Route 66

I have driven the Route with friends from start to finish, Chicago to Santa Monica. Recently I retraced steps in Arizona and California. Route 66 is indeed the “Mother Road”, crossing through the heartland of the United States. To me and my fellow travelers it was more about the people on the Route, than the road itself.

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Glenarm, Illinois. Sugar Creek Covered Bridge. Built in the 1800's--records unclear as to the exact year.
Carthage, Missouri. Boots Motel. Clark Gable is said to have stayed here a number of times. He had a friend nearby. This is a classic motor court from 1939.
Cool Springs Camp, Arizona. Recently rebuilt, it is now a gift shop and gas station, located between Kingman and Oatman in the Black Mountains.
Chicago, Illinois. The beginning....
Seligman, Arizona. Cecilia Delgadillo's father and uncle were responsible for the rebirth and resurgence of historic Route 66.
Paris Springs, Missouri. There is lots of Americana on the Route.
Needles Historic Train Station, California-it seemed like a freight train was always buzzing by.
From Sitgreaves Pass, Arizona-a sunset view of Historic Route 66.
Commerce, Missouri. Guess who is known for the best Route 66 cookies? This Dairy King was the location of a shoot-out with Bonnie and Clyde.
Cuba, Missouri. There are at least 12 murals scattered throughout the little town, as part of the revitalization program to attract tourists on the Route.
Paris Springs, Missouri. The son-in-law of Gary Parita. Gary was famous on the Route for the 1930's Sinclair Gas station he had recreated and the memorabilia he collected.
Amarillo, Texas. Cadillac Ranch. The place to be on a hot Sunday. Whole families came together to paint cars at this public art installation.
Goff's California, a virtual ghost town, has lots of rusted equipment and tools and other old "stuff" that makes meandering fun.
Texola, Oklahoma. Masel, the owner of the Tumbleweed Bar and Grill, and an artist, was trying to make a go of it in a very isolated ghost town location.
Paris Spings, Missouri. The Gary's Gay Parita Sinclair Station, recreated by Gary from the 1930's gas station that had been in this location.
Baghdad Cafe, Mojave Desert, CA. Subject of an independent German film that has a huge cult following from around the world.
Shamrock, Texas. Built in 1936, this building is a wonderful example of an art deco style service station. The station is now owned by the city and is a visitor center, chamber of commerce office, and community center.
Pontiac, Illinois. A premier tourist community driven literally by Route 66.
Hackberry, Arizona. Working at the Hackberry General Store, he was counting the days to retirement.
Tucumcari, New Mexico. The Blue Swallow Motel is a classic motor court from 1939.
Amboy, California, another ghost town on Historic Route 66, although it does have a small cafe and gift shop.
Afton, Missouri. Built in 1936 only three motel units remain of the original seven.
Seligman, Arizona. Big Mike found a shady tree to set up shop to sell his metal works.
Cuba, Missouri. He use to have a very long beard but clipped it for a costume party, leaving the mustache:)
Tucumcari, New Mexico. Claim to be the last remaining original curio shop in New Mexico.
Tucumcari, New Mexico. An owner of the Blue Swallow Motel, at the time we stayed over.
Adrian, Texas. The center point of the Route. This cafe is known for its pie. They kept open just so we could taste it, and it was GOOD!!
Commerce, Missouri. Home of Mickey Mantle.
St. Claire, Missouri. Max gives painting classes, has a little cafe and loved to tell stories about Rout 66.
McLean, Texas. 1929 restored gas station. Said to be the first Phillips Petroleum in the state.
Seligman, Arizona. The city the tourist buses stopped at. There were lots of souvenir shops.
South Rim Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Chicago, Illinois. Everyone driving the entire Route "must" begin with breakfast at Lou Mitchell's. The hostess was our official greeter that first morning. She presented us with a bunch of information for the drive.
Texola, Oklahoma. One of many ghost towns with lots of empty buildings.
Atlanta, Illinois. Everything on the Route is BIG. Big figures like Paul Bunyan, big ketchup bottles, big boots, big chairs.......
Painted Desert, Arizona
Oatman, Arizona. A ghost town and Route 66 tourist attraction in the Black Mountains.
Tucumcari, New Mexico. Known for painted walls/murals throughout the city.
Amboy, California. Route 66 cuts through the Mojave Desert.
Hackberry, Arizona. Iconic Route 66 general store, near Kingman, Arizona. Said to be the best souvenir general store on the Route. In the middle of nowhere, in the desert.
Tucumcari, New Mexico. Flora had a gift shop in one of the motels Clint Eastwood supposedly slept in during the filming of some of his old westerns.
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Santa Monica, California; End of the Trail.
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