Art-installation tribute to Muffler Men goes up on Route 66 near Calumet

A California-based artist recently conceived of cutout paintings of Muffler Men that recently were erected along old Route 66 in Calumet, Oklahoma. John Cerney of Salinas, California, who has art pieces all over the United States, creates a piece of public art he gives away once a year. As collaborator Scott Farmer of Sculpture Island … Continue reading Art-installation tribute to Muffler Men goes up on Route 66 near Calumet

Oklahoma Route 66 Association secures Bob Waldmire U-Haul, displays it at Chelsea tunnel

Thanks to the help of donations, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association secured the U-Haul truck painted by the late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire and is displaying it near the pedestrian underpass in Chelsea, Oklahoma. Association President Rhys Martin wrote in a blog post that Waldmire initially painted a detailed Route 66 map on one … Continue reading Oklahoma Route 66 Association secures Bob Waldmire U-Haul, displays it at Chelsea tunnel

Oklahoma senator says he’ll withdraw bill to rename a part of Route 66 for Trump

One day after the bill was introduced, an Oklahoma state senator withdrew a proposal to rename a stretch of Route 66 as President Donald J. Trump Highway after the measure received widespread criticism from Route 66 fans and fellow lawmakers, including Trump's supporters. State Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) said Wednesday he would withdraw the … Continue reading Oklahoma senator says he’ll withdraw bill to rename a part of Route 66 for Trump

Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal

The president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association reported parts of the neon sign for the Brookshire Motel in Tulsa were sold off piecemeal to a local collector, and the rest likely will be gone soon. The Brookshire Motel neon sign in 2005 Rhys Martin on late Sunday passed along on Facebook the news he … Continue reading Brookshire Motel sign in Tulsa being sold off piecemeal

More screenings announced for “Almost Ghosts” Route 66 documentary

The filmmakers of the "Almost Ghosts" documentary have announced more screenings of the film at several historic theaters on or near Route 66. A screen-capture image of Angel Delgadillo in the "Almost Ghosts" film. The Flagstaff screening will feature one of the film's subjects, Angel "Angel of Route 66" Delgadillo, speaking before the movie. At … Continue reading More screenings announced for “Almost Ghosts” Route 66 documentary

Fire damages closed Brookshire Motel in Tulsa

Fire on Wednesday afternoon damaged the historic but closed Brookshire Motel along Route 66 in Tulsa, also damaging its slim chances for a new owner to buy and revitalize it. The fire at the property at 11017 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) first was reported about 5 p.m., reported the Tulsa World. According to … Continue reading Fire damages closed Brookshire Motel in Tulsa

“The Allure of Route 66”

Earlier this month, Tulsa photographer and Route 66 enthusiast Rhys Martin gave this presentation at Tulsa's Central Library as part of the "Travels with Tulsans" series. He was limited to 45 minutes for his presentation. For the benefit of people who couldn't attend it, Martin recorded it for posterity. https://youtu.be/7s8DcaPe-1g Forty-five minutes sound like a … Continue reading “The Allure of Route 66”

All aboard the Lincoln County Express

Occasionally, you'll find out about something you unwittingly passed dozens of time but never saw. One of those things is the so-called Lincoln County Express, a child-sized locomotive and other metal sculptures that apparently have sat off Route 66 east of Stroud, Oklahoma, for decades. Tulsa photographer Rhys Martin discovered it in June 2014; apparently vegetation conceals it from … Continue reading All aboard the Lincoln County Express