Art contest re-imagines the venerable Route 66 shield

The small town of Atlanta, Ill., is hosting what it hopes becomes an annual event -- "Route 66 Reinterpreted," an art project that re-imagines the look of the famous Route 66 shield sign. The contest is modeled after Chicago's "Cows on Parade" exhibit, except this one takes on the Mother Road's most famous symbol. According to the … Continue reading Art contest re-imagines the venerable Route 66 shield

Cadillac Ranch patriarch charged with child molestation

Stanley Marsh 3, the millionaire proprietor of the Cadillac Ranch and other whimsical art installations off Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas, was charged on 11 felony counts of molesting children and briefly jailed Wednesday, reported the Amarillo Globe-News and other media outlets. The newspaper reported: According to the criminal complaints, Marsh 3, 74, is charged … Continue reading Cadillac Ranch patriarch charged with child molestation

Where a celebrity’s fame persists after death

The Los Angeles Times posted a terrific article about Karie Bible, a black-clad tour guide at century-old and celebrity-filled Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located off Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66) in Los Angeles. It seems Bible (her real name) is perfect for the site, combining a bit of kitsch with a lot of history in … Continue reading Where a celebrity’s fame persists after death

Crews begin dismantling Route 66 Bridge

Work crews started Monday in dismantling the closed Route 66 Bridge over the Meramec River at Route 66 State Park near Eureka, Mo., reported the Eureka-Wildwood Patch. A crew member from XL Contracting, the staff handling the deconstruction of the bridge, told Patch Monday the concrete on the bridge will be cut into slabs and … Continue reading Crews begin dismantling Route 66 Bridge

City will help fund Litchfield museum after all

Reversing an earlier decision, the City Council of Litchfield, Ill., has agreed to use money from motel taxes for the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center, said the Springfield State Journal-Register. The newspaper reported: The council agreed in principle earlier this month to increase the tax from 3 percent to 4 percent beginning in … Continue reading City will help fund Litchfield museum after all

A fun chat on KMOX radio

For fun, here's 34-minute broadcast on the KMOX-AM Auto Show in St. Louis. Host Greg Damon brought in Route 66 aficionado Joe Sonderman to talk about old cars and the Mother Road. The show really gets cooking around the 5-minute mark, where a caller tells about the Corvette he ordered. Sonderman owns the 66postcards.com site. … Continue reading A fun chat on KMOX radio

Buffalo Inn’s future looks cloudy

A nostalgic article by David Allen of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reveals that the historic Buffalo Inn in Upland, Calif., faces an uncertain future due to bankruptcy and legal problems. The Buffalo Inn, at 1814 W. Foothill Blvd. (Route 66), opened in 1929, saw its name change several times due to ownership changes, then … Continue reading Buffalo Inn’s future looks cloudy

A pink Elvis cycles down Route 66

No, you haven't had too much to drink. That is a pink Elvis on Route 66. We encounter many stories about folks pulling all sorts of endurance stunts on Route 66 for charity. However, we couldn't put this one in the "seen that already" pile -- a pink jumpsuit-clad Elvis Presley impersonator riding his bicycle … Continue reading A pink Elvis cycles down Route 66

Mexican restaurant planned in Aztec Hotel

Owners of historic Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, Calif., plan to convert the establishment's Brass Elephant bar into a Mexican restaurant, according to a report by the Monrovia Planning Commission. The owners also want to offer alcoholic beverages and live music, but the commission tabled that request until the neighborhood's concerns can be heard. According to … Continue reading Mexican restaurant planned in Aztec Hotel

Book review: “The Route 66 Encyclopedia”

Readers of this website may be surprised to know there are folks out there who scoff at Route 66's history and its current-day attractions. They insist it's an "old, dead road," and claim its history is as colorless as the interstates that replaced it. The next time you run into someone like that, show them … Continue reading Book review: “The Route 66 Encyclopedia”