I was afraid this might happen, and it appears my fears were realized. The St. Clair County Journal in Illinois reports that the parking lot on the Missouri side of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge was closed by Trailnet a few days ago. The pedestrian bridge, which once carried Route 66 over the Mississippi … Continue reading Parking lot closed near Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
All for the sake of the punchline
KOB-TV reports that a couple driving from Grants, N.M., to Albuquerque pulled into the parking lot of the Route 66 Casino because the woman was going into labor. With the help of a police dispatcher on the other end of the phone line, the father helped his wife deliver the baby right there. Mother and … Continue reading All for the sake of the punchline
Route 66 museum coming to Carthage courthouse
This has been in the works for a while, but appears a Route 66 museum will be installed at the historic Jasper County Courthouse in Carthage, Mo., by sometime next year, according to the Carthage Press. Eric Kellstadt, senior transportation planner with the Joplin office of the Missouri Department of Transportation, said MoDOT auditors and … Continue reading Route 66 museum coming to Carthage courthouse
Headless body found in tow truck
Route 66 News usually doesn't post news about murders, shootings and other run-of-the-mill police matters along the Mother Road. But this incident on Route 66 in Pontiac, Ill., is too bizarre to ignore. From the Bloomington Pantagraph: PONTIAC -- No foul play is suspected in the death of a 54-year-old man whose decapitated body was … Continue reading Headless body found in tow truck
An interesting idea
The Urban Land Institute gave the city of San Bernardino, Calif., some suggestions on how to revitalize its downtown. The suggestions ran the gamut of more green spaces, denser development and mixed use of residential, retail and office development, among other ideas. Not all of the city's aldermen agreed, and provided the San Bernardino County … Continue reading An interesting idea
Route this way
Fundogteam, a bunch of German Frisbee dog aficionados, drove down Route 66 in Arizona and spent a lot of time at Hackberry General Store. The music is "Walk This Way" by Aerosmith and Run-DMC. I'm not sure why it works, but it does.
American Express gives money for Route 66 preservation
American Express, in conjunction with the World Monuments Fund, announced today it was giving $150,000 for an economic study to help sustain historic Route 66. Excerpts from the news release: This initiative, which is part of the American Express Partners in Preservation initiative launched in 2006, is focused on sustaining historic sites in the face … Continue reading American Express gives money for Route 66 preservation
Mural City
KETC-TV in St. Louis produced a good segment about the Route 66 town of Cuba, Mo., and its dozen murals. The remarkable thing is the murals aren't simply decorative. They represent real events and real people. Listen to the man get emotional as he tells about the Cuba men who went off to war, and … Continue reading Mural City
‘See rednecks work and play in their own environment’
Motorcycle tour guide Gary Behr brings a group of European Harley riders to get a taste of Harley and Annabelle Russell at the Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Okla. First, Harley gives 'em a redneck welcome: Some between-song banter: And the dynamic duo and a couple of heavily tattooed guests perform "Route 66": Warning: Harley … Continue reading ‘See rednecks work and play in their own environment’
Around the world — on a horse
A restless fellow by the name of Ezra Cooley is riding a horse around the world and raising funds for the National Children's Cancer Society. Cooley stopped in Rolla, Mo., looking for old Route 66, reported the Rolla Daily News. He's already gone 7,000 miles, going from Chico, Calif., to New York City. Doubling back, … Continue reading Around the world — on a horse