Featuring North America!s Leading Travel Destinations
Get Your Kicks on Route 66
Welcome to the Beautiful ia in g ir V f o y e ll a V h a o d n a n e Sh
Farms & Agriculture
Wineries
Shenandaoh Caverns
New Market Battlefield
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PREVIEW By Steve Kirchner, Editor & Publisher
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hat has three names, an asso- made it into the song because it rhymed with Arizona. ciation in every state it On to Kingman, still in Arizona, and across the state touched, fan clubs every- line into California, to Barstow and San Bernardino. Finally, we wind our way into Los Angeles, on the way where, museums, what seems like thousands of internet sites, and changed to the Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean, the America forever? Oh, and it no longer official end of Route 66. It’s been a grand journey! Virginia’s Frontier Culture Museum is also featured, exists! If I were to say a road, you would focusing on the new West African Village, and the probably laugh. Until you read this issue of Byways. No road has touched America more than Route 66, impact of the slave trade. And there are many ways to called the “Mother Road.” In song, on television, and rediscover the enjoyment of road trips through today on the internet and in podcasts, the mystique con- Nebraska, with endless opportunities for family fun. tinues as if the road had a life of its own. Not bad for a road that was officially decommissioned in 1985! Route 66 near Oatman, Arizona Until we began the research for this issue of Byways, we really didn’t understand why there is such widespread national and international interest in this road. There are Route 66 associations in each of the states the road traveled. But the more we read, the more important and fascinating the road became. This is a road that not only impacted those who traveled west on Route 66, but virtually every community through which it passed -- over a stretch of America that spans more than 2400 miles. The best way to portray the scope and popularity of the road, was to use the words of the song, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” Written in 1946 by songwriter Bobby Troup after traveling on the highGet Your Kicks (On Route 66) way, it was originally sung by Nat King Cole. Troup took If you ever plan to motor west, the names of cities along the route, and they were Travel my way, take the highway that is best. immortalized into song. Get your kicks on Route 66. From Chicago to Los Angeles, more than 2,000 miles It winds from Chicago to LA, all the way. Words right from the song, and our headline More than 2000 miles all the way. as we get our kicks on Route 66. The Chicago restauGet your kicks on Route 66 rant and the beautiful fountain that became the fashNow you go through St. Looey, Joplin, Missouri, ionable start of the route, are the starting points. and Oklahoma city is mighty pretty. Through Illinois and into Missouri, and through St. You see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico, Louie. Traveling on to Joplin, Missouri, and the trek Flagstaff, Arizona. Don’t forget Winona, through the Ozarks of Missouri. Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino. A stop in “mighty pretty” Oklahoma City, and then Won’t you get hip to this kindly tip: discover why a Route 66 stop in Tulsa is a must. When you mke that California trip Continuing the journey into Texas and to Amarillo, the Get your kicks on Route 66. road then winds through Gallup, New Mexico, and then it’s on to Flagstaff, Arizona. Bobby Troupe, copyright 1946, Londontown Music But don’t forget Winona. This unlikely little town 4 • Byways
Volume 28, Issue No. 2, 2011 A night photo of the Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma is featured on the cover. We travel this famous road for more than 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, and explore the life and history of the road that changed America. Photo by Doug, courtesy Route66Pulse.com.
Features Traveling Route 66 Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 It winds from Chicago to LA, more than 2000 miles all the way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, the highway that is best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Now you go through St. Looey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Joplin, Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Route 66 in the Ozarks of Missouri. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Tulsa, a Route 66 Must . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 You see Amarillo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Gallup, New Mexico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Flagstaff, Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Don!t forget Winona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 The Origin of McDonalds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Route 66 -- Los Angeles to the Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Route 66 ends at the Pacific Ocean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Virginia!s Frontier Culture Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Rediscover the road trip in Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
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What!s Happening Philadelphia!s National Constitution Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Coming in future issues of Byways‌ Nebraska and the Plains States, The Shenandoah Valley, Mid-America Sights, Rocky Mountain Highs, and Great American Roads.
Rocky Mountain Highs Colorado Springs skyline Shenandoah National Park Celebrates its 75th Anniversary.
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Southern Kitchen Home Cooking Since 1955 Close to Bryce Resort, Shenandoah Caverns & New Market Battlefield New Market, Virginia I-81 Exit
Steaks • Seafood • Chicken • Breakfast 540-740-3514 9576 S. Congress Street Open 7 Days a Week 7 am - 9 pm Come by and meet your hosts, Randy & Rebecca Newland
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Traveling Route 66 Today
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By Jim Conkle
k, so what is it about Route 66, or for that matter any old road, rail or river that draws people to them? There are as many answers as there are questions, so for now let’s just cover a few of them. For most of us the draw is seeped in the traditions we hold in honoring our history both as a country and as members of a family. When I am asked to list the number one reason people travel Route 66 my answer is always the same, THE PEOPLE that live on it, travel on it and are connected to it in any way. Yes, there are GREAT things to see and do as well as wonderful places to eat, sleep, shop and visit. And when you add all of that to the experience of meeting the people of the road, the memories of each trip adds to our lives. When you get to meet and know so many different people, the “ROADIES” as we call ourselves, you will talk to some that seem to come right out of Central Casting for a movie or TV show. All with their own stories and reasons they are involved in the road, which they will be more then happy to share with you. The road is made up of Urban Legends, half-truths, embellished facts, exaggerated claims and tall tales, all of which only adds to its mystique. It is a romantic and mysterious road that takes you back in time to when
people trusted and depended on each other to survive as well as enjoy every moment of their lives. You don’t need a watch to tell the time as a calendar or time machine would be better. Yes, you will still find an “outhouse” or two along the road and not just in the museums. And speaking of museums, there are many along the road and each are worth taking time to visit, and no, they are not all alike. Part of traveling the old road means stopping at as many of the attractions as possible, for at each stop your senses are exposed to the small things that make up the culture of the road. When asked how much time one should plan on spending to travel the road, my answer is A LIFETIME. Why? simple, for each time you are on the road you meet old friends and see familiar places as well as meet new friends and see something new. No two trips are
The Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma near Tulsa, is a waterfront structure which became one of the most recognizable attractions on old Route 66.
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George Maharis and Martin Milner in a publicity photo for “Black November,” the premiere episode of the television series Route 66.
ever the same, either because of the time of year, the direction you are taking, the people and places you visit and the state of mind you are in. There are many good books, DVDs and maps that will help you enjoy your time
Needles was a major stop on the historic U.S. Route 66 highway from the 1920s through 1960s. For immigrants from the Midwest Dust Bowl in the 1930s, it was the first town, marking arrival in California. The city is lined with motels and other shops from that era.
on the road, as well as many people that will be happy to help guide you before and during your trip. Or you can take a guided tour. Either way you will have a trip that you will never forget, and in fact, will make you yearn for more. About the Author:
Checkered countertops and red stools accentuate the 50s-era feel of Lucille!s Roadhouse. Weatherford, OK
Jim Conkle is an avowed enthusiast and one of the most knowledgeable authorities on Route 66. He is publisher of the Route 66 Pulse Newspaper, based in Phelan, CA, and serves as a Tour Guide for Mother Road Tours. You can read Route 66 Pulse Newspaper by visiting http://www.route66pulse.com Jim can be reached at jimconkle@verizon.net. Byways • 9
Old Route 66 approaching Chambless, California looking east. The Marble Mountains are in the foreground, with the Old Woman Mountains in the distance. Photo by JDEKEHOE. Courtesy Route66Pulse.com.
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Get Your Kicks
The road that changed America
s on Route 66
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Buckingham Memorial Fountain. The ornate fountain was built in 1927 by philanthropist Kate Buckingham, and was just a short distance from the start of Route 66. It!s located in the center of Grant Park, which runs between Michigan Avenue and Lake Shore Drive.
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It winds from Chicago to LA, More than 2,000 miles all the way. . .
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inding through small towns across the Midwest and Southwest, Route 66 earned the title “Main Street of America” for three decades before and after World War II. Route 66 was lined by hundreds of cafés, motels, gas stations, and tourist attractions. During the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands of farm families, displaced from the Dust Bowl, made their way west along Route 66 to California, following what John Steinbeck called “The Mother Road” in his vivid portrait, The Grapes of Wrath. After World War II, many thousands more showed their upward mobility by leaving the industrial East, bound for good jobs in suburban Southern California, again following Route 66, which came to embody the demographic shift from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt. Route 66 began in 1926 on the corner of Jackson and Michigan Boulevards. It traveled from Lake Michigan through skyscraper canyons, out to the suburbs and prairie farmland. One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926 -- with road signs erected the following year. The highway, which became one of the most famous roads in America, originally ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and
California, before ending at Los Angeles, covering a total of 2,448 miles When Route 66 was created in 1926, and when the signs went up on Chicago’s Jackson Boulevard, commuters and travelers found Lou Mitchell’s waiting for
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them. For the whole existence of Route 66, travelers were fortified with breakfast (and Milk Duds) before embarking on the journey, They have been feeding the hungry travelers with comfort food since 1923. Route 66 underwent many improvements and realignments over its lifetime, changing its path and overall length. Many of the realignments gave travelers faster or safer routes, or detoured around city congestion. One realignment moved the western endpoint farther west from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica. Springfield, Missouri is officially recognized as the birthplace of U.S. Route 66. It was on April 30, 1926 that officials first proposed the name of the new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway. A placard in Park Central Square was dedicated to the city by the Route 66 Association of Missouri, and traces of the “Mother Road” are still visible in downtown Springfield. Championed by Tulsa, Oklahoma businessman Cyrus Avery when the first talks about a national highway system began, U.S. 66 was first signed into law in 1927 as one of the original U.S. Highways, although it was not completely paved until 1938. Avery was adamant that the highway have a round number and had proposed number 60 to identify it. After a controversy over the number, Avery settled on
“66” (which was unassigned) because he thought the double-digit number would be easy to remember as well as pleasant to say and hear. Much of the early highway, like all the other early highways, was gravel or graded dirt. Due to the efforts of the U.S. Highway 66 Association, Route 66 became the first highway to be completely paved in 1938. Several places were dangerous: more than one part of the highway was nicknamed “Bloody 66.” Over a number of years work was done to realign these segments to remove dangerous curves. However, one section just outside Oatman, Arizona (through the Black Mountains) was fraught with hairpin turns and was the steepest along the entire route, so much so that some early travelers, too frightened at the prospect of driving such a potentially dangerous road, hired locals to navigate the winding grade. The section remained as Route 66 until 1953, and is still open to traffic today as the Oatman Highway. The beginning of the end for Route 66 came in 1956 with the signing of the Interstate Highway Act by President Dwight Eisenhower, who was influenced by his experiences in 1919 as a young Army officer crossing the country in a truck convoy (following the route of the Lincoln Highway), and his appreciation of the German
The Oatman Highway section of Route 66 in Arizona. Copyright © Georgia D. Griffiths, courtesy of National Scenic Byways Online (www.byways.org).
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Autobahn network as a necessary component of a national defense system. U.S. 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System on June 27, 1985 after it was decided the route was no longer relevant and had been replaced by the Interstate Highway System. Portions of the road that passed through Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and Arizona have been designated a National Scenic Byway of the name “Historic Route 66.” It has begun to return to maps in this form.
“Over 3-Million people go in search of her each year. For some it’s a short drive off the beaten path on a lazy afternoon. For others, it’s a voyage halfway around the world for a trip through time to place forgotten and then found by many. Route 66 ‘The Mother Road’ beckons nostalgia-seeking, simpler-time-loving generations of people from all over the globe. A living history of sorts.” Mother Road LLC, motherroadinc@yahoo.com
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On-Line Route 66 Resources www.route66pulse.com http://www.motherroadllc.com Route 66 Association of Illinois http://www.il66assoc.org Route 66 Association of Missouri http://www.missouri66.org/joomla Kansas Historic Route 66 Association http://www.carrollsweb.com/alynn/index.htm Oklahoma Route 66 Association http://www.oklahomaroute66.com Old Route 66 Association of Texas http://www.barbwiremuseum.com/TexasRoute66.htm
California Historic Route 66 Association http://www.route66ca.org Route 66 Preservation Foundation http://www.cart66pf.org/ Canadian Route 66 Association http://www.route66.ca/cdn66/Welcome.html Norwegian Route 66 Association http://www.twolaneadventure.com
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If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, take the highway that is best. Get Your Kicks on Route 66.
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up the song with the names of n 1946 Get Your Kicks on Route 66 towns and cities on the highway. became a popular song and The lyrics read as a mini-travelrhythm and blues standard, comogue about the major stops along posed by American songwriter Bobby the route, listing several cities and Troup. towns that Route 66 passes It was first recorded in the same through: St. Louis, Missouri; year by Nat King Cole, and was subJoplin, Missouri; Oklahoma City, sequently covered by many artists Oklahoma; Amarillo, Texas; including Chuck Berry in 1961, The Gallup, New Mexico; Flagstaff, Rolling Stones in 1964, and and Arizona; Winona, Arizona; hundreds of other artists since. The Kingman, Arizona; Barstow, song’s lyrics follow the path of the California; and San Bernardino, U.S. Route 66, which ran from California. Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, Winona is the only town out of California. sequence. It was a very small setTroup conceived the idea for the tlement east of Flagstaff, and might song while driving west from indeed have been forgotten if not Pennsylvania to Los Angeles, and for the lyric “Don’t forget the lyrics celebrate the romance and Winona,” written to rhyme with freedom of automobile travel and the “Flagstaff, Arizona.” open road. Of the eight states that the actual route passes In an interview he once said the tune for the song, as well as the lyric “Get your kicks on Route 66,” came to through, only Kansas and its cities are not mentioned by him easily, but the remainder of the lyrics eluded him. the song. More in frustration than anything else, he simply filled
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The V of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, peaks in the Mississippi River, with a Gothic water tower emerging on the left. Photo by David Hinkson, courtesy of National Scenic Byways Online (www.byways.org)
Now you go through St. Looey . . .
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egin your “66” adventure at its St. Louis starting point: the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, the original mile-long span that crosses from Illinois to Missouri. Today, it’s the world’ s longest pedestrian bridge, open daily so hikers and cyclists can thrill to the panoramic views high above the Mighty Mississippi. During late winter and early spring, it’s also the perfect place to spot American bald eagles. Your taste buds will appreciate a pit stop at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. This iconic Route 66 attraction dishes out delectable chilled treats including signature “concretes,” milkshakes so thick they serve them to you upside down without spilling a delicious drop. Sample from the menu of classic combos such as the hot fudge and tart cherry-laden Cardinal Sin to the more exotic All Shook Up, a peanut butter and banana ode to Elvis. Farther on down the road, the Museum of Transportation’s collection of more than 300 trains, planes and vintage automobiles will put you into overdrive. Dedicated to America’s love for life in the fast lane, the museum features a nostalgic display on Route 66 including a portion of St. Louis’ old deco-style Coral Court Motel. Be sure to hop aboard one of two scaleddown replicas of the famous 1863 C.P. Huntington steam locomotive for an open-air carriage ride along a one-mile track. 18 • Byways
Selected photos courtesy St. Louis Convention & Visitors Bureau
At Route 66 State Park, fittingly located off I-44’s exit 266, a former roadhouse now presents a free museum with exhibits about the Mother Road’s travel heyday. The museum gift shop brims with classic and quirky
Route 66 souvenirs. Within the park, seven miles of hiking, bicycling and horseback riding trails and a picnic area dotted with vintage highway signs welcome visitors to a time when “road trip” defined the family vacation. The oldest “66” tourist attraction remains the coolest. It’s always 60 degrees inside Meramec Caverns. Nicknamed “America’s Cave,” the amazing natural phenomenon served as a hideout for Missouri outlaws Jesse and Frank James. The cave’s awesome five-story-high interior has wowed travelers since 1935.
Interstate 44, the modern-day replacement for Old Route 66, also offers free off-ramp points of interest. Watch the road signs for exits to Laumeier Sculpture Park, where monumental contemporary sculptures blend into a natural environment. At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, family-friendly hiking Byways • 19
trails and forest animal exhibits provide a legstretch stop for the road weary. Animal attractions include Lone Elk Park’s drive-thru grazing range where elk and bison roam, the winged creature habitats at the World Bird Sanctuary, the Wild Canid Survival Center -- a sanctuary for wolves -and Purina Farms, where city slickers can get up close to domesticated farm animals and pick up tips for training their own pups and kitties. A ride out Route 66 lets you wander through tall grass prairie and fields brimming with wildflowers at Shaw Nature Reserve. And you can get your kicks on the thrilling amusement rides at Six Flags St. Louis. The popular theme park also offers a gigantic water park, family shows and games. Automobile enthusiasts can take a spin off of “66” to visit other four-wheeled attractions. Top names in professional racing rev it up at Gateway International Raceway. Annual big racing events include NHRA Drag Racing and Sport Compact Series, NASCAR Busch and CraftsmanTruck Series, motorcycle competitions and weekly drag racing. Get behind the wheel at the NASCAR Speedpark at St. Louis Mills Mall. Tot Rods, Junior Speedway and Family 500 vehicles allow all ages to cruise along an indoor and three outdoor tracks. The new Grand Prix Speedway offers European-style Civil War battlefield beckons, as does the original Bass Pro Outlet. The family entertainment mecca of Branson indoor carting for a real racing experience. veers off the Mother Road, and Lebanon, Missouri, From St. Louis, expand your All-American experioffers the Route 66 Museum and Research Center dedience by following the “Best of 66” route east to Springfield, Illinois, and its starting point in Chicago. cated to preserving the history of “America’s Main Minutes from downtown St. Louis, stop at Cahokia Street.” For additional information, contact the St. Louis Mounds. Explore the remains of an ancient city built on Convention & Visitors Bureau, 314-421-1023. earthen burial and ceremonial mounds that flourished http://www.explorestlouis.com. For group tour informafrom AD 700 to 1400 and then mysteriously disaption, email tourism@explorestlouis.com. peared. Back on the highway heading northeast, you’ll pass Bill Shea!s Route 66 Gas Station Museum small towns that proudly display historic Route 66 road markers. Old-time sites include the vintage Sky View Drive-In Theatre in Litchfield. In Springfield, Bill Shea’s Route 66 Gas Station Museum overflows with 80 years of the famous highway’s memorabilia and Mr. Shea’s wit and wisdom. You can’t miss the landmark “Gemini Giant,” a hamburger stop’s looming mascot in Wilmington. Taking the road westbound from St. Louis, discover the gorgeous Ozark Mountains. In Springfield, Missouri, a 20 • Byways
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Joplin, Missouri...
ocated in the southwest corner of Missouri along Historic Route 66 on I-44 and MO Highway 71, Joplin is an ideal meeting and vacation spot. With all of the amenities of a large city and the downhome comfort of a small town, Joplin is the perfect combination of great service and friendly smiles. Joplin was established in 1873 and expanded significantly from the wealth created by the mining of zinc. The city gained additional renown as one of the stops on the historic Route 66. In 1933, Bonnie and Clyde spent several weeks in Joplin and robbed several area businesses. Tipped off by a neighbor, the Joplin Police Department attempted to apprehend Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie and Clyde escaped (killing Newton County Constable John Wesley Harryman and Joplin police Detective Harry McGinnis in the process); however, they were forced to leave most of their possessions behind, including a camera. The rolls of film contained the now-legendary photos of Bonnie holding Clyde at mock gunpoint and of Bonnie with her foot on a fender, pistol in her hand and cigar in her mouth. Mickey Mantle played shortstop in 1950 for the Joplin Miners, a minor league team in the Western Association. Mantle played one full season at Miners Park (now Joe Becker Stadium) with the Miners, earning $225 and hitting 26 home runs before being called up to the Yankees the next year. Due to its location near two major highways and its many event and sports facilities, Joplin is a stopping place for travelers and a destination point for groups.
With almost 200 restaurants, Joplin is going to have what your stomach wants! Trendy bistros and greasy spoons, elegant and contemporary or comfortable home cookin’ -- you get the idea and Joplin has it all. For more information, contact the Joplin Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-657-2534, or visit http://www.visitjoplinmo.com.
On the outskirts of Carthage, MO is the beautiful old 66 Drive-In, complete with a neon sign out front, and an absolutely HUGE billboard sign behind the big screen. Just about everything at the 66 Drive-In Theatre is original: the 66-foot high screen, the ticket booth made of glass block, the neon sign out by the roadway.
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Route 66 Museum: Located in Elk City, OK the National Route 66 Museum and the nearby Old Town Museum Complex offer a great opportunity to brush up on Route 66 history and see some interesting memorabilia.
Route 66 in the Ozarks of Missouri
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s you continue your journey of Route 66, you’ll soon enter Pulaski County, the self-proclaimed Heart of the Ozarks. Through this area, the Mother Road cuts through large rock bluffs, over streams, and through lush valleys, as well as providing numerous peeks at vintage restaurants, auto courts and service stations. One of the most scenic drives on Route 66, travelers soon pass over a pristine four-lane section of the Mother Road that was built to carry traffic to and from Fort Leonard Wood during World War II. The first twisting, narrow stretch of Route 66 through Devil’s Elbow was obviously not adequate for the many moving men and equipment and the new four lane stretch was completed in 1943. When Interstate 44 replaced Route 66, in many places the new road was superimposed on the old. In other instances the old pavement became the outer road for the new interstate, leaving large sections of fabled highway intact. Route 66 is an example of the first modern interstate highway system in the United States and also an artifact of a well-traveled prehistoric pathway. Today, most of this old four-lane is still original
and is in very good condition considering its age. Passing through the steep bluffs of the Big Piney River, the Hooker Cut was one of the deepest road cuts in the nation at the time of its construction.
Hooker Cut on Route 66 in the Missouri Ozarks
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Oklahoma City downtown skyline and Myriad Gardens
And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty...
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During the 1800s, the U.S. government forcibly relos a city that redefines itself, Oklahoma City’s hip, spirited environment blends with its deep cated Indian tribes from all over the country into the western heritage to create a place where culture area known as Oklahoma Territory. There was one parand commerce thrive. With renowned festivals, nation- cel of land that was never given over to any tribe -- the al sporting events, treasure-filled museums and a variety Unassigned Lands. In the 1880s, many frontier Americans wanted to of districts highlighting arts and entertainment, the possibilities for adventure and fun in Oklahoma City are endless. Bricktown Entertainment District The largest city in Oklahoma is located at the crossroads of I-35, I-40 and I-44. It is also the second largest city in the continental U.S. based on geographical size; more than 1.1 million people call the Metro Oklahoma City area home. Things were very different a little more than a century ago. The site of what would become Oklahoma City was a grass-and-timbered land of gently rolling hills flattening out into prairie. Today, Oklahoma City sprawls across 625 square miles of America’s heartland. Its metro population numbers over a million, one third of the population of the entire state. 24 • Byways
move into this land. Soon, landless pioneers began slipping over into this area without authorization. These were the “Boomers,” who were trying to force the government into opening the territory up to homesteaders. On March 2, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation that opened up the Unassigned Lands. So, on April 22, 1889, about 50,000 homesteaders gathered at the boundaries. Some people snuck over at night to stake out prime land early, hiding from the army patrols. These people were known as “Sooners.” At noon, the cannon roared, and the hordes of people streamed over the line on wagons and buckboards, horseback, on foot and even on bicycles. Soon, nearly 10,000 people had staked out claims near the Oklahoma Station -- what today is Oklahoma City. Claim jumping was common, as were boundary quarrels that led to fights and considerable bloodshed. Tents were thrown up in haphazard fashion, and mass confusion reigned supreme. Just two years after Route 66 was designated, on December 4, 1928, oil was discovered on the corner of
SE 59th and Bryant Ave. in Oklahoma City. In the 27 days before the great gusher could be capped, it spewed 110,496 barrels of oil. The Oklahoma City Field had been discovered, creating the city’s most important financial resource and making Oklahoma City the world’s newest boom town. Oil continues to be one of the most important players in the city’s economy. Lake Overholser is home to Oklahoma City’s newest sensational recreational hot spot, Route 66 Park. It features a stamped map depicting the historic Mother Road’s route from Chicago to Santa Monica, featured in the park’s Route 66 Plaza. Thirty-four landmarks from Lincoln’s birthplace in Springfield to the Harvey House in Barstow, California are featured along the eight-state map. The Cyrus Avery Observation Tower was named for visionary Cyrus Avery, a Tulsan who, in the 1920s was a driving force behind the 2448-mile transcontinental highway.
Located along Route 66 in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma state capitol building shines a brilliant white in the noonday sun.
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The Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza named after a former county commissioner who is known as the father of the Mother Road.
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ith more than 400 drivable miles of the original Route 66, Oklahoma is a must-drive state for road warriors and highway enthusiasts where the culture and history of Americana that made the old highway a traveler favorite still remains. At the heart of Route 66 is Tulsa, a city defined by the happy co-existence of cultural influences from Native American tribes to wealthy oil men to today’s eclectic artists who have found appreciation in the artifacts left by Tulsa’s founding fathers. Near downtown at Southwest Boulevard and Riverside Drive in Tulsa, visitors can pay homage to the famed Chicago-to-Los Angeles “Mother Road” at the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza, named after a former county commissioner who is known as the father of the Mother Road. The Plaza features flags of the eight states of Route 66, a skywalk bridge, and the 11th Street Bridge over the Arkansas River, an art deco bridge predominantly influenced by the Zigzag and PWA Art Deco styles of the 1920s. The plaza was completed in July 2008 and dedicated on August 7, 2008. The final remaining piece is an 26 • Byways
“East meets West” larger-than-life bronze sculpture by artist Robert Summers depicting the Avery family riding in a Model T as it encounters a horse-drawn carriage on its way from the west Tulsa oil fields to be installed this year. A drive down Tulsa’s historic Route 66 will take travelers through the heart of downtown and midtown Tulsa where roadside diners still exist and the famous neon signs of the old Highway still light up the road. Make a trip to the Blue Whale in Catoosa, have a cup of coffee at Tally’s Diner or divert slightly from the highway to see famous art deco buildings from the country’s third largest collection in Tulsa. As the country’s love and respect for the “Mother Road” continues to grow, Tulsa is also developing more ways for visitors to learn, explore and appreciate this piece of Americana. Efforts are underway to fund the Route 66 Interpretive Center to be located at the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza and will feature Route 66 memorabilia and historical perspectives.
Tulsa: a Route 66 must
The Warehouse Market in Tulsa
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I
You see Amarillo... deep roots to Texas’ western heritage. But Route 66 is an important part of the mix in Amarillo. There are lots of Route 66 stories to see.... keep reading. In Amarillo, Route 66 was home to one of the biggest restaurants around, the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Home to the free 72 oz. Steak. The Big Texan moved adjacent to Interstate 40 in the early 1970s. Also important is the section of Historic Route 66 as it passes through Amarillo along Sixth Ave., between Western and Georgia Sts. It’s a mile of shops, clubs and restaurants. Two buildings of note – The Nat Ballroom started life as a city indoor swimming pool and in the 40s and 50s was home to all the Big Bands and top entertainers as they passed through Amarillo on Route 66. Also, the Golden Light Café, home to one of the best hamburgers in town, has been in continuous operation at this Route 66 location since the 1940s. As you leave Amarillo heading The Route 66 Inn in Amarillo west, just to the south of the old Route 66 is an attraction that fits in quite well -- the Cadillac Ranch. Built in the 1970s, this sculpture of 10 vintage Cadillacs buried nose down in a Texas Panhandle field has been receiving worldwide attention for over 30 years.
n Amarillo, Texas, a mile of antiques and collectibles await the visitor to Historic Route 66, one of the city’s first residential and business districts. Located along an original stretch of historic Route 66, the street features historic buildings that once housed theatres, cafes and drug stores and are now antique, craft and specialty shops. Some of Amarillo’s most unique dining experiences are along Historic Route 66. Route 66 spans 178 miles across Texas from Oklahoma to New Mexico. Three hours on Interstate 40 -- a leisurely drive of any length you desire on Route 66. Amarillo is the largest city on this length of Route 66, but there are things to see and do in both directions on the Mother Road. And there are all sorts of special events, regardless of the direction. So take your time to surf the information and make your Route 66 visit to the Texas Panhandle a memorable one. Amarillo is the big city on this stretch of Route 66. Nearly 200,000 people now live in this city with
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Gallup, New Mexico...
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amed after David Gallup, a paymaster for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad, in the early 1880s, the town is located on the western side of New Mexico. Gallup sits in Navajo country where it serves as an important community for trade. It is also the largest Indian center in the Southwest and the ceremonial capital of Native America. The streets were once lined with pawn, trade and curio shops and still remains the hub of wholesale and retail commerce in Native American jewelry. The trading post experience is virtually unique to Gallup as a city. While isolated trading posts do exist on the reservations and in remote small villages, Gallup is the only large settlement in the Southwest that still hosts this unique mercantile tradition in any significant numbers. Route 66 (Main Street) and Coal Avenue, which parallels Main one block south, are the principle sites of most gallery and trading post activity in Gallup. Route 66 runs through Gallup, and the town’s name is mentioned in the lyrics to the song, “Route 66.” Gallup is sometimes called the “Indian Capital of the World,” 29 • Byways
for its location in the heart of Native American lands, and the presence of Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and other tribes. One-third of the city’s population has Native American roots. Gallup’s nickname references the huge impact of the Native American Cultures found in and around Gallup. Of particular interest is the new Gallup Cultural Center located in the historic restored railroad station on Route 66. The historic El Rancho Hotel & Motel has hosted a numerous array of movie stars including John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, Kirk Douglas, Doris Day, Gregory Peck and Burt Lancaster. The rugged terrain surrounding Gallup was popular with Hollywood filmmakers during the 1940s and 1950s for the on-location shooting of Westerns. Route 66 traveled westward from Grants through Milan, past Bluewater, Thoreau, and Top O’ the World and on into Gallup, last stop till the Arizona border. For more information, contact the Gallup Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-242-4282; http://www.gallupnm.org.
Flagstaff, Arizona...
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oute 66 was commissioned in 1926, but it was not fully paved until 1937. During its life, the Route continued to evolve, leaving abandoned stretches still to be found by adventurous travelers. The road was decommissioned in 1985. Route 66 disappeared off many maps, and many stretches of the road were torn up. The old Route still bisects Flagstaff, though, and is still called Route 66 on street signs. The longest open stretches of the Route traverse the high Arizona desert from Seligman to the Colorado River. This makes Flagstaff a great area to explore some of the old landmarks, and a great resting point before or after a memorable trip across the high desert. Take a visit to downtown Flagstaff, lined with buildings made from sandstone, flagstone and brick, dating from before 1937. There are also a number of old hotels still serving the public along Flagstaff’s stretch of the road, and no Route 66 enthusiast would want to miss the Museum Club, a historic road house that still welcomes visitors looking to quench their thirst after a long day behind the wheel. Flagstaff continues to celebrate its Mother Road her-
The Flagstaff Museum Club
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Route 66 Days Festival
itage at the Annual Route 66 Days festival each September. Over 300 classic cars fill the street of downtown in an effort to win prizes and entertain visitors. Live musicians fill the air with music for dancing, and artisans sell their wares at the art festival. There’s plenty to see and do on your Route 66 excursion to Flagstaff. Here are some highlights.
Arizona Snowbowl Scenic Sky Ride Open Memorial Day-Labor Day, weekends through mid-October Contact: Dave Smith 928-779-1951 x115 Ride up Arizona’s highest mountains, the San Francisco Peaks, for breathtaking views. Group rates are available and in summer the ski lodge can provide group meals. Guests over 70 years old ride free.
fine arts throughout nine galleries. Annual Hopi, Navajo, Zuni, Meso-American cultural heritage events. Lowell Observatory Open daily Contact: Mary DeMuth 928-233-3235 Famous for its discovery of Pluto in 1930, Lowell offers daytime historic tours, nighttime telescope viewing and customized programs for groups. Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument 928-526-0502 nps.gov/sucr Daily except Christmas Born in a series of eruptions 900 years ago, the The Clark Telescope Dome on Mars Hill youngest volcano on the Colorado Plateau. One-mile self-guided Lava Flow Trail and Visitor Center. Walnut Canyon National Monument The Arboretum at Flagstaff Daily April-October 928-526-3367 nps.gov/waca Daily except Christmas Contact: Rachel Edelstein 928-774-1442 x110 Walk among 800-year-old cliff dwellings and pueblos, Discover America’s mountain garden and one of the see dramatic geology, varied vegetation, abundant nation’s largest collections of high-country wildflowers, ponderosa pine forests, 200 species of birds and live rap- wildlife. Hike the strenuous one-mile Island Trail into the canyon or the shorter Rim Trail. tor programs. Custom group tours/programs available. For more information, contact the Flagstaff Museum of Northern Arizona Open daily Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-842-7293; Contact: Lisa Doskocill 928-774-5211 x275 Visit internationally acclaimed MNA to learn about www.flagstaffarizona.org. regional Native American cultures, natural sciences and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
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Don’t Forget Winona...
Winona Bridge. No longer accessible by car, visitors can enjoy the view as they walk up to this important part of Route 66!s history. Photo by Leslie Connell
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inona is a small unincorporated community in Coconino County in the northern part of Arizona. It is located along U.S. Route 66 about thirteen miles east of Flagstaff, and was made famous in the song Get Your Kicks on Route 66. Winona was once an incorporated village called Walnut Creek, until the 1950s when it became part of Flagstaff.
It is deliberately out of sequence with the rest of the cities named in the song because of its near-miss: “Don’t forget Winona.” The author of the song, Bobby Troup, needed a word that rhymed with “Arizona.” It is also mentioned in the song Arizona Yodeler: “Way out in Arizona, in a town they call Winona...” Although spelled differently, country singer Wynonna Judd adopted her name upon hearing the name of the town in the song about Route 66.
A full-size, brightly painted old DeSoto automobile rests on top of the front of the DeSoto Barbershop building against a backdrop of clear blue sky in Ash Fork, Arizona. Photo by Leslie Connel.
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The golden age of roadside Americana began to disappear in the 1960s and 1970s as a result of the burgeoning Interstate system. Superhighways took most of the tourist traffic away from the smaller U.S. roads like Route 66 and the motels along these routes began to go out of business. The Wigwam Villages were no exception. Today, only three of the original motels remain: Cave City, Kentucky; Holbrook, Arizona; and Rialto (San Bernardino), California.
The Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona
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Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino... Kingman, Arizona
Barstow, California
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T
he Route 66 Museum in Kingman, Arizona is truly unique as a museum of history, housed in the historical Powerhouse building located in the “heart” of the longest remaining stretch of the 2400 miles that was Route 66. It is located on Historic Route 66 in the Powerhouse Visitor Center in downtown Kingman, across from Locomotive Park and a block from the Mohave Museum of History & Art. The Route 66 Museum depicts the historical evolution of travel along the 35th parallel that became Route 66. The brilliant murals, photos and life-size dioramas capture each of the groups that have traveled the route that has come to be known as the Mother Road. Following World War I, Kingman, which is located at an elevation of 3,300 feet, saw the revival of the mining industry, good roads and the excitement over the coming of Boulder Dam (now the Hoover Dam). Kingman had the advantage of being located on the railroad and on U.S. 66. For aditional information on visiting Kingman, email tourism@kingmantourism.org.
Route 66 strip in Kingman, Arizona
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he finding of silver in Calico and the building of the Southern Pacific Railroad from Mohave to Daggett in 1882 made the area a mining center. The famous 20-mule teams came into being when 10 teams were hitched together with two wagons and a water wagon to haul ore from Daggett to the town of Calico. The Calico Railroad (later called the Daggett-Calico Railroad) started hauling ore from Calico to the Oro Grande Milling Company, across the river from Daggett in 1888. That same year, the Santa Fe Railroad arrived in town. The town was later named after the president of the Santa Fe, William Barstow Strong. As the 20th century progressed, The Casa Del Desierto, built in 19 Calico and Daggett dimin- station, now houses the Route 66 America Rail Museum and still fu ished while Barstow grew. Barstow’s history was further cemented with the paving of the major highways through the city. Much of Barstow’s econo-
my depends on transportation. Before the advent of the interstate highway system, Barstow was an important stop on both routes 66 and 91. The two routes met in downtown Barstow and continued west together to Los Angeles. It became a busy rail center and a jumping off place for immigrants entering the state on U.S. Route 66, as made
More than 500,000 people celebrate San Bernardino!s annual “Route 66 Rendezvous.”
911 as a Harvey House hotel and train 6 Mother Road Museum, the Western unctions as an Amtrak station.
site of the historic Harvey House, originally opened in 1911. With the construction of the modern Interstate Highway system, Barstow’s future of growth was assured, as I-40 and I-15 converged at the city limits with State Highway 58, making it the transportation hub of the western Mojave Desert. The Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum was dedicated on July 4, 2000, in the historic Casa del Desierto, Harvey House, in Barstow. The
famous by John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath. Modern and historical facilities are still available along Barstow’s Main Street, the original Route 66. Just off Main Street, at First Street, travelers can drive over an old iron bridge that leads to the railroad depot once the
Museum displays a collection of historical photographs and artifacts related to Route 66 and the Mojave Desert communities. Displays include development of the United States Route 66 from early pioneer trails, railroads, automotive history, businesses and sites. For more information, contact the Barstow Chamber of Commerce, 681 N. 1st Ave, Barstow, CA 92311. 760-256-8617.
San Bernardino, California
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an Bernardino is one of the major cities of the Inland Empire region of California. Today it is the 18th largest city in the state, and the 99th largest city in the United States. The city spans 81 square miles. In 1926, Route 66 was completed through San Bernardino and the town quickly responded with motels, gas stations and other services for the many trav-
The classic Wigwam Motel along Route 66 in San Bernadino is recognized as Southern California!s most famous motel.
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D
The Origin of McDonalds
id you know that the McDonalds fast food restaurant chain began in San Bernardino, California? True story. The McDonalds brothers, Richard and Maurice, opened the original McDonalds restaurant on December 12, 1948 selling 15 cent hamburgers and 10 cent fries. The first fast food restaurant became quite a success. And it caught the attention of a businessman named Ray Kroc. In 1961 Kroc bought out the McDonalds brothers for $2.7 million dollars in cash. As part of the deal, however, he was able to retain the McDonalds brothers name. And the rest is history! elers who drove through the area. In the San Bernardino area, you can view the wellknown natural landmark of the Arrowhead that sits high on the mountainside. Clearly visible long before white settlers came to the area, the phenomenon was created by the natural uplifting of the soil and can be seen from as far away as 30 miles on a clear day. Many
legends surround the Arrowhead, but the most popular is an Indian story that the Great Spirit created the arrow to guide them to where they were to live. The Arrowhead, measuring 1,360 feet long and 450 feet wide was once believed to be man-made, so perfect are its proportions. Attractions in San Bernardino include the Fox Performing Arts Center, the California Theatre, the Robert V. Fullerton Museum of Art, Route 66McDonald's Museum, the Santa Fe Rail Road Museum 36 • Byways
which houses exhibits and artifacts of local history and the Arrowhead Springs Resort and Hotel. The city is also the gateway to the San Bernardino mountains, less than 10 miles north and east. The classic Wigwam Motel is recognized as Southern California’s most famous motel and happens to rest along California’s stretch of historic Route 66. The motel was the final and last of the 7 Wigwam Motels to have been built. The motel’s unreal architecture featuring a village-style arrangement of nineteen 30-foot-tall teepees, made of concrete and wood, draws admiration from all generations. Each individual wigwam is carefully equipped with all the traveler’s essentials, and the grounds include an outdoor barbecue grill and kidney-shaped swimming pool. Beyond San Bernardino, Route 66 continued through the suburbs of Rialto, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, eventually reaching the city of Pasadena, the final leg before reaching Los Angeles. During the third weekend in September, the Route comes alive as San Bernardino celebrates with the annual “Route 66 Rendezvous.” The Rendezvous is a four-day, three-night cruising car festival featuring over 1,900 classic and custom vehicles. This event draws over 500,000 spectators who come to experience music, food, family fun and classic cars in historic downtown San Bernardino. To learn more about the event, visit www.route66.com. For information on visiting San Bernardino, contact San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau, 909891-1151. http://www.san-bernardino.org.
Route 66 - Los Angeles to the Sea
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n many parts of the country, the original Route 66 has been replaced by Interstate Highways, or abandoned altogether. Surprisingly, there is one place where Route 66 remains largely intact -- Los Angeles. Old Route 66 follows Santa Monica Boulevard through the heart of Beverly Hills. Ironically, the highway was officially named for famous entertainer Will Rogers. And Will Rogers once served as mayor of Beverly Hills. In Hollywood, Santa Monica Boulevard runs past the cemetery-cum-theme park Hollywood Forever where luminaries such as Rudolf Valentino and Mel Blanc are entombed, overlooked by the water tower of legendary Paramount Studios. Visiting is an interesting
experience by day, and totally unique on nights when the cemetery is host to “Midnight Movies,” outdoor screenings of its residents’ most famous works. Route 66 merges into Sunset Boulevard for the long winding drive through downtown Los Angeles. Heading west from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica -and now marked by prominent beige road signs as Historic Route 66 -- the road continues its way to the Pacific Ocean, its final destination. Byways • 37
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The Pacific Ocean at sunset. The final destination of Route 66. Photos courtesy Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau. Byways • 39
Virginia!s Frontier Culture Museum
West African Village
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he Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, VA tells the story of the thousands of people who migrated to colonial America, and of the life they created here for themselves and their descendants. These first pioneers came to America during the 1600s and 1700s from communities in the hinterlands of England, Germany, Ireland, and West Africa. Many were farmers and rural craftsmen set in motion by changing conditions in their homelands, and drawn to the American colonies by opportunities for a better life. Others came as unwilling captives to work on farms and plantations. Regardless of how they arrived, all became Americans, and all contributed to the success of the colonies, and of the United States. During the 1600s and 1700s, nearly 250,000 Africans were brought to colonial America to serve as enslaved agricultural workers, domestic 40 • Byways
servants, and artisans. Although captives were taken from a vast area of the African continent, and from many different ethnic groups, the great majority were members of West African cultures that lived in the hinterlands of the Atlantic coast. Africans lived in all of
Volunteers helped build the West African Village.
Volunteers help with the The Igbo Immersion Ceremony at West African Village.
Great Britain’s North American colonies, though their population was highest in South Carolina and Virginia. In Virginia, beginning in the early 1700s, tobacco planters imported increasing numbers of captive Africans to work their plantations. This shift from white indentured servants to enslaved African workers in the colony’s tobacco economy was far-reaching. Race-based
enslavement quickly became a central feature of life in Virginia, and Africans and their Virginia born descendents would be treated as property, and denied the freedom and opportunities of white colonists. As settlement expanded westward toward and into the Appalachian Mountains and the Valley of Virginia, enslaved Africans and African Americans were among the settlers in back-
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Construction of the West African Village
country areas. Nearly 40% of the Africans imported into Virginia during this time were brought from a part of the West African coast called the Bight of Biafra. Many of these captives were Igbo, a people living in the upland area north of the Bight of Biafra in what is now the nation of Nigeria. The West African Farm represents life in a free Igbo household in the Biafran hinterlands in the 1700s. Among the Igbo of the 1700s, the basic social and economic unit was the household, which was usually composed of a man, who was head of the household, his wives, whose number depended upon and enhanced the man’s wealth and status, his children, and usually other dependents. Igbo men and women were members of lineages -- extended families with common ancestors -- and their position and prospects in their community were influenced by the status of their lineages. This included their access to and use of farm land, which was ultimately owned by the lineage. The largest political units among the Igbo were the village and village-group, and the heads of the resident lineages and the community’s other successful men managed local affairs. The arrival of Europeans on Africa’s Atlantic coast in the 1400s brought great change to the Igbo and their neighbors. Initially, Europeans sought sources of gold, spices and other commodities in West Africa. The discovery of America, the establishment of European colonies there, and the need for labor to exploit the New World’s resources gave rise to the trade in humans that took ten million Africans from their homes over the course of five centuries. The transatlantic slave trade grew over time and the 1700s were one of its peak periods. At its height the slave trade reached deep into the hinterlands of West Africa and beyond, and involved many Africans as traders as well as captives. Igbo could be found on both sides of the hinterlands slave trade. Their population was large and their long history of living in separate, independent villages left them vulnerable to the raids and kidnappings that fed the transatlantic trade. 42 • Byways
The African captives who were brought to the American colonies carried knowledge and skills with them that they used to cope in their new conditions and passed on to subsequent generations of Americans.
Volunteers help with construction of the Village.
Wherever Africans settled in the colonies they contributed to the growth and success of the local economy and the wealth and status of their owners with their labor. When permitted, they influenced the form and function of pottery, basketry, wood-working and textiles they produced for others. Their most notable and enduring contributions to American culture are found in foodways, music, folklore, and religious worship. Okra and black-eyed peas are among the most common items in the American food supply that were introduced by Africans. The banjo and particular musical forms such as Blues and Jazz grew from African ideas brought to America. American folklore shows African influences, especially stories involving animals speaking and behaving like humans. Finally, the enthusiasm and spirit of Christian worship among many Protestant denominations in America is believed to have originated in early African and African-American worship services. For additional information call 540-332-7850. http://www.frontiermuseum.org
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e h t r e v o c s i d e R n i p i r t d roa a k s a r b Ne
Scotts Bluff National Monument
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I
n Nebraska, you can recapture the magic of road trips past. And with so many fun things to see and do, it’s easy to create new memories that will last a lifetime.
The great outdoors Nebraska’s state parks and recreation areas provide a bounty of outdoor adventure, including hiking, biking, and camping. If you’d rather be on the water, canoe or tube one of the state’s picturesque rivers. Try navigating the snaking Loup River the good old Nebraska way: a floating livestock tank filled with friends and fun. Or hit the eastern stretches of the Platte River via airboat for a fast-paced adventure along picturesque shores.
Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island
Step back in time You can experience rich frontier history in Chimney Rock near Bayard will capture your imaginawestern Nebraska. At the Scotts Bluff National tion with tales from emigrants who wrote about the most Monument near Gering, discover remnants of the recognized landmark along the Oregon Trail. Oregon Trail and amazing views. The visitor center at The Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney
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Nebraska!s Brysons Airboats provide unique water experience.
The Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island, too, recognizes the importance of our past with a living history experience like no other. In the summer months, Railroad Town -- the museum’s own 1890s village -- is buzzing with townspeople dressed in period clothing. Of course, you can’t talk about the Old West without mentioning cowboys. At the Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park in North Platte, you’ll learn all about the life of one of the most famous cowboys, including his stint as a Pony Express rider, his famous Wild West Show, and his scouting experiences. 46 • Byways
Rare treats Looking for a one-of-a-kind experience? You’ll certainly find it at the Great Platte River Road Archway. Spanning I-80 near Kearney, this award-winning museum tells the story of western expansion through stunning audio/visual effects and three-dimensional displays. Possibilities . . . endless So what are you waiting for? To plan your next getaway, check out the Group Travel Planner at VisitNebraska.gov or contact Paula Bohaty, Group Travel Manager, at paula.bohaty@nebraska.gov, or call 800-2284307.
REDISCOVER THE
ROAD TRIP.
IN NEBRASKA, YOU CAN RECAPTURE the magic of road trips past. And with so much natural beauty across the state—such as the spectacular Pine Ridge, the scenic Niobrara River, and the lush Missouri River Basin— it’s easy to relive the picture-perfect memories. So what are you waiting for?
VisitNebraska.gov
888-444-1867, Dept. 1BYB
Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Division of Travel and Tourism
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Unique Visitor Experience Offered By Philadelphia!s National Constitution Center
A
evocative introduction to the people, ideas, and times of the Constitutional Convention. Wisps of conversations are overheard against the backdrop of what was
The experience begins as the visitor enters the Center’s Grand Hall Lobby and walks toward the Richard and Helen DeVos Exhibit Hall, which houses the permanent exhibition, The Story of We the People. The Story of We the People begins when the visitor is issued not a ticket, but a Delegate’s Pass -- the first of many devices that reinforce the Center’s interpretive message that constitutional democracy demands participation. The Pass asks visitors to think of themselves as “Founders,” and their visit as participation in the ongoing conversation, more than 200 years old, about the nature of the American experiment in self-government. This idea -- inviting the visitor to join the story -- is the animating idea behind the entire exhibition that follows. The exhibition unfolds as a journey, a journey that moving through time and into progressively larger and brighter spaces echoes the journey of America toward its own ideals. The first portion, Philadelphia 1787, provides an
t h e n America’s largest city. Artifact cases punctuating the space hold a fraction of the more than one million pieces recovered from archaeological excavations undertaken on the site of the Constitution Center prior to construction. Next, the visitor enters the Kimmel Theater for “Freedom Rising”, the Center’s orientation experience. As the lights dim, the show begins with an actor in contemporary dress who walks into the middle of the theater and asks: “What makes us Americans?” As the story progresses, the media elements change. Filmed elements are first projected on the floor, next on a 360-degree screen around the perimeter, then on a scrim that fills the center of the space, and at key points on the audience themselves. The show ends, as it began, with a question: “What will we do with freedom?” The visitor exits the theater on the Center’s second floor, into The American Experience, the main exhibit space. Unusual for a museum, the gallery is circular. Also unusual, the gallery’s design does not highlight artifacts -- collections of things in display cases. Rather, it highlights people and ideas. The gallery itself is wrapped by a
trip to the National Constitution Center is not just a visit -- it’s an experience. The Center tells the story of the Constitution’s past and explains the principles of its present to help visitors see that they will write the story of its future -- and to inspire them to do just that.
g n i n e p p a H s ’ t Wha
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glass wall, the length of two full city blocks, on which is written and illuminated the text of today’s Constitution: a design statement that it is the words and ideas of the Constitution that define and embrace us, both as a nation and as individuals. There are three concentric rings to the exhibit. The outermost ring is the chronological story, 13 sections telling the constitutional story from 1765 until today. These stories come as a surprise to most visitors. Expecting to learn only of a sacred text handed down by a few, they find that our Constitution has also been a work in progress by the many: from the Anti-federalists who successfully demanded a bill of rights, to the 620,000 soldiers killed in the Civil War, to the marchers of the civil rights movement. The unfolding narrative reveals that it has been millions of individual actions that have upheld and shaped our constitutional practices and freedoms. Exhibit techniques reflect that idea. Wherever possible, human stories have been chosen as entry points into the content. Stories are told using a reporter’s voice, rather than an historian’s: datelined, and in the present tense. The Chronology exhibits use multiple techniques to bring the story alive: a short and general video introduction to each section; more detailed text-and-graphic based “story panels” (for the primary stories) and “reading rails” (for secondary stories and more nuanced
Signers! Hall, which contains 42 lifesize, lifelike statues of our founding fathers.
points); maps and images; game-like computer interactives; video and audio segments (such as a reading of Sojourner Truth’s speech to the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention of 1851 or a mini-documentary of the Kennedy assassination and the 25th Amendment); selected artifacts; and walk-in “immersive environments” that render key ideas, moments, and stories in three dimensions. For instance, visitors can enter a recreation of the floor of the Senate during the impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson and listen to the debate, or they can step into a 1940s living room and hear one of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats” playing on the radio.
Visitors gaze at exact replicas of the Capitol Building, the White House, and the Supreme Court.
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“Freedom Rising” is a 17-minute multimedia theater experience designed to connect visitors with the story of the U.S. Constitution. This theater-in-the-round production incorporates an actor, 360° projection, surprise scenic elements, theatrical lighting, and a dynamic surround soundtrack.
The central ring of the gallery treats the subject differently. It is not a chronological journey, but a thematic one, organized by the words of the Preamble itself. If the Chronology is largely “then,” the Preamble is largely “now.” Exhibits here are even more interactive, more oriented to a family audience. At a replica of the Supreme Court bench, for instance, one visitor can delve into three Supreme Court cases, listening to actual oral arguments. Another, younger visitor might try on a judge’s robe. A third can follow the progress of a sample case through the legal system to the Supreme Court. Another exhibit is designed to give parents an engaging way to introduce children to – and talk with them about – voting, as visitors cast their ballots for their all-time favorite president. At another exhibit in this section, visitors can watch themselves be sworn in as president. And at yet another, the American National Tree, they can delve into the stories of 100 Americans, whose actions have helped to write the story of the Constitution. The recurring theme of the Preamble exhibits is the rights – and responsibilities – of citizenship. Another exhibit in this section, for instance, immerses visitors in the experience of serving on a jury. Another – a moving video representation of a solider marching through history -- honors the men and women who have defended the Constitution through their military service. The innermost ring of the gallery provides a third approach to the content. A maple bench ringing the theater provides seating. “Talk-back” photo essays ask visitors to consider the sort of broad questions the Founders considered: What makes us Americans? Have we established equal justice? What makes us feel free? And a unique and groundbreaking computer program, the Interactive Constitution, lets visitors search the text that surrounds them by word or concept, providing the deepest level of content. As the gallery ends, these three paths all converge 50 • Byways
under the penultimate phrase of the Preamble, “for ourselves and our posterity.” Here the visitor enters a quiet contemplative passageway, animated by voices, spanning more than 200 years of commentary on the Constitution, pro and con. The visitor walks into this stream of history as preparation for his or her next stop. Signers’ Hall is the final component of the permanent exhibit. The room is a stylized evocation of the Assembly Room where the signers of the original Constitution met, and a rare first public printing of that document is on display in a side alcove. Signers’ Hall is peopled with life-sized bronze statues of 42 men: the 39 delegates who signed as well as the three who refused. Visitors are encouraged to walk among them, and to consider them as humans, making choices that still influence their lives. More importantly, visitors are asked to make the same choice the Framers faced: to sign, or not, today’s Constitution. Visitors who elect to sign metaphorically place their signatures next to those of the Framers. Visitors who elect to dissent are invited to state their reasons, and join an equally honorable American tradition. From Signers’ Hall, the visitor emerges into the “present” of the Center’s Grand Hall Overlook, where large screens and a news ticker display today’s constitutional news, connecting the exhibit with our lives at this moment. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors ages 65 and up, $8 for children ages 4-12, and $7.50 for groups of 20 or more. Active military personnel and children ages 3 and under are free. The National Constitution Center, located at 525 Arch St. on Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall, brings the story of the Constitution to life through more than 100 interactive and multimedia exhibits, film, text, photographs, sculpture and artifacts. For more information, please call 215-409-6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.
Byways is published bi-monthly by Byways, Inc. and distributed electronically throughout North America. Byways is emailed to more than 4000 tour operators and 20,000 travel agencies through the internet. Subscriptions are complimentary. Byways’ distribution includes motorcoach companies, tour operators, travel agents, bank travel managers, school band and athletic planners, and meeting planners. For advertising rates, editorial deadlines, or to place advertising insertions, contact: Byways Magazine, P.O. 1088, Mount Jackson, VA 22842. Telephone 540-477-3202. Fax 540477-3858. Toll-free 800-469-0062. ©Copyright 2011 by Byways, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be duplicated in any form without express written permission of the publisher. Editor and Publisher Stephen M. Kirchner
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