The Missouri History Museum in St. Louis finished 2016 with its highest attendance in about 80 years, and a Route 66 exhibit is being partially credited for that. KSDK-TV in St. Louis reports the museum logged more than 500,000 visitors in the just-finished year. The station reported: "Most museums rely on one big exhibit, … Continue reading Missouri History Museum sees highest attendance since 1930s
More details revealed about “Cars 3”
In recent days, more details have emerged about the Disney-Pixar animated film, "Cars 3," slated for a mid-June release in theaters. The big reveal was an extended trailer for the film, released by Disney: https://youtu.be/U1eQYk74R1g Scenes indicate "Cars 3" at least briefly returning to the desert Southwest and the Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. … Continue reading More details revealed about “Cars 3”
Two-part French program features Route 66
A reader across the pond alerted me to this two-part, French automotive program about Route 66. The special production is by France-based Turbo magazine. The production's focuses mainly on classic cars and hot rods, but you'll find plenty of history and roadie lore, including Muffler Men. As you'll find, it is in French. But the … Continue reading Two-part French program features Route 66
Meramec River Bridge appears to get a reprieve
The endangered Meramec River Bridge at Route 66 State Park near Eureka, Missouri, appears to have earned a reprieve from the wrecking ball. The Route 66 bridge that spanned the Meramec River at the now-ghost town of Times Beach was slated to be demolished by the Missouri Department of Transportation sometime in 2017 unless an entity raised … Continue reading Meramec River Bridge appears to get a reprieve
Route 66 motel photos from 1970s shown by California gallery
Plenty of photographers have documented old motels along Route 66 in the past 20 years. However, a new exhibit, "Route 66 Motels" at the Joseph Bellows Gallery in La Jolla, California, shows images more than 40 years old. The images predate even Quinta Scott's valuable "Along Route 66" images from the late 1970s through the 1980s. … Continue reading Route 66 motel photos from 1970s shown by California gallery
Desert Sands Motel in Albuquerque torn down
The closed Desert Sands Motel of Albuquerque, perhaps best known for being used in a scene in the Oscar-winning movie "No County for Old Men," was torn down last month after three fires since May. The Albuquerque Journal reported the Route 66 motel was razed in early December. Construction equipment reappeared on the site last week, … Continue reading Desert Sands Motel in Albuquerque torn down
Restaurant opens at site of long-forgotten miniature golf course
The owners of the Puttin'-A-Round in Miami, Oklahoma, hadn't planned to put a restaurant there, but as they began to tear down the former doors-and-windows store, they changed their plans for a mini-storage business. Larry and Sue Smith of nearby Picher, Oklahoma, told the Miami News Record they bought the property at 725 N. Main … Continue reading Restaurant opens at site of long-forgotten miniature golf course
New bridges in Carthage to reopen no later than mid-September
The Missouri Department of Transportation this week approved a contract to replace two Missouri 96 (aka Route 66) bridges on the northeast side of Carthage. The road will reopen no later than Sept. 15, but the $6.2 million contract with Clarkson Construction Co. in Kansas City contains incentives if it finishes the job quicker. Given that, it's not … Continue reading New bridges in Carthage to reopen no later than mid-September
Fate of Gasconade River Bridge dominates county meeting
What to do about the closed Gasconade River Bridge near Hazelgreen, Missouri, "dominated" discussion during a recent meeting of the Laclede County board of commissioners, according to a local newspaper. The Lebanon Daily Record (subscription required) reported the talk about the bridge took place during a budget hearing last week. Lebanon City Council member and Route … Continue reading Fate of Gasconade River Bridge dominates county meeting
What should be done about Oatman’s burros?
Easy, now. No one is suggesting getting rid of all the semi-wild burros that roam the Route 66 village of Oatman, Arizona -- especially Oatman businesses, which see the animals as a big reason it's become a tourist attraction. The burros are descendants of burros used in the area gold mines a century ago. When the mines … Continue reading What should be done about Oatman’s burros?