The improved second edition of Route 66 Passport now is available

Touch Media, best known for its Route 66 Navigation app, has released an improved second edition of its Route 66 Passport after a one-year delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The passport already is available to travelers at many Route 66 distribution points and at its e-commerce website. A full list of the 39 locations … Continue reading The improved second edition of Route 66 Passport now is available

Thoughts on Route 66 on its 95th birthday

Today marks what is considered by many as the 95th anniversary of the creation of U.S. Highway 66, aka Route 66. As one who has run this website for 16 years and been involved on Route 66 for more than 20, I’ve got a few random thoughts from my time of reporting about this fabled … Continue reading Thoughts on Route 66 on its 95th birthday

New “History of Route 66” is available online

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership recently announced “a new, more accurate” history of Route 66 has been published by Oxford University Press’ Research Encyclopedia on American History. The work was a collaboration between members of Route 66 Road Ahead’s Research and Education working group, Dr. David Dunaway and Dr. Stephen Mandrogoc of the University … Continue reading New “History of Route 66” is available online

How not to treat Route 66 tourists

This strange and unfortunate incident happened in Amboy, California, in November, but it surfaced earlier this week on the Historic Route 66 page on Facebook. The incident also largely was confirmed by Carlos Aceves, who was the town’s manager, including at Roy’s. Here’s the Nov. 5 story by KCDZ, a community radio station that states … Continue reading How not to treat Route 66 tourists

Books review: “Yesterday’s Highways” and “America’s First Highways”

Prolific author Stephen H. Provost this spring released two books barely two months apart about the early history of American roads and the so-called golden age of U.S. highways. “America’s First Highways” delves into the pre-1926 era when the nation’s main roads — including a precursor to Route 66 — were named and not numbered. … Continue reading Books review: “Yesterday’s Highways” and “America’s First Highways”

New initiative aims to help women business owners on Route 66

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership over the weekend announced the launch of its Route 66 Extraordinary Women Initiative that seeks to aid women business owners on the historic highway in the run-up to Route 66’s centennial in 2026. According to a news release from the partnership: The Route 66 Extraordinary Women Initiative empowers women … Continue reading New initiative aims to help women business owners on Route 66

Route 66 Crossroads organization to focus on upcoming centennial

Route 66 Crossroads, a new nonprofit organization based in Kingman, Arizona, will focus on the highway’s 2026 centennial among its goals to boost tourism and economic opportunities for communities along the Mother Road. Route 66 Crossroads, a federally recognized nonprofit that formed March 1, stated in a news release last week: The organization will be … Continue reading Route 66 Crossroads organization to focus on upcoming centennial

A Route 66 tale of two cities

A story in The Conversation website, titled “Could New Legislation Lead to a Route 66 Economic Revival?” by Arizona State University historian and grad student Daniel Milowksi has attracted a lot of attention, especially since it was picked up by the Associated Press. In it, Milowski examines the history of Route 66 and how a … Continue reading A Route 66 tale of two cities

UPDATED: Original section of Route 66 to be paved over after convenience-store chain buys it

The fate of an original section of Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, remains up in the air after the Kum & Go convenience-store chain recently bought the property on which it sits. The Springfield News-Leader reports the piece of road on 2.9 acres on the southeast corner of Glenstone Avenue and Kearney Street (map here) … Continue reading UPDATED: Original section of Route 66 to be paved over after convenience-store chain buys it

U.S. bicycle route on Route 66 in Missouri may be ready by summer

Missouri and Kansas are working to set up a U.S. bicycle route along Route 66 in their states, and Missouri may have it in place by summer. The Joplin Globe reported: The U.S. Bicycle Route System is the national cycling route network that’s serviced by state and local governments. Its goal is to connect bicycle … Continue reading U.S. bicycle route on Route 66 in Missouri may be ready by summer