Hemmings publishes a feature on Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan

Hemmings.com, an offshoot of the popular magazine devoted to classic cars, recently published a feature on longtime Route 66 artist, author and researcher Jerry McClanahan. McClanahan runs a gallery of his artwork, called McJerry's Route 66 Art Gallery, a short distance from Route 66 in Chandler, Oklahoma, where he regularly welcomes visitors. He recently published … Continue reading Hemmings publishes a feature on Route 66 artist and researcher Jerry McClanahan

A closer look at Jim Ross’ and Shellee Graham’s neon garden near Arcadia

An Oklahoma City television station recently produced a feature about the neon-sign paradise that is Jim Ross and Shellee Graham's backyard near Arcadia, Oklahoma. The segment is part of KFOR-TV's ongoing "Is This a Great State or What?!" series. https://youtu.be/XAASN-4ZsPI Ross and Graham host a Neonfest in their backyard each October if you want to … Continue reading A closer look at Jim Ross’ and Shellee Graham’s neon garden near Arcadia

Virtual open house on options for Bird Creek Bridge near Catoosa runs through June 27

A virtual open house to explore options for the historic Bird Creek Bridge on northbound Route 66 near Catoosa, Oklahoma, runs through June 27, and the state Department of Transportation wants your input. Replacement of the 1956 bridge is being considered about a decade after the 1936 southbound bridge was replaced. That area, just north … Continue reading Virtual open house on options for Bird Creek Bridge near Catoosa runs through June 27

Route 66 soon will lose a historic bridge near Marshfield

The century-old Route CC bridge over the Niangua Branch river on Route 66 east of Marshfield, Missouri, will be closed permanently this week to make way for a new bridge. That's the word from Route 66 preservationists and a news release from the Missouri Department of Transportation: The bridge replacement will require Route CC to … Continue reading Route 66 soon will lose a historic bridge near Marshfield

Jim Ross’ Deep Tracks Route 66 project is going entirely online on his new website

Route 66 historian Jim Ross put his sprawling, long-gestating Deep Tracks project that details all known Route 66 alignments onto his newly launched JimRoss66.com website. JimRoss66.com also serves as an overview of a career that includes the database from the Route 66 bridges project that was turned into the "Route 66 Crossings" book, Ozark Trail … Continue reading Jim Ross’ Deep Tracks Route 66 project is going entirely online on his new website

Painted Desert Trading Post project featured in Preservation Magazine

The recently completed and multiyear quest by volunteers to stabilize and restore the long-closed Painted Desert Trading Post in northeast Arizona is featured in the current issue of Preservation Magazine, published by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The article provides a history of the old Route 66 property and a behind-the-scenes telling of how … Continue reading Painted Desert Trading Post project featured in Preservation Magazine

New signs on Old Route 66 near Arcadia commemorate National Register designation

Last month, Oklahoma County erected signs that marked a semi-obscure section of historic Route 66 roadbed near Arcadia, Oklahoma, and commemorated its designation to the National Register of Historic Places. Shellee Graham, who lives on the road with her husband, Route 66 researcher Jim Ross, posted a series of photos of the sign being installed: … Continue reading New signs on Old Route 66 near Arcadia commemorate National Register designation

Chicken Shack restaurant of Luther moving to old Hillbillee’s complex in Arcadia

The Chicken Shack, a popular restaurant along Route 66 in Luther, Oklahoma, is moving a few miles west to the closed Hillbillee's complex in Arcadia, also on Route 66. Shellee Graham, who lives near Arcadia, recently confirmed the rumored news after visiting Chicken Shack's owner and seeing a banner announcing the impending move at Hillbillee's. … Continue reading Chicken Shack restaurant of Luther moving to old Hillbillee’s complex in Arcadia

New sign marks Paul McCartney’s brief stop on Route 66 in Oklahoma

Oklahoma County and several residents of a stretch of original Route 66 on Monday installed a sign that commemorated a brief stop by a former Beatle, Paul McCartney, there in 2008. Shellee Graham, who lives on that segment of historic road with Route 66 historian Jim Ross, was there to help document the installation with … Continue reading New sign marks Paul McCartney’s brief stop on Route 66 in Oklahoma

‘World’s largest Route 66 sign’ planned in Wellston won’t be the world’s largest

Longtime Route 66 researcher and artist Jerry McClanahan flagged an article in a local newspaper that reported Wellston, Oklahoma, is planning what reputedly would be the "world's largest" Route 66 sign. In a Facebook post, McClanahan posted a photograph of an Oct. 8 article from The Lincoln County News, based in Chandler, Oklahoma, that stated … Continue reading ‘World’s largest Route 66 sign’ planned in Wellston won’t be the world’s largest