“Ship It on the Frisco”

A song off The Bottle Rockets' new album, "Ship It on the Frisco," sent me down a rabbit hole researching a certain Route 66 overpass and the railroad that once traveled on it. The song (download MP3 here) is found on The Bottle Rockets' excellent album, "South Broadway Athletic Club" (the album's title comes from a historic place on South Broadway in … Continue reading “Ship It on the Frisco”

Giant Vess Soda bottle in St. Louis being restored

Work crews are busy restoring the giant Vess Soda bottle near Route 66 in St. Louis to mark the company's 100th anniversary. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch: The 34-foot tall, steel bottle will get a new paint job. On Friday morning, workers removed piles of trash from the base of the bottle and … Continue reading Giant Vess Soda bottle in St. Louis being restored

Your vote may help the Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is one of 20 national parks that could receive a grant, but it needs votes to get it. More from the news release: In honor of the National Park Service’s Centennial, we at the National Trust for Historic Preservation have joined with National Geographic and American Express for Partners … Continue reading Your vote may help the Gateway Arch

A new view of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

Jeff Pierson recently took his drone copter onto the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis and got some fascinating footage from the air. Not only do you get an overhead view of the 1929 bridge, but also the two remarkably close looks of the intake towers in the Mississippi River that once helped supply water … Continue reading A new view of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

Martin Luther King Bridge in St. Louis to reopen next month

The Martin Luther King Bridge in St. Louis is slated to reopen the week of Dec. 21 after being closed in July for repairs, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and other media outlets. The King bridge had been tentatively set to close from July 6 through Nov. 24. But that timeline was contingent on … Continue reading Martin Luther King Bridge in St. Louis to reopen next month

Gateway Arch marks 50th year

Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of the completion of the Gateway Arch, the best-known symbol for the city of St. Louis. Indeed, it's one of the most famous monuments in the world, and although it isn't on Route 66, it remains a popular destination for tourists who are traveling the Mother Road. Much of the … Continue reading Gateway Arch marks 50th year

King bridge in St. Louis closes Monday for months

The Martin Luther King Bridge that connects East St. Louis, Illinois, to St. Louis is expected to close starting Monday for months because of repairs, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The bridge, built as a toll bridge in 1951, needs to have its decks rebuilt. The King Bridge, also known as the Veterans Bridge, served … Continue reading King bridge in St. Louis closes Monday for months

Remington Rand Building in St. Louis added to National Register

The midcentury modern Remington Rand Building in St. Louis' Central West End was added to the National Register of Historic Places, effective May 5, according to an email Friday from the National Park Service. The three-story building, designed by architect Gyo Obata with the HOK firm and built in 1957, is located at 4100 Lindell … Continue reading Remington Rand Building in St. Louis added to National Register

A glimpse at a water intake tower at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

The director of Public Utilities in St. Louis offered a Fox2 reporter in St. Louis a rare inside look at one of the century-old water intake towers near the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge carried Route 66 from Illinois into St. Louis until it was turned into a pedestrian … Continue reading A glimpse at a water intake tower at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

Railroad confirms it’s removing deck from MacArthur Bridge

This was reported 10 months ago, but the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis confirmed through a KPLR-TV report this week it is removing the automobile deck from the historic MacArthur Bridge in St. Louis. The railroad told the TV station the deck was a risk to rail traffic. “Trespassers, ya know, you don’t want … Continue reading Railroad confirms it’s removing deck from MacArthur Bridge