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

Teen with rare aging disease is touring Route 66

Sammy Basso, an 18-year-old Italian boy afflicted with progeria, a rare genetic disease that ages him prematurely, is traveling Route 66, and a subsidiary with the National Geographic Channel is documenting the journey, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. The folks in Pontiac, Illinois, in typical fashion, rolled out the red carpet for him: Basso, his … Continue reading Teen with rare aging disease is touring Route 66

St. Louis cemetery named to National Historic Register

Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, which dates to 1849, was listed to the National Register of Historic Places effective July 3, according to an email a few days ago from the National Park Service. Ironically, the cemetery contains several gravesites or mausoleums -- including the Louis Sullivan-designed Wainwright Tomb -- that already were listed on … Continue reading St. Louis cemetery named to National Historic Register

Summer in St. Louis

A friend on Facebook posted this a few days ago, and it certainly will make former residents of the Gateway City homesick. If nothing else, maybe it'll encourage a few Route 66 travelers to hang around the city for a few days. Here is St. Louis from Grain Inc. on Vimeo. The exceptional video was … Continue reading Summer in St. Louis

Brand USA now focusing on Route 66 tourism in Missouri

A recent article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch confirms what we'd suspected -- that Brand USA next would be concentrating on promoting Route 66 in Missouri. We'd noted a few weeks ago that Brand USA, aka DiscoverAmerica.com, had posted high-quality YouTube videos promoting parts of Route 66 in Illinois for potential British, Japanese and German … Continue reading Brand USA now focusing on Route 66 tourism in Missouri

Garavelli’s, R.I.P.

Garavelli's Cafeteria in south St. Louis on the Chippewa Street alignment of old Route 66 closed last June. It ended nearly a century of a Garavelli's restaurants operating in St. Louis. Norma Maret Bolin, author of the well-researched "Route 66 St. Louis," sent me photos Thursday of the building being demolished, including the one above. … Continue reading Garavelli’s, R.I.P.

Eat-Rite Diner damaged in SUV crash

The historic Eat-Rite Diner near downtown St. Louis was damaged when a sport-utility vehicle crashed into it about 3 a.m. today, according to KMOV-TV and other St. Louis media outlets. KMOV had this description of the crash: A witness told News 4 one car ran a red light and then hit another car. According to … Continue reading Eat-Rite Diner damaged in SUV crash

Old Cathedral in St. Louis undergoing restoration

The Old Cathedral in St. Louis, located next to the Gateway Arch grounds, is undergoing a privately funded $10 million restoration, reported the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The newspaper detailed what will happen to the 1834 church, also known as the Basilica of St. Louis King of France: [T]he Old Cathedral will have new windows, air-conditioning … Continue reading Old Cathedral in St. Louis undergoing restoration