A group of Route 66 enthusiasts has amassed an online image collection of about 650 matchbox covers from businesses in Texas that existed along the Mother Road, and they now looking for submissions from the other seven states. Phil Gordon stated in an email that contributors who scanned and uploaded images of the matchcovers have … Continue reading Route 66 matchbook cover database is looking for more submissions
Man suffers serious injuries after falling from top of Marsh Arch Bridge near Baxter Springs
A 24-year-old man was in critical condition late Friday after falling from the top of the historic Marsh Arch Bridge, aka Rainbow Bridge, near Baxter Springs, Kansas, earlier that day. KOAM-TV reports the local sheriff said the man suffered traumatic injuries after he fell from the Route 66 bridge to the roadway. The accident occurred … Continue reading Man suffers serious injuries after falling from top of Marsh Arch Bridge near Baxter Springs
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $4,000 in grants for varying projects
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway this week announced it awarded a total of $4,000 in grants to four byway members, including one that has created the Largest Tire on Route 66. It is the second round of grant awards from the byway. According to a news release: Byway Project Funds are to support events, … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway awards $4,000 in grants for varying projects
Reconstruction of Pony Bridge near Bridgeport won’t start until June
Those traveling Route 66 during the first half of 2022 have good news: The reconstruction project that will close the Pony Bridge near Bridgeport, Oklahoma, for at least two years won't begin until June. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association on Facebook passed along the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's updated word about the bridge project this … Continue reading Reconstruction of Pony Bridge near Bridgeport won’t start until June
Carlinville beefs up facade grant program partly due to coming Route 66 centennial
The City of Carlinville, Illinois, is doubling the amount of money available in its facade grant program because it wants its historic downtown to look good during Route 66's centennial in 2026. The Journal-Courier reports the city usually sets aside $10,000 for the program, but it is doubling it for the 2022-2023 fiscal year by … Continue reading Carlinville beefs up facade grant program partly due to coming Route 66 centennial
“Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road” to be broadcast in March
Katrina Parks' documentary about women who played a significant role in the history of Route 66 finally will be coming to television screens in March. Parks announced on Facebook last week her "Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road" will air on American Public Television. In a follow-up message with Route … Continue reading “Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road” to be broadcast in March
“The Great Muslim American Road Trip” coming to PBS this summer
"The Great Muslim American Road Trip," a documentary series about a Muslim couple traveling Route 66, will air on PBS-TV later this summer. The three-part series will be offered on PBS stations, PBS.org and the PBS app, reported Realscreen.com. The series follows rapper Mona Haydar and her husband Sebastian Robins as they explore the U.S. … Continue reading “The Great Muslim American Road Trip” coming to PBS this summer
City of Clinton to sell its 1939 fire station along Route 66
The City of Clinton, Oklahoma, transferred its ownership of a distinctive 80-year-old fire station to the Clinton Industrial Authority, which in turn likely will sell it. The building at 523 W. Gary Blvd., aka Route 66, changed hands during the city council meeting last week, reported the Clinton Daily News (subscription required). “This is the … Continue reading City of Clinton to sell its 1939 fire station along Route 66
Book review: “Here We Are … on Route 66”
Prolific author Jim Hinckey's new book "Here We Are ... on Route 66" (Amazon link) contains plenty of color photos of easily recognizable landmarks along the Mother Road. Don't let the familiarity fool you. This volume is more of a deep dive into the obscure past of selected towns along the Mother Road. Noting that … Continue reading Book review: “Here We Are … on Route 66”
29,000 Oklahoma Route 66 Passports distributed in just a few months in 2020
Remember the Oklahoma Route 66 Passport created by the Oklahoma Department of Tourism a couple of years ago? It turns out the agency distributed that little booklet by the truckload. The department this week sent out a news release about the 2020 tourism season, during the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic. It contained this … Continue reading 29,000 Oklahoma Route 66 Passports distributed in just a few months in 2020