"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
Route 66 travelers get sticker shock from recent car-rental rates
One interesting thread on the HIstoric Route 66 page on Facebook has been by prospective Route 66 travelers -- especially foreigners -- who nearly had a heart attack when seeing the prices on rental vehicles. Lee Thurston in a recent post on the group stated he made a reservation a year ago for an SUV … Continue reading Route 66 travelers get sticker shock from recent car-rental rates
‘Goth Home’ in Lincoln no longer is on the market
An octagon home in Lincoln, Illinois, that earned internet fame with its nearly all-black interior and exterior no longer is on the market. The Lincoln Courier reported in late December the house at 110 Edgar St. that the property is in the process of being sold to an out-of-town buyer, sight unseen. The prospective buyer … Continue reading ‘Goth Home’ in Lincoln no longer is on the market
First Avenue Bridge in Barstow closed indefinitely after an accident
The First Avenue Bridge that leads to a Route 66 museum in Barstow, California, was closed to traffic after an accident last week and will remain off-limits indefinitely. The Victorville Daily Press reports the city is keeping the historic span closed as it assesses damage from a head-on crash that occurred Wednesday afternoon. It left … Continue reading First Avenue Bridge in Barstow closed indefinitely after an accident
Joe Sonderman’s “Route 66 Then and Now” book finds an unexpected second life
Thanks to an out-of-the-blue feature by a British newspaper, Joe Sonderman's "Route 66 Then and Now" book suddenly has found new interest nearly four years after its publication. Sonderman's "Route 66 Then and Now" (Amazon link) was published by London-based Pavilion Books in May 2018. The book compares old images of Route 66 to what … Continue reading Joe Sonderman’s “Route 66 Then and Now” book finds an unexpected second life
Kearney Street redevelopment includes tearing down Springfield Inn motel
It looks like the city fathers of Springfield, Missouri, are pretty earnest in redeveloping the moribund Kearney Street corridor: They're tearing down the closed Springfield Inn motel to make way for it. According to KY3 in Springfield, bulldozers soon will raze that property to bring in new construction of retail stores to revitalize the area, … Continue reading Kearney Street redevelopment includes tearing down Springfield Inn motel
Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities
A forthcoming exhibit at Northern Arizona University's Cline Library in Flagstaff will undertake a deeper dive into the minority communities that have populated and affected the highway. "The Shades of Route 66 in Arizona: Celebrating Diversity along Arizona’s Historic Route 66" exhibit, according to a news release from the university, "will explore, document and share … Continue reading Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities