A tornado severely damaged several buildings and cars Saturday at Country Classic Cars along old Route 66 near Staunton, Illinois. Here is incredible footage from Kyle Swip of the twister hitting the business: It was the second disaster to befall the classic-car lot in less than 18 months. In August 2017, a fire destroyed one … Continue reading VIDEO: Tornado damages Country Classic Cars near Staunton
Denny’s windmill in Arcadia is spinning again
The blades of a windmill atop a Denny's restaurant along Route 66 in Arcadia, California, were spinning again this weekend. The blades inexplicably fell off the structure late last year and damaged the restaurant's roof. Reporter Christopher Yee of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune posted video of the windmill operating Friday evening: The last-of-its-kind windmill … Continue reading Denny’s windmill in Arcadia is spinning again
Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles closes its cafeteria
Clifton's Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles quietly closed its cafeteria this summer and now the historic site primarily will run only as a nightclub for now. In the interim, Clifton's dropped the "Cafeteria" from its name and now is called Clifton's Republic. No one seems 100 percent sure when Clifton's stopped serving food, but Los … Continue reading Clifton’s Cafeteria in Los Angeles closes its cafeteria
Book review: “On Route 66 for the First Time”
If you live in Europe and are thinking of traveling Route 66, you might as well download the book "On Route 66 for the First Time." You literally have nothing to lose. That's because Marian Pavel's 221-page book is available for free here. It also comes versions of these languages -- English, French, Latin, German, … Continue reading Book review: “On Route 66 for the First Time”
Construction begins on Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa
Construction of the Route 66 Rising sculpture at Admiral Place (aka Route 66) and Mingo Road in Tulsa began this week. EFG Creative and Planning of Albuquerque, which designed the sculpture, posted the above photo of the construction Tuesday. Tulsa World columnist John Klein wrote about the artwork this week. “We believe the sculpture will … Continue reading Construction begins on Route 66 Rising sculpture in Tulsa
Sheverb’s new video shot partly on Route 66
An all-female band based in Austin with a terrifically descriptive name, Sheverb, recently released a new music video that partially was shot on Route 66. The video is titled "Thunder Lizard." The instrumental wouldn't sound out-of-place on the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack. https://youtu.be/PxVhZx6qaq4 In a news release, Sheverb stated the video was shot at Classical Gas, … Continue reading Sheverb’s new video shot partly on Route 66
Two senators introduce Route 66 National Historic Trail legislation
U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) introduced legislation today that would name Route 66 a National Historic Trail under the National Park Service. The bill is S.3609, known as the Route 66 Historic Trail Designation Act. The U.S. House of Representatives advanced similar legislation earlier this year. According to a news release … Continue reading Two senators introduce Route 66 National Historic Trail legislation
Tourism center opens in building that houses Lincoln law office
The tourism bureau of Springfield, Illinois, recently opened a welcome center in a downtown building that once contained Abraham Lincoln's law office. The Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices historic site inside the 1840 three-story Tinsley dry-goods building was closed a few years ago for a $1 million renovation, but a state budget impasse kept the structure from … Continue reading Tourism center opens in building that houses Lincoln law office
Book review: “Main Street: The Lost Dream of Route 66”
A great many photography books about Route 66 over the years have been imbued with the gauze of 1950s nostalgia and hyper-saturated color. Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Edward Keating's "Main Street: The Lost Dream of Route 66," consciously or not, serves as the antithesis of those books and likely will prove polarizing among Route 66 advocates. … Continue reading Book review: “Main Street: The Lost Dream of Route 66”
Pacific moves forward with Red Cedar Inn project
The city of Pacific, Missouri, gave the official green light to its plan to convert the Red Cedar Inn restaurant building and lounge into a history and visitors center. The Washington Missourian reported: Aldermen approved a contract Nov 6 with architects Patterhn-Ives, St. Louis, to design a multiuse interior for the structure, and determine improvements … Continue reading Pacific moves forward with Red Cedar Inn project