Last summer, the historic Green Parrot tavern along Route 66 in Galena, Kan., was damaged when a giant sinkhole opened up behind the property. The hole was caused by the collapse of one of the old underground lead mines that dot the city. Today, an article in the Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World & News confirms what … Continue reading Does Galena have a future?
Route 66 Blowout coverage
Two local newspapers provided extensive coverage to the Route 66 Blowout in Sapulpa, Okla., last weekend. One was the Sapulpa Daily Herald, which has a story and photographs (the page was having problems loading earlier; please be patient). The other was the Tulsa World, which has a slideshow of photographs and audio from the event.
Illinois Route 66 Hall of Famers announced
The current summer issue of The 66 News, published by the Route 66 Association of Illinois, announces its 2007 inductees to the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. They are: Joy Henderson, former owner of Archie's Standard Service in Pontiac (1956-63) and the Hilltop Cafe in Cayuga (1963-65). Henderson is now 74. (The Pontiac Leader … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Hall of Famers announced
Needles hopes for more rail tourism
The Route 66 town of Needles, Calif., hopes that its future includes more railroad tourists after its historic Harvey House, El Garces, is restored by a team that refurbished another Harvey House in Winslow, Ariz., reports the Reuters wire service. A number of towns like Needles, which based much of its business on Route 66 … Continue reading Needles hopes for more rail tourism
Norwegian motorcycle tour highlights
Trond Moberg regularly guides motorcycle tours down Route 66 for his fellow Norwegians. Here is a 29-minute video of highlights of his 2003 tour.
McKinley Bridge set to reopen this fall
Route 66 travelers going through the St. Louis area received good news over the weekend: The long-closed McKinley Bridge is set to reopen to traffic on Sept. 25, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The bridge, built in 1910 to link St. Louis to Venice, Ill., was closed in 2001 when it became too dangerously … Continue reading McKinley Bridge set to reopen this fall
Driving Route 66 in a moped
Roland Gueffroy currently is driving Route 66 in an unorthodox way -- in a refurbished Swiss postal moped. According to his Web site: Why take a original Swiss postal moped on Route 66? I have been asked this question, albeit in various forms, many times. It’s to be expected that this kind of tour is … Continue reading Driving Route 66 in a moped
Another Harley and Annabelle Experience
Harley and Annabelle Russell of the Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Okla., perform "Route 66" for a camera-toting tourist. Other videos of Harley and Annabelle's schtick can be found here and here.
The Blue Whale — inside and out
If you never visited the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla., this video provides the next-best thing to being there. The camera operator even provides a rare look inside the whale's second level, in the head. For more history about the Blue Whale, go here, here and here.
Route 66 Bike Trail kickoff
This article by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is the first I've seen since the Route 66 Bike Trail-Breaking event in Illinois on Saturday. The article also provides hints on the trail's potential popularity and its possible future: Marla Gursh, a trails planner for the department, said at the event in Edwardsville that the bike trails … Continue reading Route 66 Bike Trail kickoff