Jon Knudsen, a longtime resident of Albuquerque and a University of New Mexico instructor, posited an intriguing idea during an op-ed piece in the New Mexico Market Place: Placing a Route 66 state park in the middle of the city to help draw visitors with RVs or large trailers. He writes: What about a place … Continue reading Should Albuquerque set up a Route 66 state park?
Route 66 Gateways in Tulsa win architectural design award
The Route 66 Gateways that grace the Mother Road at the eastern and western edges of Tulsa recently won an architectural design award. The gateways, designed Dewberry Architects, received a People's Choice Award at the American Institute of Architects Eastern Oklahoma 2016 Design Excellence Awards Banquet. Steve Vogt described Dewberry's design in this way: … Continue reading Route 66 Gateways in Tulsa win architectural design award
Memories of Times Beach persist more than 30 years later
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently published a story about Marilyn Leistner, who was the last mayor of Times Beach, Missouri, before the Route 66 town was deserted for good in 1983 because of dioxin contamination. Road contractor Russell Bliss used dioxin-laced oil to spread on dirt roads throughout the town. When the Meramec River flooded, … Continue reading Memories of Times Beach persist more than 30 years later
Wall Street Journal produces short video on Route 66
Taking note of Route 66's 90th birthday, the Wall Street Journal a couple of days ago produced this video -- virtually all of it in California's Mojave Desert -- about America's most famous highway: At 4 1/2 minutes, it conveys the road's history and the challenges it faces quite well. (Video-capture excerpt from Wall Street … Continue reading Wall Street Journal produces short video on Route 66
Michael Wallis’ voice now greets visitors at Tulsa airport
Starting today, visitors to Tulsa International Airport will receive a new recorded greeting from none other than best-selling Route 66 author, Radiator Springs sheriff and longtime Tulsa resident Michael Wallis. And, yes, Wallis touts Route 66 as part of the greeting. You can listen here: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/40977225/New%20Recording%203.m4a Newly elected Tulsa mayor G.T. Bynum made the announcement … Continue reading Michael Wallis’ voice now greets visitors at Tulsa airport
Book review: “Route 66 Barn Find Road Trip”
It's a book I'm a bit surprised hasn't been done before -- a few chums travel down Route 66 searching for "barn finds" of classic cars. In case you're not familiar with the term, "barn find" is a long-neglected classic car or motorcycle discovered stored in outbuildings or barns. Many of these vehicles are rare or … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 Barn Find Road Trip”
Educators, Route 66 can use your help
Calling all educators who used Route 66 in their curriculum: The Route 66: The Road Ahead Initiative wants to hear from you. University of New Mexico professor and author David Dunaway is serving as chairman of the initiative's Research & Education Working Group. He recently put out a call for educators to share their materials … Continue reading Educators, Route 66 can use your help
Route 66: The Road Ahead update, 12/3/2016 edition
Bill Thomas of the Route 66: The Road Ahead Initiative asked whether regular updates about the group's activities could be posted on Route 66 News. I agreed to do so on a monthly or bimonthly basis. Here is the first report, printed in full below the jump (content has been lightly edited). Route 66 Road … Continue reading Route 66: The Road Ahead update, 12/3/2016 edition
Route 66 sculptures nearly done for Tulsa’s Howard Park
Utah sculptor Patrick Sullivan probably will finish his three Route 66 sculptures for Howard Park in Tulsa sometime next week. Tulsa World columnist John Klein recently talked to Sullivan, who patiently has wielded a hammer and chisel to create the images in Indiana limestone. Sullivan drove every inch of Route 66 in Tulsa County before beginning … Continue reading Route 66 sculptures nearly done for Tulsa’s Howard Park
Book review: “Route 66 Roadside Signs and Advertisements”
"Route 66 Roadside Signs and Advertisements" leaves little doubt it exists primarily as an image-driven book. After all, you have to show all these neon signs, banners and billboards that made an indelible impression on generations of Route 66 travelers and contributed to the road's colorful history. The book contains hundreds of photographs by Route 66 … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 Roadside Signs and Advertisements”