Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants

The restoration of the neon sign for the closed West Winds Motel in Erick, Oklahoma, is among the $6 million in grants recently awarded by the Oklahoma Route 66 Commission. A list of the funds given from the state’s Route 66 Revitalization Grant Program was posted in a document on the commission’s website. Several grant … Continue reading Restoration of West Winds Motel sign in Erick among Oklahoma Route 66 Commission grants

Stories on Preserve Route 66 trip drew potential audience of 1.1 billion

The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership a few days ago issued its third-quarter report. Among the interesting nuggets is the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Preserve Route 66 road trip generated more than 1,000 news stories and drew a potential audience of 1.15 billion. Here are the tidbits from the report: — The National Trust’s … Continue reading Stories on Preserve Route 66 trip drew potential audience of 1.1 billion

What path would the Route 66 National Historic Trail take?

Someone on a Route 66 thread on Facebook — I don’t remember where — recently wondered what alignments would be covered in the proposed Route 66 National Historic Trail being considered by Congress. The bill, H.B. 801, states the trail “includes all the alignments of U.S. Highway 66 in existence between 1926 and 1985, extending … Continue reading What path would the Route 66 National Historic Trail take?

California to allow bicycles on Interstate 40

The California Department of Transportation granted the Adventure Cycling Association’s request to allow parts of Interstate 40 to be used as part of its upcoming Bicycle Route 66 Map, according a blog post Thursday from the association. The association had asked CalTrans to used parts of Interstate 40 because old Route 66 through parts of … Continue reading California to allow bicycles on Interstate 40

A closer look at the Bicycle Route 66 map set

I’m no cycling aficionado, but I’ll confidently say the Bicycle Route 66 map series from the nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association will be absolutely indispensable for any cyclist considering travel on the Mother Road. The maps aren’t just a bunch of GPS waypoints slapped on paper. They show two years of research and field work by … Continue reading A closer look at the Bicycle Route 66 map set

When U.S. 66 was U.S. 60

I recently was directed to this terrific site, the Broer Map Library, that has high-quality scans of maps from all over the world from different eras. This includes the eight states that carried Route 66, which can be found at an index here. The Broer collection is a great resource for highway researchers. You can … Continue reading When U.S. 66 was U.S. 60

Book review: “Drive the Broadway of America”

It’s not about Route 66. It’s not a book in the traditional sense. But Jeff Jensen’s “Drive the Broadway of America” (self-published, 223 pages, $30, including shipping) should greatly please Route 66ers and entice roadies to new two-lane adventures. Jensen’s book, subtitled “The U.S. 80 and the Bankhead Highways Across the American Southwest,” is the … Continue reading Book review: “Drive the Broadway of America”

Author begins work on Route 66 encyclopedia

Jim Hinckley, a Kingman, Ariz.-based author of several automotive and Route 66-related books, announced this week he is beginning work on a Route 66 encyclopedia and atlas. And he is soliciting help from the Route 66 community to help make the volume more complete. In a news release, Hinckley said: To ensure this work is … Continue reading Author begins work on Route 66 encyclopedia