Catoosa student a recipient of the Route 66 Scholarship Program

The Route 66 Podcast recently announced that Deanna DeValve of the Route 66 town of Catoosa, Oklahoma, has received $1,000 from the Route 66 Scholarship Program. DeValve attends Oral Roberts University in nearby Tulsa. Here's the announcement of the scholarship on the podcast: More from the news release by Anthony Arno, creator of the podcast … Continue reading Catoosa student a recipient of the Route 66 Scholarship Program

Florence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City is state’s first James Beard Award winner

The 70-year-old Florence's Restaurant just east of the state capitol in Oklahoma City last week was named the first James Beard Award winner in Oklahoma history. According to The Oklahoman newspaper, Florence's was among six winners of the Beard foundation’s 2022 America’s Classics Award, given to locally-owned restaurants with “timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for … Continue reading Florence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City is state’s first James Beard Award winner

Longtime Illinois Route 66 advocate Marty Blitstein dies

Marty Blitstein, a longtime officer with the Route 66 Association of Illinois, died in a hospice Sunday after a short illness. He was 80. The association's website announced his death this week. It described his effects on the organization: Among the highlights were revitalizing its membership and Treasury. He collaborated with Betty Estes to facilitate the moving of … Continue reading Longtime Illinois Route 66 advocate Marty Blitstein dies

BBC Travel features Bosnian community in Bevo Mill area of St. Louis

If you want a short but interesting side trip in St. Louis, you ought to consider the Bevo Mill area just off the Gravois Avenue alignment of Route 66. BBC Travel took a closer look at that area and its burgeoning Bosnian immigrant community. An estimated 70,000 Bosnian war refugees landed in that one-moribund area … Continue reading BBC Travel features Bosnian community in Bevo Mill area of St. Louis

Native-owned Southwest Trading Company opens on Route 66 in Tulsa

Southwest Trading Company opened a few weeks ago along the 11th Street alignment of Route 66 that not only sells Native American-made goods, but is owned by a father-and-daughter team with Native heritage. MVSKOKEMedia recently published a profile on owners David Bible and daughter Ashley, citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe in Oklahoma and of … Continue reading Native-owned Southwest Trading Company opens on Route 66 in Tulsa

Man suffers serious injuries after falling from top of Marsh Arch Bridge near Baxter Springs

A 24-year-old man was in critical condition late Friday after falling from the top of the historic Marsh Arch Bridge, aka Rainbow Bridge, near Baxter Springs, Kansas, earlier that day. KOAM-TV reports the local sheriff said the man suffered traumatic injuries after he fell from the Route 66 bridge to the roadway. The accident occurred … Continue reading Man suffers serious injuries after falling from top of Marsh Arch Bridge near Baxter Springs

“Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road” to be broadcast in March

Katrina Parks' documentary about women who played a significant role in the history of Route 66 finally will be coming to television screens in March. Parks announced on Facebook last week her "Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road" will air on American Public Television. In a follow-up message with Route … Continue reading “Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road” to be broadcast in March

“The Great Muslim American Road Trip” coming to PBS this summer

"The Great Muslim American Road Trip," a documentary series about a Muslim couple traveling Route 66, will air on PBS-TV later this summer. The three-part series will be offered on PBS stations, PBS.org and the PBS app, reported Realscreen.com. The series follows rapper Mona Haydar and her husband Sebastian Robins as they explore the U.S. … Continue reading “The Great Muslim American Road Trip” coming to PBS this summer

Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities

A forthcoming exhibit at Northern Arizona University's Cline Library in Flagstaff will undertake a deeper dive into the minority communities that have populated and affected the highway. "The Shades of Route 66 in Arizona: Celebrating Diversity along Arizona’s Historic Route 66" exhibit, according to a news release from the university, "will explore, document and share … Continue reading Northern Arizona University library exhibit will explore Route 66’s minorities

Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio who was interviewed in documentary, dies at 89

Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio at the Texas-New Mexico border who was interviewed in a documentary about the Route 66 ghost town, died on New Year's Eve in nearby Vega, Texas. He was 89. If you have a few minutes, read the colorful obituary on Nixon's life. It's apparent he enjoyed his time on … Continue reading Charlie Nixon, a native of Glenrio who was interviewed in documentary, dies at 89