Today began a two day jaunt down Route 66. As many of you know, this road is a favorite of mine which I’ve traveled many times. Not having the time to loiter this trip, I just popped into some of my favorites for a quick visit. Below are a few choice examples for you to enjoy.
This old service station is located in Galena, KS and it’s become quite famous. Executives from Pixar who made the movie Cars stopped here and developed one of the movie’s main characters from the truck you see at the left. Some of you may remember the character Tow Mater? Well, you’re looking’ at him!
Many oddities along the way don’t rise to the level of having a story all their own, they just stand out. This is a tire repair shop in Chandler, MO which catches my eye every time and each time makes me smile.
This is a first-time find for me and a gem at that. This is an original Phillips 66 service station in Chandler, OK which was built in 1930 and is in the process of being restored. These tiny structures sold gas, offered directions, and provided bathroom facilities. They are remarkably tiny structures.
The “plane” above is a bit of zaniness in Carterville, MO. It’s a sculpture made from farm machinery and is a tribute to the Kansas City Chiefs and is flown by The Missouri Kid. It sits at the corner of a Flying W gas station and is just a great example of roadside art that was created to attract passers-by in the early days of car travel.
This giant Braum’s Milk Bottle has been a fixture in OKC for decades. Route 66 passed by this tiny building from 1926-30, a brief stint and many years ago. Still, when one surveys famous Route 66 icons this bottle is always on the list.
The Blue Whale in Catoosa, OK is a personal favorite because it’s something I remember seeing pictures of as a child. I don’t think we ever visited it but there was a buzz about this crazy cement structure anchoring this roadside swimming hole and I remember reading about it. I’ve probably visited here half a dozen times in the past few years and I’ll no doubt visit it again soon.
And now a somber moment …
While in OKC I visited the National Memorial of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building which was bombed in 1995. The picture below is of the memorial which is full of symbolism and is an emotionally effective tribute to those who died and a stark reminder of the horrors of terrorism.
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