I wasn't aware of this longtime landmark on Route 66 in Bloomington, Ill. But Bill Kemp, an archivist for the McLean County Museum of History, wrote an interesting article for the Bloomington Pantagraph about the Tilden-Hall Hotel in the downtown area. The six-story hotel was at Madison and Washington streets in Bloomington. It opened about … Continue reading A look back at a grand old hotel
Road Crew on the road again
If you're in northeastern Oklahoma or southeast Kansas this weekend, you have an opportunity to check out the music of The Road Crew, a country group that dedicated an entire album to Route 66 a few years ago. The Road Crew, which will be a trio during these gigs, will perform at the Galena Car … Continue reading Road Crew on the road again
Hello from Argentina
This is a band called Bloody Mary, performing Bobby Troup's best-known song. The guy on guitar is nimble-fingered and swings like mad.
A ghost town … sorta
The Arizona Republic has compiled a short list of ghost towns in the state that tourists might find worth visiting. The Route 66 town of Oatman, famed for its semi-wild burros and Wild West vibe, made the cut. Now ... when I picture a ghost town, I'm thinking of a burg that's nearly deserted and … Continue reading A ghost town … sorta
An Olympic-sized effect
The Springfield (Ill.) State Journal-Register examines what the draws will be for downstate tourism if Chicago wins its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. In effect, those draws will be Abraham Lincoln and Route 66. “We’ve worked for 10 years to reach international markets through the city of Chicago, and we know most … Continue reading An Olympic-sized effect
Driving Route 66 to save time
If you're traveling through central Missouri near the Interstate 44 corridor from Thursday through Thanksgiving, it may be advisable to take old Route 66 in the Rolla and Doolittle area. The Rolla Daily News reports that the transportation department is adding lane restrictions to that interstate and that delays could be 45 minutes to an … Continue reading Driving Route 66 to save time
Scenes from the Mother Road Festival
An auto-enthusiast outfit called ARS Promotions put together a video from last weekend's International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Ill.
Reimagining the Route
This is a well-done video about Route 66 from the Center for Creative Land Recycling. It explains how the Mother Road -- especially in the desert Southwest -- is being revitalized with brownfields remediation, alternative energy, outdoor recreation and historical tourism.
Worth watching
The St. Louis Business Journal is reporting that U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan of Missouri is planning Tuesday to introduce a bill to Congress that would provide 20 percent federal tax credits to help rehabilitate historic structures. The Journal reports that Carnahan wants to model the program after Missouri's much-praised program that provides rehabilitation tax credits … Continue reading Worth watching
Eating and cruising in Illinois
Phil Vettel of the Chicago Tribune has filed a story about Route 66 eating establishments in Illinois between St. Louis and the Windy City. Cited are Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket of Willowbrook, That 50's Place Diner in Dwight, the revived Palms Grill in Atlanta, Charlie Parker's in Springfield, and Erato on Main in Edwardsville. Many … Continue reading Eating and cruising in Illinois