Nearly two weeks ago, the World Monuments Fund announced that American Express was awarding a $150,000 grant for a study to help sustain historic Route 66. The news release announced several other AmEx grants, so the finer points of the Mother Road money weren't included. Also, this comment from Route 66 News reader DynoDave motivated … Continue reading More about the American Express grant
Gorilla of my dreams
Keiron, from the United Kingdom, posts animated videos on YouTube from time to time. This week, he made a clip of Guy the Gorilla singing "Route 66." The freewheeling music's is pretty good, but I can't place it.
JFK cruising Route 66
Folk artist Luke Powers has written a song titled "I Saw John Kennedy Today," which is part of his "Picture Book" album. Here's the story behind the song and its Route 66 connection, according to a news release: The latest Americana "hit" is a quirky song about the 35th president written by singer-songwriter Luke Powers. … Continue reading JFK cruising Route 66
Tour of the California Route 66 Museum
LiveCarShows.com has posted a nicely produced tour of the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, Calif. There's a lot of focus on a teardrop trailer displayed at the museum. And for those who doubt whether Route 66 is an international tourist attraction, check out the museum's map of visitors.
First-timer wins Route 66 Marathon
A first-time marathon runner captured the overall title and a 50-year-old won the women's division in the second annual Route 66 Marathon on Sunday in Tulsa, Okla., reported the Tulsa World. Scott Downard, 24, of Norman, Okla., was a cross-country runner in high school and the University of Oklahoma. Sunday was his first marathon, and … Continue reading First-timer wins Route 66 Marathon
Images from the McKinley Bridge dedication
Longtime roadie Kip Welborn of St. Louis went to Saturday's dedication ceremony of the rehabbed McKinley Bridge, which connects Venice, Ill., to St. Louis. It's open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic now, and vehicular traffic will be allowed by sometime in December. The McKinley Bridge was built in 1910, and carried Route 66 from 1926 … Continue reading Images from the McKinley Bridge dedication
McKinley Bridge reopens — to pedestrians
Illinois officials held a dedication ceremony Saturday for the rehabbed McKinley Bridge, but the historic Mississippi River span won't be ready for traffic until as late as mid-December, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The McKinley Bridge, which once carried an alignment of Route 66 from Venice, Ill., to St. Louis, was closed in 2001 because … Continue reading McKinley Bridge reopens — to pedestrians
Closings that are actually welcomed
The Daily Oklahoman is reporting that the Oklahoma National Guard is closing nearly 60 of its armories around the state as a way to consolidate its training. Normally, this would spark the proverbial weeping and gnashing of teeth. However, many of those armory buildings are being offered to municipalities, which can reuse them in other … Continue reading Closings that are actually welcomed
Back to drawing board for Wishing Well site
The imminent demolition of the Wishing Well Motel in Countryside, Ill., continues, but plans for the property remain up in the air after Mayor Robert Conrad rejected a retail and townhouse proposal, reports Chicago Suburban News. “We just felt that it was a little too dense there,” Conrad said. “It’s not that anyone has a … Continue reading Back to drawing board for Wishing Well site
Casino coming on Route 66 in Oklahoma
Buried in the text of this conference call about third-quarter earnings for Lakes Entertainment is this: Now I will discuss our projects with the Iowa tribe of Oklahoma. Lakes has signed a consulting and management agreement with the Iowa tribe to assist in the development, construction, and management of two gaming facilities. [...] The second … Continue reading Casino coming on Route 66 in Oklahoma