If you've got about an hour to kill, I highly recommend you watch "The Green Book: Guide to Freedom" that originally aired on the Smithsonian Channel in February 2019. The full 51-minute video showed up Monday on the Smithsonian's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/xjAppLwDm6U For the uninitiated, the Negro Motorist Green Book was published during the Jim … Continue reading Smithsonian Channel puts ‘Green Book: Guide to Freedom’ episode online
Tag: Negro Motorist Green Book
Book review: “Overground Railroad”
Candacy Taylor's book, "Overground Railroad," about the Negro Motorist Green Book and the history of African-American travel, will prove provocative and even shocking to some readers -- including the chapter devoted to Route 66. Subtitled "The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America" (Abrams Press, hardcover, 360 pages, 150 illustrations), the years … Continue reading Book review: “Overground Railroad”
Report: Route 66 Historic Trail legislation to be introduced this fall
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership on Saturday released its third-quarter report. Among the newsworthy items is the organization expects congressional legislation to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail to be introduced this fall. The measure would be House Bill 801, "tentatively" scheduled to be introduced in the coming weeks. The report stated: … Continue reading Report: Route 66 Historic Trail legislation to be introduced this fall
“Negro Motorist Green Book” expert to speak at Miles of Possibility conference
Candacy Taylor, author of a forthcoming book about the Negro Motorist Green Book published from the 1930s to the '60s, will be the keynote speaker during the fifth annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference in Normal, Illinois, on Oct. 17-20. Taylor soon will publish "Overground Railroad: The Green Book and theRoots of Black Travel … Continue reading “Negro Motorist Green Book” expert to speak at Miles of Possibility conference
Smithsonian Channel’s “Green Book” documentary airs Monday
An hour-long documentary on the Smithsonian Channel, "The Green Book -- Guide to Freedom," will premiere at 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday. The film about the Negro Motorist Green Book, which was published during the Jim Crow segregation era from 1936 to 1966, also will air other times on the channel. Check your local listings. … Continue reading Smithsonian Channel’s “Green Book” documentary airs Monday
A look inside the historic Threatt Filling Station
A few months ago, a prominent Route 66 advocate whispered she'd been inside the Threatt Filling Station along Route 66 near Luther, Oklahoma, and she was blown away by the artifacts inside. Last week, KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City brought a reporter inside the station. Take a look for yourself: More from the story: “I don't … Continue reading A look inside the historic Threatt Filling Station
Cactus RV Park sign in Tucumcari removed; property may be sold
A collector purchased and removed the 1950s-era neon sign at the Cactus RV Park in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the RV park and former motel there soon may be bought out by a national auto-parts chain. Workers and a truck from SignArt in Albuquerque dismantled and removed the sign Thursday from the property. Johnnie Meier, … Continue reading Cactus RV Park sign in Tucumcari removed; property may be sold
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
Was there a ban of black customers at Route 66 motels in eastern New Mexico?
Roland Penttila, a reader of this website based in Albuquerque, emailed this 1955 newspaper clipping a few days ago: Penttila wrote: While many white families have fond memories of their auto adventures along Route 66 during its heyday, too little is remembered of how difficult it was for African Americans to travel U.S. highways including … Continue reading Was there a ban of black customers at Route 66 motels in eastern New Mexico?
2018 cost-share grants for Route 66 sites announced
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program on Wednesday announced it awarded seven cost-share grants totaling about $87,000 for preservation or historical research. Since 2001, the program has awarded 146 cost-share grants totaling $2.17 million. The program tentatively has planned to award more grants in 2019 before it expires that year. Here are the 2018 awardees, … Continue reading 2018 cost-share grants for Route 66 sites announced