A bid of $25,000 from Odie Construction of Kankakee, Ill., was approved by the City of Braidwood, Ill., to move its 1867 historic railroad depot to Main and Center streets this spring, reported the Joliet Herald News. The depot had been at Route 66 and Illinois 113, but a nearby grocery store wanted the property … Continue reading Bid approved to move historic depot
Smithsonian takes a dour look at the Mother Road
Megan Gambino in the March issue of Smithsonian magazine takes a somewhat dour look at the Mother Road. Here's an excerpt: Writing about the Joad family's journey from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to the promised land of California in The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck famously called Route 66 the "mother road." But today … Continue reading Smithsonian takes a dour look at the Mother Road
Lonely Planet to issue new guidebooks
The Lonely Planet, long respected in the travel industry, is launching a new series of guidebooks next month called "Trips." And one of them includes Route 66 as an itinerary, according to the Associated Press. The first six titles in the series are "California," "Pacific Northwest," "Arizona, New Mexico & the Grand Canyon," "New York, … Continue reading Lonely Planet to issue new guidebooks
A really bad idea
At a time when the economy is struggling, Route 66 motels in New Mexico sure don't need this. According to the New Mexico Business Weekly, state Sens. George K. Munoz, D-Cibola and McKinley, and John M. Sapien, D-Sandoval, have introduced a bill to impose a 10 percent lodging tax across the board on all lodging … Continue reading A really bad idea
Hello from Russia
This is Dmitry Novokolsky, laying down a bluesy groove with several other good pickers during Bobby Troup's "Route 66."
Film footage of Route 66 from the 1950s
Here's a find: film footage of Route 66 during the 1950s. You'll see a lot of stuff that's changed or gone in those two minutes. It's owned by FootageWorld.com, which specializes in stock footage for license for telecasts, film and the like. More footage can be seen here (QuickTime is required to view). It's a … Continue reading Film footage of Route 66 from the 1950s
Cost-share grant season begins now
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program is taking applications for its annual cost-share grants. Applications may be submitted to the program office until May 1. Applications are available here or by e-mailing IM_rt66@nps.gov . Most grants will cover up to 50 percent of a project's cost; many of them have to do with preserving a … Continue reading Cost-share grant season begins now
Adding ladies to the legend
The Tampa Tribune takes more of a feminist angle of Route 66 in leading off its story about 4 Women on the Route of Galena, Kan.: Think of Route 66 and several names come to mind: Bobby Troup, who wrote "Route 66"; John Steinbeck, who proclaimed it the Mother Road in "The Grapes of Wrath"; … Continue reading Adding ladies to the legend
English-only bill harmful to tourism?
There's a bill, sponsored by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, winding its way through the Oklahoma Legislature that would bar any state agency from accommodating non-English-speakers. There are the usual arguments about whether such legislation is discriminatory. But according to the Bixby Bulletin, Rep. Anastasia Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, brought up an issue that I hadn't considered, … Continue reading English-only bill harmful to tourism?
Carson Daly’s Route 66 trip
Carson Daly of NBC's "Last Call with Carson Daly" went on a Route 66 trip by motorcycle from Flagstaff, Ariz., to St. Louis. Here are the three-minute segments of his adventures: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 I admire that he did the 30-mile stretch of gravel Route 66 from San Jon to … Continue reading Carson Daly’s Route 66 trip