednesday at Gary Turner's re-creation of the Gay Parita gas station on Route 66 near Halltown, Mo., reports the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader. The club is in the middle of driving across the country to commemorate the Model T's 100th anniversary. Much … Continue reading Pit stop for Model T drivers
Santa Monica Pier soon will mark 100 years
The Santa Monica Pier, which for many travelers serves as the symbolic end of Route 66, is marking the 100th anniversary of when construction on it began. The Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram published an interesting history about the pier, including these nuggets: It was originally built to help carry raw sewage out into the ocean. … Continue reading Santa Monica Pier soon will mark 100 years
Century-old Grand Canyon business will close
Verkamp's Curios has operated on the edge of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for 102 years -- even before Arizona became a state. However, Verkamp's will close in September, and you can blame a good chunk of that on the federal government, reports the Canadian Press: The family's final chapter at the canyon … Continue reading Century-old Grand Canyon business will close
Historic gas station placed on National Register
The National Park Service announced this week that the old Sprague's Super Service gas station, at 305 Pine St. in Normal, Ill., was named to the National Register of Historic Places, effective April 25. The circa-1930s station is now owned by Route 66 enthusiast Terri Ryburn, who hopes to eventually convert it into a bed-and-breakfast, … Continue reading Historic gas station placed on National Register
In praise of a public official …
Bill Farnham, a commissioner for the Pulaski County, Mo., board, appears to be doing his darnedest to repair the deteriorating Devil's Elbow Bridge in the Route 66 settlement of Devil's Elbow. From the Waynesville Daily Guide: Pulaski County Commissioner Bill Farnham has made restoration of the Devil’s Elbow Bridge on the original path of Route … Continue reading In praise of a public official …
A Vespa on 66 … and other notebook items
Eric Swanger is planning on driving the length of Route 66 in a few days. What makes his trip special is he's doing it entirely on a Vespa scooter. He starts from Chicago on May 6. He e-mailed: I am keeping a blog and posting a ton of pics. For the Route 66 segment, I'm … Continue reading A Vespa on 66 … and other notebook items
Route 66: Where it’s been, where it’s going
Using a bunch of upcoming Route 66 festivals in Southern California as a news hook, Carol Bidwell of the Long Beach Press-Telegram writes a good article about the Mother Road's history and where it stands at the present day. It includes talk about what happens after the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program ends in 2009. … Continue reading Route 66: Where it’s been, where it’s going
Building in Chicago named to National Register
This is going to be obscure except for the most rabid of Route 66 enthusiasts in the Windy City. But it was announced a couple of days ago that the International Tailoring Company Building at 847 W. Jackson Blvd. in Chicago was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's also known as the … Continue reading Building in Chicago named to National Register