About 30 miles of Route 66 in Wheeler County, Texas, from the Oklahoma border to the Gray County line has been designated to the National Register of Historic Places. The listing was effective Sept. 22, according to an email from the National Park Service. The email states the historic designation covers the south outer road … Continue reading Route 66 in Wheeler County, Texas, added to National Register of Historic Places
West Central Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque to break ground in December
The long-planned West Central Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque should break ground in December, with a planned opening by January 2022. Luis Hernandez Jr., West Central Community Development Group’s executive director, revealed the timeline for the $12 million project on Nine Mile Hill in a recent report by the Albuquerque Journal. The development group … Continue reading West Central Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque to break ground in December
Fine-art photographer lends a hand to struggling Midpoint Cafe
A fine-art photographer based in Amarillo is helping the iconic Midpoint Cafe in nearby Adrian, Texas, as it struggles through the economic ripples of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jim Livingston, whom many readers may remember from his "I Am Route 66" project, said he would donate proceeds from the sale of photographs of the Route 66 … Continue reading Fine-art photographer lends a hand to struggling Midpoint Cafe
“Austin City Limits” will air Asleep At the Wheel retrospective Oct. 31
The long-running PBS-TV music program "Austin City Limits" next month will broadcast a special retrospective on the western-swing band Asleep at the Wheel, both of which is marking its 50th anniversary. Asleep At the Wheel performed on the show's first episode back in 1970. In total, the band has appeared on the show 11 times … Continue reading “Austin City Limits” will air Asleep At the Wheel retrospective Oct. 31
Latest RoadTripOK video focuses on Oklahoma City
The latest RoadTripOK video this week features two museums and an annual memorial sporting event in Oklahoma City. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/l6C986buRS0 Here are the three places the video covers: Oklahoma City Memorial and MuseumOklahoma City Memorial MarathonOklahoma History Center Note: The annual marathon went virtual this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Oklahoma … Continue reading Latest RoadTripOK video focuses on Oklahoma City
Criollo cattle once grazed in California’s Mojave Desert
It's hard to believe now, but Criollo cattle that were brought with Christopher Columbus more than 500 years ago to North America once roamed the harsh Mojave Desert of Southern California. That nugget came from John R. Beyer, a columnist for the Victorville Daily Press, in a feature about the depleted Route 66 town of … Continue reading Criollo cattle once grazed in California’s Mojave Desert
Some stucco repairs made to Painted Desert Trading Post
Volunteers recently spent a few days performing stucco repairs to the long-abandoned Painted Desert Trading Post building in eastern Arizona before winter sets in. When the group returns in the spring, it'll finish the stucco work, then Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan eventually will repaint the faded letters on the building. Mike Ward … Continue reading Some stucco repairs made to Painted Desert Trading Post
‘Archaeological dig’ scheduled in Illinois barn to find Bob Waldmire artifacts
Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Jim Conkle is scheduling a so-called "archaeological dig" at a barn in Rochester, Illinois, to find artifacts that belonged to late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. The barn belongs to Buz Waldmire, Bob's brother. Bob also spent time there off and on during his lifetime, and he died there in 2009 … Continue reading ‘Archaeological dig’ scheduled in Illinois barn to find Bob Waldmire artifacts
New Route 66 Historic Trail bill introduced in Congress
The U.S. Congress is going to try again to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail during the current session. According to a Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership news release, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) on Monday introduced HR8240 in the U.S. House of Representatives. U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano [D-Calif.] co-sponsored the bill Here's … Continue reading New Route 66 Historic Trail bill introduced in Congress
Latest RoadTripOK video concentrates on sites in and near Claremore
The latest RoadTripOK video this week features a restaurant and museum in Claremore and a unique park in nearby rural Foyil. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/MgNAkg_WBkw Here are the three places the video covers: Will Rogers Memorial MuseumHammett House restaurantEd Galloway's Totem Pole Park Oklahoma Tourism and Broken Arrow-based Retrospec Films announced last fall they … Continue reading Latest RoadTripOK video concentrates on sites in and near Claremore