A few days ago, Corkey Mayberry of Park Hills, Mo., wondered what happened to a Texas-shaped monument that greeted Route 66 travelers in the border town of Texola, Okla. Mayberry and his wife had their picture taken at the monument in 1955. On a Route 66 trip a few weeks ago, Mayberry tried to find … Continue reading Found: the Texola monument
Book about ghosts along Missouri Route 66 will be published
Janice Tremeear of Springfield, Mo., is writing a book titled "Route 66 Hauntings in Missouri: The Show-Me State Ghosts of the Mother Road," which concentrates on ghost sightings and other mysteries along or near Route 66, according to a story in the Springfield News-Leader. Tremeear's book will list Springfield as the birthplace of Route 66 … Continue reading Book about ghosts along Missouri Route 66 will be published
Route 66 nearly 60 years ago
Route 66 enthusiast and author Joe Sonderman said he recently acquired a DVD from an Albuquerque man of home-movie footage during a Route 66 trip in 1953 from Chicago to Los Angeles. As Sonderman said on his Facebook account about the footage: "The Youtube quality doesn't do it justice and it could stand some editing. … Continue reading Route 66 nearly 60 years ago
A glimpse of the past
Here's a television commercial for the Spring River Inn, off old Route 66 in Riverton, Kan. The once-popular restaurant closed in 1996 and burned down in 1998. The only evidence of its existence is a now-decrepit neon sign near the former entrance.
An article to avoid
Generally, I appreciate all of the Route 66-related articles that Helium.com has posted in recent weeks. However, there is one exception: the "Places to avoid while traveling on Route 66" by Eva Perry, which is loaded with inaccuracies or ill-conceived warnings. I'll summarize the problems that Perry sees on the Mother Road: A vaguely mentioned … Continue reading An article to avoid
Joplin museum may be moved into depot
The Joplin Museum Complex in Joplin, Mo., may be moved into the historic Union Depot under a downtown development plan outlined by the city manager, according to the Joplin Globe. According to the newspaper, museum officials are set to discuss the proposal involving the nearly 100-year-old structure on Tuesday. They said they would remain publicly … Continue reading Joplin museum may be moved into depot
An unlikely spot for a canyon
Last week, we made a side trip from Route 66 in Texas to Palo Duro Canyon, which is about 30 miles south of Amarillo. It's definitely worth checking out. The canyon lies in an unlikely spot. Like much of the Texas Panhandle, the nearby terrain is as flat as a tabletop. But, suddenly, when less … Continue reading An unlikely spot for a canyon
Sequel to CNG tour is planned
Mark McConville and Keith Barfield, the duo from Alabama who just finished a tour of Route 66 in a 1966 Pontiac GTO powered by compressed natural gas, is planning to do it again next year, reports the Birmingham News. This time, McConville and Barfield are hoping others who support their efforts to lessen America's dependence on … Continue reading Sequel to CNG tour is planned
Illinois Route 66 ambassador chosen
Freelance photographer Matthew Comer, 28, of Manchester, England, was picked as the United Kingdom's first Illinois Route 66 Ambassador from more than 100 candidates, according to a story today in This Is Lancashire. Following the nationwide search, Matthew has won the ultimate trip of a lifetime to Illinois where he will travel the iconic Route … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 ambassador chosen
What happened to the Texola monument?
A few days ago, I received an e-mail from Corkey Mayberry of Park Hills, Mo., asking me to solve a mystery. In September 1955, he and his wife were on a Route 66 trip. The couple stopped to have their picture taken at a sizable stone monument in Texola, Okla., marking the spot of the … Continue reading What happened to the Texola monument?