The Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner published this fascinating article about continuing efforts to maintain populations of the rare black-footed ferret off Route 66 near Seligman. That type of ferret was once considered extinct because of disease and other problems until a small group of them was found in Wyoming in the early 1980s. The effort … Continue reading Bringing them back
This is awesome
Tap-dancing, weird driving backdrops, relentlessly cheeky singers, and the Lawrence Welk Show. What more could you want?
A rare and old grain elevator
Bill Kemp, an archivist with the McLean County Museum of History, wrote an interesting article in the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph about the history of grain elevators. In particular, he focuses on the J.W. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum in the Route 66 town of Atlanta, Ill. The Hawes elevator was built in 1903 and is one … Continue reading A rare and old grain elevator
Federal grants awarded for Route 66 tourism
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced several federal grants that will go toward tourism, including Route 66 sites. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, $395,000 will be used to erect "experience hubs" and signs for Route 66 from East St. Louis to Chicago. Also, in New Mexico, the state will receive $365,000 in federal funds to … Continue reading Federal grants awarded for Route 66 tourism
Car show will help restore The Mill
The Railsplitter Antique Auto Club, along with the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County, is holding a classic car show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at The Mill in Lincoln, Ill. -- a former Route 66 restaurant that's undergoing restoration. According to the Lincoln Courier: Registration is open to everyone and the … Continue reading Car show will help restore The Mill
Only in America
Only in a place like America would you have a cowboy-themed restaurant that serves Italian gourmet ice cream. In this case, it's taking place on Route 66 in Amarillo. It's called Cowboy Gelato, on the historic Sixth Street district. According to the restaurant's Web site: Cowboy Gelato will bring a new form of excitement to … Continue reading Only in America
Photographer’s journey gets attention
For nearly three weeks, I've been following Sandi Wheaton's blog about her photographic trip down Route 66 at PictureRoute66.com (her post about her colorful time at the Elbow Inn in Devil's Elbow, Mo., was particularly memorable). It looks like the local media in Oklahoma City caught up with her in a big way this week. … Continue reading Photographer’s journey gets attention
Baxter Springs trades cowtown heritage for Route 66
The town of Baxter Springs, Kan., is holding a downtown Route 66 Fall Festival on Saturday night. According to the Joplin Globe, the festival is going to be a sort of dress rehearsal for the 2010 Mother Road Marathon. What I didn't know, however, is that Baxter Springs is phasing out its longtime Cowtown Days … Continue reading Baxter Springs trades cowtown heritage for Route 66
Blue highways turning green
Time magazine takes a look at the idea of having "green" highways in America -- historic roads that would cater to electric vehicles, cyclists and even runners. The article mentions the Mother Road in a paragraph: If other, more famous heritage routes are any indication, a green-corridor network just might work. Route 66, the classic … Continue reading Blue highways turning green
Hello from England
Here's a swinging big-band version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by the group with the great name: Back to Basie Orchestra. Jacqui Hicks does the singing.