While looking over the track listing of the "Songs of Tucumcari" complication compilation CD, a thought struck me: When has such a small town as Tucumcari, N.M. (population 5,900) inspired so many songs? Maybe it's because the city's association with Route 66. Maybe it's from being the first significant town that westbound travelers encounter when … Continue reading CD review: “Songs of Tucumcari”
Category: Towns
Songs about Tucumcari
The Tucumcari-Quay County Chamber of Commerce is about to release a 14-song CD filled with songs that refer to the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., according to the Quay County Sun. The Chamber of Commerce will sell the CDs to tourists and the locals as a Chamber fundraiser. In the beginning of the research, … Continue reading Songs about Tucumcari
Touting Tucumcari
This is a promotional video created by the Tucumcari-Quay County Chamber of Commerce in Tucumcari, N.M. It touts the town's Route 66 heritage and other attractions. It's an excellent video ... every bit as good what I've seen from much bigger cities.
The silence of the trains — for real
For the first time in more than a century, trains now will go through the Route 66 town of Flagstaff, Ariz., without sounding their warning horns, reported the Arizona Daily Sun. On Tuesday, trains went through Flagstaff for the first time without blasting their horns. It took several years and hundreds of thousands of dollars, … Continue reading The silence of the trains — for real
Notes from the road
The "East Meets West" sculpture at the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza at Riverside Drive and Southwest Boulevard (aka Route 66) in Tulsa is inching closer to being installed. Dennis Whitaker at the city of Tulsa gave me this update, via e-mail: [T]he artist is finished with the car group and the foundry has already cast … Continue reading Notes from the road
Kingman as a jumping-off point
An article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the Route 66 town of Kingman, Ariz., contains a lot of interesting material about tourism attractions in the town and in the surrounding area. Not only does the article mention usual attractions such as Route 66 and the Route 66 Museum in the city's Powerhouse Museum Center, … Continue reading Kingman as a jumping-off point
Rialto will spruce up part of Route 66
The City Council of Rialto, Calif., voted Tuesday to make $3.8 million in improvements in a stretch along Foothill Boulevard, aka Route 66, reported the Contra Costa Times. The work will include repaving the road's surface, but also other improvements: The city is looking at enhancing the pavement at Riverside Avenue and Foothill Boulevard with … Continue reading Rialto will spruce up part of Route 66
Notes from the road
I've tried to glean a deeper look at the crisis in Needles, Calif., over the possible loss of its only grocery store, Bashas'. The grocer chain filed bankruptcy a few months ago, and it is set to close 10 stores in response, including Needles'. This recent story in the Mohave Daily News provides additional information … Continue reading Notes from the road
Devil’s Elbow Bridge gets stabilization grant
This historic but deteriorating Devil's Elbow Bridge that carries an older alignment of Route 66 into Devil's Elbow, Mo., got good news recently. The bridge will receive a grant to help stabilize the structure until more funds can be found to fully repair it. According to the Pulaski County Daily: The historic Devil’s Elbow bridge … Continue reading Devil’s Elbow Bridge gets stabilization grant
The silence of the trains
James Chilton of the Kingman Daily Miner takes a look at a railroad "quiet zone" that soon will take effect in the fellow Route 66 town of Flagstaff, Ariz. The rule will require train engineers to put a sock in their whistles when going through town. "The hotel guys are the ones who are most … Continue reading The silence of the trains