The 126-year-old railroad depot on Route 66 and Illinois 113 in Braidwood, Ill., has been donated to the city by its owners. A nearby nuclear plant also gave $30,000 to the city to help defray the costs of moving the depot to Center and Main streets, reports the Joliet Herald-News. While the depot anchors the … Continue reading Braidwood depot will be moved
Scenes from the Route 66 Marathon
I took a few photos early in the Route 66 Marathon on Sunday from the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Bridge in Tulsa, including one shot from the overpass itself that overlooks the Mother Road. The top finisher of the 26.2 miles was Jerry Faulkner of Tulsa in a record time of 2 hours, 27 … Continue reading Scenes from the Route 66 Marathon
Holiday event returns to Route 66 landmark
The Rialto Square Theatre, a historic landmark on Route 66 in Joliet, Ill., is hosting the city's ComEd Festival of Trees for the first time in over a decade, reports the Geneva (Ill.) Sun. The event is from Nov. 24-30. The annual fundraiser typically generates $200,000 for Cornerstone Services, which assists people with disabilities. Proceeds … Continue reading Holiday event returns to Route 66 landmark
“Chevy on a stick” faces iffy future
A 1955 Chevrolet Bel-Aire has sat on a pole at 2412 Clear Lake Ave. in Springfield, Ill., for 17 years. Locals call it the "Chevy on a stick," and Route 66ers are fond of seeing that landmark during excursions through town. Now that the car dealership that it presided over has moved, the "Chevy on … Continue reading “Chevy on a stick” faces iffy future
Route 66 Marathon is Sunday
The annual Route 66 Marathon in Tulsa begins Sunday morning. The Tulsa World has a story about a runner from Missouri, Rick Roeber, who's going to do all 26.2 miles barefoot. I was wondering whether Roeber has run into (no pun intended) Barefoot Ted, who ran in the Mother Road 100 two years ago. They … Continue reading Route 66 Marathon is Sunday
Two great old bridges
Here's a video of not one, but two great old bridges on Route 66 in Oklahoma. One is the famed Pony Bridge over the Canadian River near Hydro. The other is the Lake Overholser Bridge near Oklahoma City. The music is great, too. UPDATE: The video's poster tells me the music is by the Pied … Continue reading Two great old bridges
Five good reasons to renew the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Highly respected Route 66 researcher Jim Ross assembled these compelling reasons to Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) on why the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program should be renewed for another 10 years. The program is set to end in late 2009. There is legislation proposed to renew the program for another 10 years, but Coburn is … Continue reading Five good reasons to renew the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program
Mojave back country
Here's a slide show someone posted of the old mining communities, small towns and ghost towns between Barstow, Calif., and Laughlin, Nev. Many of these towns shriveled up when Interstate 40 bypassed Route 66. Kudos to the Western score, although I can't place which movie it's from.
Ghost in the machine
The Williams (Ariz.) News reports that something tripped the surveillance video at Twisters '50s Soda Fountain and Route 66 Place during the wee hours of Oct. 16, when the business was closed. It wasn't a burglar or a short in the camera system itself, as there was something visible on the film, a floating white … Continue reading Ghost in the machine
Historic Tulsa building to be converted into hotel
Tulsa Business Journal reports that the historic Max Campbell Building on 11th Street (aka Route 66) in Tulsa has been purchased and will be converted into a hotel, events center and retail space. Group M. Investments Inc. purchased the historic building, which sits at 11th and Columbia, near the University of Tulsa. The site contains … Continue reading Historic Tulsa building to be converted into hotel