A long-awaited renovation of a 9-foot-wide, century-old section of Route 66 — better known as the Sidewalk Highway — in Ottawa County, Oklahoma, is slated to begin sometime in 2023. According to KSNF-TV, the project is in the planning stage: “What we got is a 1920 Federal Highway which is now a national trail, and … Continue reading Renovations of Route 66’s Sidewalk Highway in Oklahoma to begin in 2023
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) on Friday introduced the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, with U.S. Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.) as the co-sponsor. The bill is so new, it hadn’t yet been added to the database of the Congress’ bill-search website as of Friday evening. The Route … Continue reading New Route 66 National Historic Trail bill introduced in Congress
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
The team behind the recently constructed Camp Cajon Monument in Southern California’s Cajon Pass recently offered tours of Camp Cajon and other sites along the famed mountain path. The monument itself sits at the south end of Wagon Train Road, near the intersection of Interstate 15 and Highway 138. The monument was dedicated in 2019 to … Continue reading Camp Cajon team begins offering field trips of historical sites in Cajon Pass
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Senate version of the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act, advancing it to the office of President Donald Trump for his signature. Bill Thomas, chairman of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership that shepherded the bill, said in a news release Tuesday the House suspended its regular rules to … Continue reading U.S. House approves Route 66 centennial bill, which awaits president’s signature
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is prodding a U.S. senator to reintroduce a bill that would designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. Rhys Martin, president of the association, sent out an email to members this week to contact U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe and urge him to reintroduce a bill similar to Senate Bill … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association prods senator to reintroduce National Historic Trail bill
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”
Ottawa County, Oklahoma, is planning a public meeting on March 10 to discuss options on revitalizing and preserving the historic Sidewalk Highway of Route 66 between Miami and Afton. One of the possible options is a hiking and cycling trail, county commissioner Russell Earls told KSNF-TV. A partnership with Miami Parks and Recreation could mean … Continue reading County schedules meeting for March 10 on revitalizing Sidewalk Highway
In the wake of the ongoing struggle to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, a newspaper along the historic highway has floated an intriguing idea — make Route 66 a national park instead. The editorial board of the Joplin Globe in Missouri published an editorial with that proposal a few days ago. Below … Continue reading Newspaper editorial floats National Park idea for Route 66
A lengthy section of road in the Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona will be closed through late March, with possible travel delays through June after the road reopens. According to the Navajo-Hopi Observer, the road closure begins south of the Blue Mesa Loop and north of the Crystal Forest trail area. Areas closed … Continue reading Road closed in Petrified Forest National Park for pavement, bridge work
