I have driven down part of Route 66 in Tulsa, OK – which was mentioned right in the beginning of this book as they are restoring neon signs to Route 66. I haven’t had the chance to see them lit up at night, but even in the daylight they sure look cool. I wish I could have driven down Route 66 in its heyday, but I still enjoy seeing all the “retro”. This book includes a lot of history – but also my favorite – a lot of PHOTOs. I feel like I have traveled down some more of Route 66 just by reading this book. (And I’m hoping to get to explore some more of it in the future!)
There are so many cool stops along the way featured in this book, I can’t possibly narrow down which ones I want to see the most, so I guess my future exploration is going to have to include a trip across the whole length of it. Has anyone done that before? Or any stretch of it? Do you have any tips?
In addition to the current, all color photographs throughout the book, I also love the old, historic black and whites that show what the area used to look like years ago. It’s always interesting to find out what once was, and how much has changed or how much things have stayed the same.
I received a free e-copy of this book in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.
About the Book
Here We Are . . . on Route 66 explores and celebrates iconic landmarks and cultural touchstones associated with America’s most famous highway—and guides you to some lesser-known gems just off the beaten path.
Spanning nearly 2,500 miles and eight states—Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California—America’s Main Street has given rise to a colorful assortment of roadhouses, motels, greasy spoons, roadside amusements, and breathtaking natural scenery. Acclaimed Route 66 historian Jim Hinckley is your guide to a carefully curated selection of these sites, ranging from the iconic to the revelatory.
Arranged by classic Route 66 topics, each spread gives you a different 66 site or attraction, along with a concise and authoritative history illustrated with colorful photography, evocative historical imagery, and collectibles like postcards, ads, and more. Topics of organization include: Towns and CitiesNatural WondersRoadside AttractionsEateriesMotels and HotelsMusic, Film, and TV Hinckley is perhaps the most internationally recognized authority on the subject of America’s Main Street. This collection offers you the stories behind Route 66 icons such as Baxter Springs and Tucumcari, Meramec Caverns, Arroyo Seco Byway, Berghoff’s and the Oatman Hotel, Munger Moss and Wigwam Motel—and dozens more. Hinckley also treats you to a fresh look at lesser known but deserving attractions too.
At nearly a century old, Route 66 remains the embodiment of the classic American highway. Written by an acknowledged authority on the subject, wonderfully illustrated, and presented in a manner that allows you to dip in and out, Here We Are . . . on Route 66 is a must-have for your Route 66 bookshelf.