Featuring North America!s Leading Travel Destinations

Get Your Kicks on Route 66

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What has three names, an asso-ciation in every state ittouched, fan clubs every-

where, museums, what seems like thou-sands of internet sites, and changedAmerica forever? Oh, and it no longerexists! If I were to say a road, you would

probably laugh. Until you read this issue of Byways.No road has touched America more than Route 66,

called the “Mother Road.” In song, on television, andtoday on the internet and in podcasts, the mystique con-tinues as if the road had a life of its own.

Not bad for a road that was officiallydecommissioned in 1985!

Until we began the research for thisissue of Byways, we really didn’t under-stand why there is such widespreadnational and international interest in thisroad. There are Route 66 associations ineach of the states the road traveled.

But the more we read, the more impor-tant and fascinating the road became.This is a road that not only impactedthose who traveled west on Route 66, butvirtually every community through whichit passed -- over a stretch of America thatspans more than 2400 miles.

The best way to portray the scope andpopularity of the road, was to use thewords of the song, “Get Your Kicks onRoute 66.” Written in 1946 by songwriterBobby Troup after traveling on the high-way, it was originally sung by Nat King Cole. Troup tookthe names of cities along the route, and they wereimmortalized into song.

From Chicago to Los Angeles, more than 2,000 milesall the way. Words right from the song, and our headlineas we get our kicks on Route 66. The Chicago restau-rant and the beautiful fountain that became the fash-ionable start of the route, are the starting points.

Through Illinois and into Missouri, and through St.Louie. Traveling on to Joplin, Missouri, and the trekthrough the Ozarks of Missouri.

A stop in “mighty pretty” Oklahoma City, and thendiscover why a Route 66 stop in Tulsa is a must.Continuing the journey into Texas and to Amarillo, theroad then winds through Gallup, New Mexico, and thenit’s on to Flagstaff, Arizona.

But don’t forget Winona. This unlikely little town

made it into the song because it rhymed with Arizona.On to Kingman, still in Arizona, and across the stateline into California, to Barstow and San Bernardino.

Finally, we wind our way into Los Angeles, on the wayto the Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean, theofficial end of Route 66. It’s been a grand journey!

Virginia’s Frontier Culture Museum is also featured,focusing on the new West African Village, and theimpact of the slave trade. And there are many ways torediscover the enjoyment of road trips throughNebraska, with endless opportunities for family fun.

Get Your Kicks (On Route 66)If you ever plan to motor west,

Travel my way, take the highway that is best.Get your kicks on Route 66.It winds from Chicago to LA,

More than 2000 miles all the way.Get your kicks on Route 66

Now you go through St. Looey, Joplin, Missouri,and Oklahoma city is mighty pretty.

You see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico,Flagstaff, Arizona. Don’t forget Winona,

Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino.Won’t you get hip to this kindly tip:When you mke that California trip

Get your kicks on Route 66.

Bobby Troupe, copyright 1946, Londontown Music

PREVIEWBy Steve Kirchner, Editor & Publisher

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Route 66 near Oatman, Arizona

FeaturesTraveling Route 66 Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8It winds from Chicago to LA, more than 2000 miles all the way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, the highway that is best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Now you go through St. Looey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Joplin, Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Route 66 in the Ozarks of Missouri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Tulsa, a Route 66 Must . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26You see Amarillo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28Gallup, New Mexico. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Flagstaff, Arizona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Don!t forget Winona. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34The Origin of McDonalds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Route 66 -- Los Angeles to the Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Route 66 ends at the Pacific Ocean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Virginia!s Frontier Culture Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Rediscover the road trip in Nebraska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

DepartmentsByways Instant Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Byways Preview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51Free Byways Subscription . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

What!s HappeningPhiladelphia!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.

Volume 28, Issue No. 2, 2011A 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 fromChicago to Los Angeles, and explore the life and history of the road thatchanged America. Photo by Doug, courtesy Route66Pulse.com.

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Rocky Mountain Highs -Colorado Springs skyline

Shenandoah NationalPark Celebrates its 75th

Anniversary.

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Ok, so what is it about Route 66, or for that mat-ter any old road, rail or river that draws people tothem?

There are as many answers as there are questions, sofor now let’s just cover a few of them. For most of us thedraw is seeped in the traditions we hold in honoring ourhistory both as a country and as members of a family.

When I am asked to list the number one reason peo-ple travel Route 66 my answer is always the same, THEPEOPLE that live on it, travel on it and are connectedto it in any way. Yes, there are GREAT things to see anddo as well as wonderful places to eat, sleep, shop and vis-it. And when you add all of that to the experience ofmeeting the people of the road, the memories of eachtrip adds to our lives.

When you get to meet and know so many differentpeople, the “ROADIES” as we call ourselves, you willtalk to some that seem to come right out of CentralCasting for a movie or TV show. All with their own sto-ries and reasons they are involved in the road, whichthey 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 ofwhich only adds to its mystique. It is a romantic andmysterious road that takes you back in time to when

people trusted anddepended on each other tosurvive as well as enjoyevery moment of theirlives.

You don’t need a watchto tell the time as a calen-dar or time machine wouldbe better. Yes, you will stillfind an “outhouse” or twoalong the road and not justin the museums. Andspeaking of museums,there are many along theroad and each are worthtaking time to visit, and no, they are not all alike. Partof traveling the old road means stopping at as many ofthe attractions as possible, for at each stop your sensesare exposed to the small things that make up the cultureof the road.

When asked how much time one should plan onspending to travel the road, my answer is A LIFETIME.

Why? simple, for each time you are on the road youmeet old friends and see familiar places as well as meetnew friends and see something new. No two trips are

Traveling Route 66 TodayBy Jim Conkle

8 • Byways

The Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma near Tulsa, is awaterfront structure which became one of the mostrecognizable attractions on old Route 66.

ever the same, either because of the timeof year, the direction you are taking, thepeople and places you visit and the stateof mind you are in.

There are many good books, DVDs andmaps that will help you enjoy your time

on the road, as well as many people that will be happy tohelp guide you before and during your trip. Or you cantake a guided tour. Either way you will have a trip thatyou will never forget, and in fact, will make you yearn formore.

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About the Author:

Jim Conkle is an avowed enthusiast and one of themost knowledgeable authorities on Route 66. He ispublisher of the Route 66 Pulse Newspaper, based inPhelan, CA, and serves as a Tour Guide for MotherRoad Tours. You can read Route 66 Pulse Newspaper byvisiting http://www.route66pulse.com

Jim can be reached at jimconkle@verizon.net.

Needles was a major stop on the historic U.S. Route 66 high-way from the 1920s through 1960s. For immigrants from theMidwest Dust Bowl in the 1930s, it was the first town, markingarrival in California. The city is lined with motels and othershops from that era.

Checkered countertops and red stools accentuate the50s-era feel of Lucille!s Roadhouse. Weatherford, OK

George Maharis and Martin Milnerin a publicity photo for “Black No-vember,” the premiere episode ofthe television series Route 66.

Old Route 66 approaching Chambless,California looking east. The MarbleMountains are in the foreground, withthe Old Woman Mountains in the distance. Photo by JDEKEHOE. Courtesy Route66Pulse.com.

Get Your Kicks 10 • Byways

s on Route 66

The road that

changed America

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Buckingham Memorial Fountain. Theornate fountain was built in 1927 by

philanthropist Kate Buckingham,and was just a short distance from

the start of Route 66. It!s located inthe center of Grant Park, which runsbetween Michigan Avenue and Lake

Shore Drive.

Winding through small towns across theMidwest and Southwest, Route 66 earned thetitle “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, madetheir way west along Route 66 to California, followingwhat John Steinbeck called “The Mother Road” in hisvivid portrait, The Grapes of Wrath.

After World War II, many thousands more showedtheir upward mobility by leaving the industrial East,bound for good jobs in suburban Southern California,again following Route 66, which came to embody thedemographic shift from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt.

Route 66 began in 1926 on the corner of Jackson andMichigan Boulevards. It traveled from Lake Michiganthrough skyscraper canyons, out to the suburbs andprairie farmland.

One of the original U.S. highways, Route 66 wasestablished on November 11, 1926 -- with road signserected the following year. The highway, which becameone of the most famous roads in America, originally ranfrom Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas,Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and

California, before ending at Los Angeles, covering atotal of 2,448 miles

When Route 66 was created in 1926, and when thesigns went up on Chicago’s Jackson Boulevard, com-muters and travelers found Lou Mitchell’s waiting for

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It winds from Chicago to LA,

More than 2,000 miles all the way. . .

IL

MOKS

OKTXNM

AZ

CA

them. For the whole existence of Route 66, travelerswere fortified with breakfast (and Milk Duds) beforeembarking on the journey, They have been feeding thehungry travelers with comfort food since 1923.

Route 66 underwent many improvements and realign-ments over its lifetime, changing its path and overalllength. Many of the realignments gave travelers faster orsafer routes, or detoured around city congestion. Onerealignment moved the western endpoint farther westfrom downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica.

Springfield, Missouri is officially recognized as thebirthplace of U.S. Route 66. It was on April 30, 1926that officials first proposed the name of the newChicago-to-Los Angeles highway. A placard in ParkCentral Square was dedicated to the city by the Route66 Association of Missouri, and traces of the “MotherRoad” are still visible in downtown Springfield.

Championed by Tulsa, Oklahoma businessman CyrusAvery when the first talks about a national highway sys-tem began, U.S. 66 was first signed into law in 1927 asone of the original U.S. Highways, although it was notcompletely paved until 1938. Avery was adamant thatthe highway have a round number and had proposednumber 60 to identify it.

After a controversy over the number, Avery settled on

“66” (which was unassigned) because he thought thedouble-digit number would be easy to remember as wellas pleasant to say and hear.

Much of the early highway, like all the other earlyhighways, was gravel or graded dirt. Due to the efforts ofthe U.S. Highway 66 Association, Route 66 became thefirst highway to be completely paved in 1938. Severalplaces were dangerous: more than one part of the high-way was nicknamed “Bloody 66.”

Over a number of years work was done to realign thesesegments to remove dangerous curves. However, onesection just outside Oatman, Arizona (through theBlack Mountains) was fraught with hairpin turns andwas the steepest along the entire route, so much so thatsome early travelers, too frightened at the prospect ofdriving such a potentially dangerous road, hired locals tonavigate the winding grade. The section remained asRoute 66 until 1953, and is still open to traffic today asthe Oatman Highway.

The beginning of the end for Route 66 came in 1956with the signing of the Interstate Highway Act byPresident Dwight Eisenhower, who was influenced byhis experiences in 1919 as a young Army officer crossingthe country in a truck convoy (following the route of theLincoln 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 anational defense system.

U.S. 66 was officially removed from the United StatesHighway System on June 27, 1985 after it was decidedthe route was no longer relevant and had been replacedby the Interstate Highway System.

Portions of the road that passed through Illinois,Missouri, New Mexico, and Arizona have been desig-nated a National Scenic Byway of the name “HistoricRoute 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 Resourceswww.route66pulse.com

http://www.motherroadllc.com

Route 66 Association of Illinoishttp://www.il66assoc.org

Route 66 Association of Missourihttp://www.missouri66.org/joomla

Kansas Historic Route 66 Associationhttp://www.carrollsweb.com/alynn/index.htm

Oklahoma Route 66 Associationhttp://www.oklahomaroute66.com

Old Route 66 Association of Texashttp://www.barbwiremuseum.com/TexasRoute66.htm

California Historic Route 66 Associationhttp://www.route66ca.org

Route 66 Preservation Foundationhttp://www.cart66pf.org/

Canadian Route 66 Associationhttp://www.route66.ca/cdn66/Welcome.html

Norwegian Route 66 Associationhttp://www.twolaneadventure.com

The Secret for a Successful Group Tour is Simple:The Right Activities.The Right Amenities.The Right Destination.

Most of all—The Right Partner!FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A CUSTOMIZED GROUP ITINERARY:CALL TOLL FREE 1-877-447-3257 AND VISIT: www.VisitBedford.com

The Blue Ridge Parkway& The “Peaks of Otter”

The NationalD-Day Memorial

Smith Mountain LakeWith 500 Miles of Shoreline

Thomas Jefferson’sPoplar Forest

The Bedford Wine TrailWith Five Wineries

Festivals & Antiquing

Historic Centertown Bedford

p

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In 1946 Get Your Kicks on Route 66

became a popular song andrhythm and blues standard, com-

posed by American songwriter BobbyTroup.

It was first recorded in the sameyear by Nat King Cole, and was sub-sequently covered by many artistsincluding Chuck Berry in 1961, TheRolling Stones in 1964, and andhundreds of other artists since. Thesong’s lyrics follow the path of theU.S. Route 66, which ran fromChicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles,California.

Troup conceived the idea for thesong while driving west fromPennsylvania to Los Angeles, andthe lyrics celebrate the romance andfreedom of automobile travel and theopen road.

In an interview he once said the tune for the song, aswell as the lyric “Get your kicks on Route 66,” came tohim easily, but the remainder of the lyrics eluded him.More in frustration than anything else, he simply filled

up the song with the names oftowns and cities on the highway.

The lyrics read as a mini-travel-ogue about the major stops alongthe route, listing several cities andtowns that Route 66 passesthrough: St. Louis, Missouri;Joplin, Missouri; Oklahoma City,Oklahoma; Amarillo, Texas;Gallup, New Mexico; Flagstaff,Arizona; Winona, Arizona;Kingman, Arizona; Barstow,California; and San Bernardino,California.

Winona is the only town out ofsequence. It was a very small set-tlement east of Flagstaff, and mightindeed have been forgotten if notfor the lyric “Don’t forgetWinona,” written to rhyme with“Flagstaff, Arizona.”

Of the eight states that the actual route passesthrough, only Kansas and its cities are not mentioned bythe song.

If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, take the

highway that is best. Get Your Kicks on Route 66.

Begin your “66” adventure at its St. Louis startingpoint: the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, the originalmile-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 panoramicviews high above the Mighty Mississippi. During latewinter and early spring, it’s also the perfect place to spotAmerican bald eagles.

Your taste buds will appreciate a pit stop at TedDrewes Frozen Custard. This iconic Route 66 attractiondishes out delectable chilled treats including signature“concretes,” milkshakes so thick they serve them to youupside down without spilling a delicious drop. Samplefrom the menu of classic combos such as the hot fudgeand tart cherry-laden Cardinal Sin to the more exoticAll Shook Up, a peanut butter and banana ode to Elvis.

Farther on down the road, the Museum ofTransportation’s collection of more than 300 trains,planes and vintage automobiles will put you into over-drive. Dedicated to America’s love for life in the fastlane, the museum features a nostalgic display on Route66 including a portion of St. Louis’ old deco-style CoralCourt Motel. Be sure to hop aboard one of two scaled-down replicas of the famous 1863 C.P. Huntingtonsteam locomotive for an open-air carriage ride along aone-mile track.

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Now you go through St. Looey . . .

The V of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, peaks in the MississippiRiver, with a Gothic water tower emerging on the left. Photo byDavid Hinkson, courtesy of National Scenic Byways Online(www.byways.org)

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At Route 66 State Park, fittingly located off I-44’s exit266, a former roadhouse now presents a free museumwith 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 hik-ing, bicycling and horseback riding trails and a picnicarea dotted with vintage highway signs welcome visitorsto 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 phe-nomenon served as a hideout for Missouri outlaws Jesseand Frank James. The cave’s awesome five-story-highinterior has wowed travelers since 1935.

Interstate 44, the modern-day replacement for OldRoute 66, also offers free off-ramp points of interest.Watch the road signs for exits to Laumeier SculpturePark, where monumental contemporary sculpturesblend into a natural environment. At Powder ValleyConservation Nature Center, family-friendly hiking

Selected photos courtesy St. Louis Convention & Visitors Bureau

trails and forest animal exhibits provide a leg-stretch stop for the road weary. Animal attractionsinclude Lone Elk Park’s drive-thru grazing rangewhere elk and bison roam, the winged creaturehabitats at the World Bird Sanctuary, the WildCanid Survival Center -- a sanctuary for wolves --and Purina Farms, where city slickers can get upclose to domesticated farm animals and pick up tipsfor training their own pups and kitties.

A ride out Route 66 lets you wander through tallgrass prairie and fields brimming with wildflowers atShaw Nature Reserve. And you can get your kickson the thrilling amusement rides at Six Flags St.Louis. The popular theme park also offers a giganticwater park, family shows and games.

Automobile enthusiasts can take a spin off of “66”to visit other four-wheeled attractions. Top namesin professional racing rev it up at GatewayInternational Raceway. Annual big racing eventsinclude NHRA Drag Racing and Sport CompactSeries, NASCAR Busch and CraftsmanTruckSeries, motorcycle competitions and weekly dragracing. Get behind the wheel at the NASCARSpeedpark at St. Louis Mills Mall. Tot Rods, JuniorSpeedway and Family 500 vehicles allow all ages tocruise along an indoor and three outdoor tracks.The new Grand Prix Speedway offers European-styleindoor carting for a real racing experience.

From St. Louis, expand your All-American experi-ence by following the “Best of 66” route east toSpringfield, Illinois, and its starting point in Chicago.Minutes from downtown St. Louis, stop at CahokiaMounds. Explore the remains of an ancient city built onearthen burial and ceremonial mounds that flourishedfrom AD 700 to 1400 and then mysteriously disap-peared.

Back on the highway head-ing northeast, you’ll passsmall towns that proudly dis-play historic Route 66 roadmarkers. Old-time sitesinclude the vintage Sky ViewDrive-In Theatre inLitchfield. In Springfield, BillShea’s Route 66 Gas StationMuseum overflows with 80years of the famous highway’smemorabilia and Mr. Shea’swit and wisdom. You can’tmiss the landmark “GeminiGiant,” a hamburger stop’slooming mascot inWilmington.

Taking the road westboundfrom St. Louis, discover thegorgeous Ozark Mountains.In Springfield, Missouri, a

Civil War battlefield beckons, as does the original BassPro Outlet. The family entertainment mecca of Bransonveers off the Mother Road, and Lebanon, Missouri,offers the Route 66 Museum and Research Center dedi-cated to preserving the history of “America’s MainStreet.”

For additional information, contact the St. LouisConvention & Visitors Bureau, 314-421-1023.http://www.explorestlouis.com. For group tour informa-tion, email tourism@explorestlouis.com.

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Bill Shea!s Route 66 Gas Station Museum

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Located in the southwest corner of Missouri alongHistoric 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 down-home comfort of a small town, Joplin is the perfect com-bination of great service and friendly smiles. Joplin wasestablished in 1873 and expanded significantly from thewealth created by the mining of zinc. The city gainedadditional renown as one of the stops on the historicRoute 66.

In 1933, Bonnie and Clyde spent several weeks inJoplin and robbed several area businesses. Tipped off bya neighbor, the Joplin Police Department attempted toapprehend Bonnie and Clyde. Bonnie and Clydeescaped (killing Newton County Constable JohnWesley Harryman and Joplin police Detective HarryMcGinnis in the process); however, they were forced toleave most of their possessions behind, including a cam-era. The rolls of film contained the now-legendary pho-tos of Bonnie holding Clyde at mock gunpoint and ofBonnie with her foot on a fender, pistol in her hand andcigar in her mouth.

Mickey Mantle played shortstop in 1950 for the JoplinMiners, a minor league team in the WesternAssociation. Mantle played one full season at MinersPark (now Joe Becker Stadium) with the Miners, earn-ing $225 and hitting 26 home runs before being calledup to the Yankees the next year.

Due to its location near two major highways and itsmany event and sports facilities, Joplin is a stoppingplace for travelers and a destination point for groups.

With almost 200 restaurants, Joplin is going to havewhat your stomach wants! Trendy bistros and greasyspoons, elegant and contemporary or comfortable homecookin’ -- you get the idea and Joplin has it all.

For more information, contact the Joplin Convention& Visitors Bureau, 800-657-2534, or visithttp://www.visitjoplinmo.com.

Joplin, Missouri...

22 • Byways

On the outskirts of Carthage, MO is the beautiful old 66 Drive-In,complete with a neon sign out front, and an absolutely HUGE bill-board sign behind the big screen. Just about everything at the 66

Drive-In Theatre is original: the 66-foot high screen, the ticketbooth made of glass block, the neon sign out by the roadway.

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Route 66 Museum: Located in Elk City, OK the NationalRoute 66 Museum and the nearby Old Town Museum Complex offer a great opportunity to brush up on Route 66history and see some interesting memorabilia.

As you continue your journey of Route 66, you’llsoon enter Pulaski County, the self-proclaimedHeart of the Ozarks.

Through this area, the Mother Road cuts throughlarge rock bluffs, over streams, and through lush valleys,as well as providing numerous peeks at vintagerestaurants, auto courts and service stations.

One of the most scenic drives on Route 66,travelers soon pass over a pristine four-lane sec-tion of the Mother Road that was built to carrytraffic to and from Fort Leonard Wood duringWorld War II.

The first twisting, narrow stretch of Route 66through Devil’s Elbow was obviously not ade-quate for the many moving men and equipmentand the new four lane stretch was completed in1943.

When Interstate 44 replaced Route 66, inmany places the new road was superimposed onthe old. In other instances the old pavementbecame the outer road for the new interstate,leaving large sections of fabled highway intact.Route 66 is an example of the first modern inter-state highway system in the United States andalso an artifact of a well-traveled prehistoricpathway.

Today, most of this old four-lane is still original

and is in very good condition considering its age. Passingthrough the steep bluffs of the Big Piney River, theHooker Cut was one of the deepest road cuts in thenation at the time of its construction.

Route 66 in the Ozarks of Missouri

Hooker Cut on Route 66 in the Missouri Ozarks

As a city that redefines itself, Oklahoma City’ship, spirited environment blends with its deepwestern heritage to create a place where culture

and commerce thrive. With renowned festivals, nation-al sporting events, treasure-filled museums and a varietyof districts highlighting arts and entertainment, the pos-sibilities for adventure and fun inOklahoma City are endless.

The largest city in Oklahoma is locatedat the crossroads of I-35, I-40 and I-44. Itis also the second largest city in the conti-nental U.S. based on geographical size;more than 1.1 million people call theMetro Oklahoma City area home.

Things were very different a little morethan a century ago. The site of whatwould become Oklahoma City was agrass-and-timbered land of gently rollinghills flattening out into prairie. Today,Oklahoma City sprawls across 625 squaremiles of America’s heartland. Its metropopulation numbers over a million, onethird of the population of the entire state.

During the 1800s, the U.S. government forcibly relo-cated Indian tribes from all over the country into thearea known as Oklahoma Territory. There was one par-cel of land that was never given over to any tribe -- theUnassigned Lands.

In the 1880s, many frontier Americans wanted to

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And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty...

Bricktown Entertainment District

Oklahoma City downtown skyline and Myriad Gardens

move into this land. Soon, landless pioneers began slip-ping over into this area without authorization. Thesewere the “Boomers,” who were trying to force the gov-ernment into opening the territory up to homesteaders.

On March 2, 1889, President Benjamin Harrisonsigned legislation that opened up the Unassigned Lands.So, on April 22, 1889, about 50,000 homesteaders gath-ered at the boundaries. Some people snuck over at nightto stake out prime land early, hiding from the armypatrols. These people were known as “Sooners.”

At noon, the cannon roared, and the hordes of peoplestreamed over the line on wagons and buckboards,horseback, on foot and even on bicycles. Soon, nearly10,000 people had staked out claims near the OklahomaStation -- what today is Oklahoma City. Claim jumpingwas common, as were boundary quarrels that led tofights and considerable bloodshed. Tents were thrownup in haphazard fashion, and mass confusion reignedsupreme.

Just two years after Route 66 was designated, onDecember 4, 1928, oil was discovered on the corner of

SE 59th and Bryant Ave. in Oklahoma City. In the 27days before the great gusher could be capped, it spewed110,496 barrels of oil.

The Oklahoma City Field had been discovered, cre-ating the city’s most important financial resource andmaking Oklahoma City the world’s newest boom town.Oil continues to be one of the most important players inthe city’s economy.

Lake Overholser is home to Oklahoma City’s newestsensational recreational hot spot, Route 66 Park.

It features a stamped map depicting the historicMother Road’s route from Chicago to Santa Monica,featured in the park’s Route 66 Plaza. Thirty-four land-marks from Lincoln’s birthplace in Springfield to theHarvey House in Barstow, California are featured alongthe eight-state map.

The Cyrus Avery Observation Tower was named forvisionary Cyrus Avery, a Tulsan who, in the 1920s was adriving force behind the 2448-mile transcontinentalhighway.

Located along Route 66 in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma statecapitol building shines a brilliant white in the noonday sun.

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With more than 400 drivable miles of the origi-nal Route 66, Oklahoma is a must-drive statefor road warriors and highway enthusiasts

where the culture and history of Americana that madethe old highway a traveler favorite still remains.

At the heart of Route 66 is Tulsa, a city defined by thehappy co-existence of cultural influences from NativeAmerican tribes to wealthy oil men to today’s eclecticartists who have found appreciation in the artifacts leftby Tulsa’s founding fathers.

Near downtown at Southwest Boulevard andRiverside Drive in Tulsa, visitors can pay homage to thefamed Chicago-to-Los Angeles “Mother Road” at theCyrus Avery Centennial Plaza, named after a formercounty commissioner who is known as the father of theMother Road.

The Plaza features flags of the eight states of Route 66,a skywalk bridge, and the 11th Street Bridge over theArkansas River, an art deco bridge predominantly influ-enced by the Zigzag and PWA Art Deco styles of the1920s. The plaza was completed in July 2008 and dedi-cated on August 7, 2008. The final remaining piece is an

“East meets West” larger-than-life bronze sculpture byartist Robert Summers depicting the Avery family ridingin a Model T as it encounters a horse-drawn carriage onits way from the west Tulsa oil fields to be installed thisyear.

A drive down Tulsa’s historic Route 66 will take trav-elers through the heart of downtown and midtown Tulsawhere roadside diners still exist and the famous neonsigns of the old Highway still light up the road. Make atrip to the Blue Whale in Catoosa, have a cup of coffeeat Tally’s Diner or divert slightly from the highway to seefamous art deco buildings from the country’s third largestcollection in Tulsa.

As the country’s love and respect for the “MotherRoad” continues to grow, Tulsa is also developing moreways for visitors to learn, explore and appreciate thispiece of Americana. Efforts are underway to fund theRoute 66 Interpretive Center to be located at the CyrusAvery Centennial Plaza and will feature Route 66 mem-orabilia and historical perspectives.

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The Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza named after a former countycommissioner who is known as the father of the Mother Road.

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Tulsa: a Route 66 must

The Warehouse Market in Tulsa

In Amarillo, Texas, a mile ofantiques and collectibles awaitthe visitor to Historic Route 66,

one of the city’s first residential andbusiness districts.

Located along an original stretchof historic Route 66, the streetfeatures historic buildings thatonce housed theatres, cafesand drug stores and are nowantique, craft and specialtyshops. Some of Amarillo’smost unique dining experi-ences are along HistoricRoute 66.

Route 66 spans 178 milesacross Texas from Oklahomato New Mexico. Three hourson Interstate 40 -- a leisurelydrive of any length you desireon Route 66.

Amarillo is the largest city on thislength of Route 66, but there arethings to see and do in both direc-tions on the Mother Road. Andthere are all sorts of special events,regardless of the direction.

So take your time to surf the infor-mation and make your Route 66 vis-it to the Texas Panhandle amemorable one.

Amarillo is the big city on thisstretch of Route 66. Nearly 200,000people now live in this city with

deep roots to Texas’ western her-itage. But Route 66 is an importantpart of the mix in Amarillo. Thereare lots of Route 66 stories to see....keep reading.

In Amarillo, Route 66 was hometo one of thebiggest restaurantsaround, the BigTexan SteakRanch. Home tothe free 72 oz.Steak.

The Big Texanmoved adjacent toInterstate 40 inthe early 1970s.

Also importantis the section ofHistoric Route 66

as it passes through Amarillo alongSixth Ave., between Western andGeorgia Sts. It’s a mile of shops, clubsand restaurants.

Two buildings of note – The NatBallroom started life as a city indoorswimming pool and in the 40s and50s was home to all the Big Bandsand top entertainers as they passedthrough Amarillo on Route 66.

Also, the Golden Light Café,home to one of the best hamburgersin town, has been in continuousoperation at this Route 66 location

since the 1940s. As you leave

Amarillo headingwest, just to thesouth of the oldRoute 66 is anattraction that fitsin quite well -- theCadillac Ranch.Built in the 1970s,this sculpture of10 vintageCadillacs buriednose down in aTexas Panhandlefield has beenreceiving world-wide attention forover 30 years.

You see Amarillo...

The Route 66 Inn in Amarillo

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Named after David Gallup, a paymaster for theAtlantic & 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 asan important community for trade. It is also the largestIndian center in the Southwest and the ceremonial cap-ital of Native America.

The streets were once lined with pawn, trade andcurio shops and still remains the hub of wholesale andretail commerce in Native American jewelry. The trad-ing post experience is virtually unique to Gallup as a city.While isolated trading posts do exist on the reservationsand in remote small villages, Gallup is the only large set-tlement in the Southwest that still hosts this uniquemercantile tradition in any significant numbers.

Route 66 (Main Street) and Coal Avenue, which par-allels Main one block south, are the principle sites ofmost gallery and trading post activity in Gallup.

Route 66 runs through Gallup, and the town’s name ismentioned in the lyrics to the song, “Route 66.” Gallupis sometimes called the “Indian Capital of the World,”

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 Americanroots. Gallup’s nickname references the huge impact ofthe Native American Cultures found in and aroundGallup. Of particular interest is the new Gallup CulturalCenter located in the historic restored railroad stationon Route 66.

The historic El Rancho Hotel & Motel has hosted anumerous array of movie stars including John Wayne,Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy,Katharine Hepburn, Joan Crawford, Kirk Douglas, DorisDay, Gregory Peck and Burt Lancaster. The rugged ter-rain surrounding Gallup was popular with Hollywoodfilmmakers during the 1940s and 1950s for the on-loca-tion shooting of Westerns.

Route 66 traveled westward from Grants throughMilan, past Bluewater, Thoreau, and Top O’ the Worldand on into Gallup, last stop till the Arizona border.

For more information, contact the GallupConvention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-242-4282;http://www.gallupnm.org.

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Gallup, New Mexico...

Route 66 was commissioned in 1926, but it was notfully paved until 1937. During its life, the Routecontinued to evolve, leaving abandoned stretch-

es still to be found by adventurous travelers. The roadwas decommissioned in 1985.

Route 66 disappeared off many maps, and manystretches of the road were torn up. The old Route stillbisects Flagstaff, though, and is still called Route 66 onstreet signs. The longest open stretches of the Routetraverse the high Arizona desert from Seligman to theColorado River. This makes Flagstaff a great area toexplore some of the old landmarks, and a great restingpoint before or after a memorable trip across the highdesert.

Take a visit to downtown Flagstaff, lined with build-ings made from sandstone, flagstone and brick, datingfrom before 1937. There are also a number of old hotelsstill serving the public along Flagstaff’s stretch of theroad, and no Route 66 enthusiast would want to miss theMuseum Club, a historic road house that still welcomesvisitors looking to quench their thirst after a long daybehind the wheel.

Flagstaff continues to celebrate its Mother Road her-

itage at the Annual Route 66 Days festival eachSeptember. Over 300 classic cars fill the street of down-town in an effort to win prizes and entertain visitors.Live musicians fill the air with music for dancing, andartisans sell their wares at the art festival.

There’s plenty to see and do on your Route 66 excur-sion to Flagstaff. Here are some highlights.

Flagstaff, Arizona...

Route 66 Days Festival

The Flagstaff Museum Club

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Arizona Snowbowl Scenic Sky Ride Open MemorialDay-Labor Day, weekends through mid-October

Contact: Dave Smith 928-779-1951 x115Ride up Arizona’s highest mountains, the San

Francisco Peaks, for breathtaking views. Group rates areavailable and in summer the ski lodge can provide groupmeals. Guests over 70 years old ride free.

The Arboretum at Flagstaff Daily April-OctoberContact: Rachel Edelstein 928-774-1442 x110Discover America’s mountain garden and one of the

nation’s largest collections of high-country wildflowers,ponderosa pine forests, 200 species of birds and live rap-tor programs. Custom group tours/programs available.

Museum of Northern Arizona Open dailyContact: Lisa Doskocill 928-774-5211 x275Visit internationally acclaimed MNA to learn about

regional Native American cultures, natural sciences and

fine arts throughout nine galleries. Annual Hopi,Navajo, Zuni, Meso-American cultural heritage events.

Lowell Observatory Open dailyContact: Mary DeMuth 928-233-3235Famous for its discovery of Pluto in 1930, Lowell

offers daytime historic tours, nighttime telescope view-ing and customized programs for groups.

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

928-526-0502 nps.gov/sucr Daily except ChristmasBorn in a series of eruptions 900 years ago, the

youngest volcano on the Colorado Plateau. One-mileself-guided Lava Flow Trail and Visitor Center.

Walnut Canyon National Monument

928-526-3367 nps.gov/waca Daily except ChristmasWalk among 800-year-old cliff dwellings and pueblos,

see dramatic geology, varied vegetation, abundantwildlife. Hike the strenuous one-mile Island Trail intothe canyon or the shorter Rim Trail.

For more information, contact the FlagstaffConvention & Visitors Bureau, 800-842-7293;www.flagstaffarizona.org.

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The Clark Telescope Dome on Mars Hill

Sunset Crater VolcanoNational Monument

Don’t Forget Winona...

Winona Bridge. No longer accessible by car,visitors can enjoy the view as they walk up tothis important part of Route 66!s history. Photoby Leslie Connell

A full-size, brightly painted old DeSoto automobile rests ontop of the front of the DeSoto Barbershop building against abackdrop of clear blue sky in Ash Fork, Arizona. Photo byLeslie Connel.

Winona is a small unincorporated community inCoconino County in the northern part ofArizona.

It is located along U.S. Route 66 about thirteen mileseast of Flagstaff, and was made famous in the song Get

Your Kicks on Route 66. Winona was once an incorpo-rated village called Walnut Creek, until the 1950s whenit became part of Flagstaff.

It is deliberately out of sequence with the rest of thecities named in the song because of its near-miss: “Don’tforget Winona.”

The author of the song, Bobby Troup, needed a wordthat rhymed with “Arizona.” It is also mentioned in thesong Arizona Yodeler: “Way out in Arizona, in a townthey call Winona...” Although spelled differently, coun-try singer Wynonna Judd adopted her name upon hear-ing the name of the town in the song about Route 66.

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The Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona

The golden age of roadside Americana began to disappear in the 1960s and 1970s as a result ofthe burgeoning Interstate system. Superhighways took most of the tourist traffic away from thesmaller 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: CaveCity, Kentucky; Holbrook, Arizona; and Rialto (San Bernardino), California.

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Kingman, Arizona

The Route 66 Museum in Kingman, Arizona is tru-ly unique as a museum of history, housed in thehistorical Powerhouse building located in the

“heart” of the longest remaining stretch of the 2400miles that was Route 66.

It is located on Historic Route 66 in the PowerhouseVisitor Center in downtown Kingman, across fromLocomotive Park and a block from the Mohave Museumof History & Art.

The Route 66 Museum depicts the historical evolu-tion of travel along the 35th parallel that became Route66. The brilliant murals, photos and life-size dioramascapture each of the groups that have traveled the routethat has come to be known as the Mother Road.

Following World War I, Kingman, which is located atan elevation of 3,300 feet, saw the revival of the miningindustry, good roads and the excitement over the com-ing of Boulder Dam (now the Hoover Dam). Kingmanhad the advantage of being located on the railroad andon U.S. 66.

For aditional information on visiting Kingman, emailtourism@kingmantourism.org.

Barstow, California

The finding of silver in Calico and the building ofthe Southern Pacific Railroad from Mohave toDaggett in 1882 made the area a mining center.

The famous 20-mule teams came into being when 10teams were hitched together with two wagons and awater wagon to haul ore from Daggett to the town ofCalico.

The Calico Railroad (later called the Daggett-CalicoRailroad) started hauling ore from Calico to the OroGrande Milling Company, across the river from Daggettin 1888. That same year, the Santa Fe Railroad arrivedin town. The town was later named after the presidentof the Santa Fe, WilliamBarstow Strong. As the20th century progressed,Calico and Daggett dimin-ished while Barstow grew.

Barstow’s history was fur-ther cemented with thepaving of the major high-ways through the city.Much of Barstow’s econo-

my depends on trans-portation. Before theadvent of the interstatehighway system,Barstow was an impor-tant stop on both routes66 and 91. The tworoutes met in downtownBarstow and continuedwest together to LosAngeles.

It became a busy railcenter and a jumping offplace for immigrantsentering the state onU.S. Route 66, as made

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Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino...

Route 66 strip in Kingman, Arizona

The Casa Del Desierto, built in 19 station, now houses the Route 66 America Rail Museum and still fu

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famous by JohnSteinbeck’s nov-el The Grapes of

Wrath.Modern and

historical facili-ties are stillavailable alongBarstow’s MainStreet, the origi-nal Route 66.Just off MainStreet, at FirstStreet, travelerscan drive overan old ironbridge that leadsto the railroaddepot once the

site of the historic HarveyHouse, originally opened in1911.

With the construction of themodern Interstate Highwaysystem, Barstow’s future ofgrowth was assured, as I-40 andI-15 converged at the city lim-its with State Highway 58,making it the transportationhub of the western MojaveDesert.

The Route 66 “MotherRoad” Museum was dedicatedon July 4, 2000, in the historicCasa del Desierto, HarveyHouse, in Barstow. The

Museum displays a collection of historical photographsand artifacts related to Route 66 and the Mojave Desertcommunities. Displays include development of theUnited States Route 66 from early pioneer trails, rail-roads, automotive history, businesses and sites.

For more information, contact the Barstow Chamberof Commerce, 681 N. 1st Ave, Barstow, CA 92311.760-256-8617.

San Bernardino, California

San Bernardino is one of the major cities of theInland Empire region of California. Today it is the18th largest city in the state, and the 99th largest

city in the United States. The city spans 81 squaremiles.

In 1926, Route 66 was completed through SanBernardino and the town quickly responded withmotels, gas stations and other services for the many trav-

911 as a Harvey House hotel and train 6 Mother Road Museum, the Western unctions as an Amtrak station.

The classic Wigwam Motel along Route 66 in San Bernadinois recognized as Southern California!s most famous motel.

More than 500,000 people celebrate San Bernardino!s annual “Route 66 Rendezvous.”

elers who drove through the area. In the San Bernardino area, you can view the well-

known natural landmark of the Arrowhead that sitshigh on the mountainside. Clearly visible long beforewhite settlers came to the area, the phenomenon wascreated by the natural uplifting of the soil and can beseen from as far away as 30 miles on a clear day. Many

legends surround the Arrowhead, but the most popularis an Indian story that the Great Spirit created the arrowto guide them to where they were to live. TheArrowhead, measuring 1,360 feet long and 450 feet widewas once believed to be man-made, so perfect are its pro-portions.

Attractions in San Bernardino include the FoxPerforming Arts Center, the California Theatre, theRobert V. Fullerton Museum of Art, Route 66-McDonald's Museum, the Santa Fe Rail Road Museum

which houses exhibits and artifacts of local history andthe Arrowhead Springs Resort and Hotel. The city isalso the gateway to the San Bernardino mountains, lessthan 10 miles north and east.

The classic Wigwam Motel is recognized as SouthernCalifornia’s most famous motel and happens to restalong California’s stretch of historic Route 66. The

motel was the final and last of the 7 WigwamMotels to have been built. The motel’s unreal archi-tecture featuring a village-style arrangement ofnineteen 30-foot-tall teepees, made of concrete andwood, draws admiration from all generations. Eachindividual wigwam is carefully equipped with all thetraveler’s essentials, and the grounds include an out-door barbecue grill and kidney-shaped swimmingpool.

Beyond San Bernardino, Route 66 continuedthrough 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, theRoute comes alive as San Bernardino celebrateswith the annual “Route 66 Rendezvous.” The

Rendezvous is a four-day, three-night cruising car festivalfeaturing over 1,900 classic and custom vehicles. Thisevent draws over 500,000 spectators who come to expe-rience music, food, family fun and classic cars in historicdowntown San Bernardino.

To learn more about the event, visit www.route-

66.com.For information on visiting San Bernardino, contact

San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau, 909-891-1151. http://www.san-bernardino.org.

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Did you know that the McDonaldsfast food restaurant chain beganin San Bernardino, California?

True story.The McDonalds brothers, Richard

and Maurice, opened the originalMcDonalds restaurant on December 12,1948 selling 15 cent hamburgers and 10cent fries.

The first fast food restaurant becamequite a success. And it caught the atten-tion of a businessman named Ray Kroc.

In 1961 Kroc bought out theMcDonalds brothers for $2.7 milliondollars in cash.

As part of the deal, however, he wasable to retain the McDonalds brothersname.

And the rest is history!

The Origin of McDonalds

In many parts of the country, the original Route 66 hasbeen replaced by Interstate Highways, or abandonedaltogether.

Surprisingly, there is one place where Route 66remains largely intact -- Los Angeles.

Old Route 66 follows Santa Monica Boulevardthrough the heart of Beverly Hills. Ironically, the high-way was officially named for famous entertainer WillRogers. And Will Rogers once served as mayor ofBeverly Hills.

In Hollywood, Santa Monica Boulevard runs past thecemetery-cum-theme park Hollywood Forever wherel u m i n a r i e ssuch as RudolfValentino andMel Blanc aree n t o m b e d ,overlooked bythe water tow-er of legendaryP a r a m o u n tStudios.

Visiting isan interesting

experience by day, and totally unique on nights whenthe cemetery is host to “Midnight Movies,” outdoorscreenings of its residents’ most famous works.

Route 66 merges into Sunset Boulevard for the longwinding drivethrough down-town LosAngeles.

Heading westfrom downtownLos Angeles toSanta Monica --and now markedby prominentbeige road signsas HistoricRoute 66 -- theroad continuesits way to thePacific Ocean,its final destina-tion.

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Route 66 - Los Angeles to the Sea

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The Pacific Ocean at sunset. The final destination of Route 66. Photos courtesy Los Angeles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, VAtells the story of the thousands of people whomigrated 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 hin-terlands of England, Germany, Ireland, andWest Africa. Many were farmers and ruralcraftsmen set in motion by changing conditionsin their homelands, and drawn to the Americancolonies by opportunities for a better life.Others came as unwilling captives to work onfarms and plantations. Regardless of how theyarrived, all became Americans, and all con-tributed to the success of the colonies, and ofthe United States.

During the 1600s and 1700s, nearly 250,000Africans were brought to colonial America toserve as enslaved agricultural workers, domestic

servants, and artisans. Although captives were takenfrom a vast area of the African continent, and frommany different ethnic groups, the great majority weremembers of West African cultures that lived in the hin-terlands of the Atlantic coast. Africans lived in all of

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Virginia!s Frontier Culture Museum

West African Village

Volunteers helped build the West African Village.

Great Britain’s North American colonies, though theirpopulation was highest in South Carolina and Virginia.

In Virginia, beginning in the early 1700s, tobaccoplanters imported increasing numbers of captiveAfricans to work their plantations. This shift from whiteindentured servants to enslaved African workers in thecolony’s tobacco economy was far-reaching. Race-based

enslavement quickly became a central feature of life inVirginia, and Africans and their Virginia born descen-dents would be treated as property, and denied the free-dom and opportunities of white colonists. As settlementexpanded westward toward and into the AppalachianMountains and the Valley of Virginia, enslaved Africansand African Americans were among the settlers in back-

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Volunteers help with the The Igbo ImmersionCeremony at West African Village.

country areas. Nearly 40% of the Africans imported intoVirginia during this time were brought from a part of theWest African coast called the Bight of Biafra. Many ofthese captives were Igbo, a people living in the uplandarea north of the Bight of Biafra in what is now thenation of Nigeria. The West African Farm represents lifein a free Igbo household in the Biafran hinterlands inthe 1700s.

Among the Igbo of the 1700s, the basic social and eco-nomic unit was the household, which was usually com-posed of a man, who was head of the household, hiswives, whose number depended upon and enhanced theman’s wealth and status, his children, and usually otherdependents. Igbo men and women were members of lin-eages -- extended families with common ancestors -- andtheir position and prospects in their community wereinfluenced by the status of their lineages. This includedtheir access to and use of farm land, which was ulti-mately owned by the lineage. The largest political unitsamong the Igbo were the village and village-group, andthe heads of the resident lineages and the community’sother successful men managed local affairs.

The arrival of Europeans on Africa’s Atlantic coast inthe 1400s brought great change to the Igbo and theirneighbors. Initially, Europeans sought sources of gold,spices and other commodities in West Africa. The dis-covery of America, the establishment of Europeancolonies there, and the need for labor to exploit the NewWorld’s resources gave rise to the trade in humans thattook ten million Africans from their homes over thecourse of five centuries.

The transatlantic slave trade grew over time and the1700s were one of its peak periods. At its height theslave trade reached deep into the hinterlands of WestAfrica and beyond, and involved many Africans astraders as well as captives. Igbo could be found on bothsides of the hinterlands slave trade. Their populationwas large and their long history of living in separate,independent villages left them vulnerable to the raidsand kidnappings that fed the transatlantic trade.

The African captives who were brought to theAmerican colonies carried knowledge and skills withthem that they used to cope in their new conditions andpassed on to subsequent generations of Americans.

Wherever Africans settled in the colonies they con-tributed to the growth and success of the local economyand the wealth and status of their owners with theirlabor. When permitted, they influenced the form andfunction of pottery, basketry, wood-working and textilesthey produced for others.

Their most notable and enduring contributions toAmerican culture are found in foodways, music, folklore,and religious worship. Okra and black-eyed peas areamong the most common items in the American foodsupply that were introduced by Africans. The banjo andparticular musical forms such as Blues and Jazz grew fromAfrican ideas brought to America. American folkloreshows African influences, especially stories involvinganimals speaking and behaving like humans. Finally, theenthusiasm and spirit of Christian worship among manyProtestant denominations in America is believed tohave originated in early African and African-Americanworship services.

For additional information call 540-332-7850. http://www.frontiermuseum.org

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Construction of the West African Village

Volunteers help with construction of the Village.

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44 • Byways

Rediscover the

road trip in Nebraska

Scotts Bluff National Monument

In Nebraska, you can recapture the magic ofroad trips past. And with so many fun thingsto see and do, it’s easy to create new memories

that will last a lifetime.

The great outdoorsNebraska’s state parks and recreation areas pro-

vide a bounty of outdoor adventure, includinghiking, biking, and camping. If you’d rather be onthe water, canoe or tube one of the state’s pictur-esque rivers. Try navigating the snaking LoupRiver the good old Nebraska way: a floating live-stock tank filled with friends and fun. Or hit theeastern stretches of the Platte River via airboatfor a fast-paced adventure along picturesqueshores.

Step back in timeYou can experience rich frontier history in

western Nebraska. At the Scotts Bluff NationalMonument near Gering, discover remnants of theOregon Trail and amazing views. The visitor center at

Chimney Rock near Bayard will capture your imagina-tion with tales from emigrants who wrote about the mostrecognized landmark along the Oregon Trail.

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The Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney

Stuhr Museum of the PrairiePioneer in Grand Island

The Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in GrandIsland, too, recognizes the importance of our past with aliving history experience like no other. In the summermonths, Railroad Town -- the museum’s own 1890s vil-lage -- is buzzing with townspeople dressed in periodclothing.

Of course, you can’t talk about the Old West withoutmentioning cowboys. At the Buffalo Bill Ranch StateHistorical Park in North Platte, you’ll learn all about thelife of one of the most famous cowboys, including hisstint as a Pony Express rider, his famous Wild WestShow, and his scouting experiences.

Rare treatsLooking for a one-of-a-kind experience? You’ll cer-

tainly find it at the Great Platte River Road Archway.Spanning I-80 near Kearney, this award-winning muse-um tells the story of western expansion through stun-ning audio/visual effects and three-dimensional displays.

Possibilities . . . endlessSo what are you waiting for? To plan your next get-

away, check out the Group Travel Planner atVisitNebraska.gov or contact Paula Bohaty, Group TravelManager, at paula.bohaty@nebraska.gov, or call 800-228-4307.

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Nebraska!s Brysons Airboats provide unique water experience.

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IN NEBRASKA, YOU CAN RECAPTUREthe 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?

R E D I S C O V E R T H E ROAD TRIP.

VisitNebraska.gov888-444-1867, Dept. 1BYB

Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Division of Travel and Tourism

Atrip to the National Constitution Center is notjust a visit -- it’s an experience. The Center tellsthe story of the Constitution’s past and explains

the principles of its present to help visitors see that theywill write the story of its future -- and to inspirethem to do just that.

The experiencebegins as the visitor enters the Center’s

Grand Hall Lobby and walks toward the Richard andHelen DeVos Exhibit Hall, which houses the permanentexhibition, The Story of We the People.

The Story of We the People begins when the visitor isissued not a ticket, but a Delegate’s Pass -- the first ofmany devices that reinforce the Center’s interpretivemessage that constitutional democracy demands partic-ipation. The Pass asks visitors to think of themselves as“Founders,” and their visit as participation in the ongo-ing conversation, more than 200 years old, about thenature of the American experiment in self-government.

This idea -- inviting the visitor to join the story -- isthe animating idea behind the entire exhibition that fol-lows.

The exhibition unfolds as a journey, a journey thatmoving through time and into progressively larger andbrighter spaces echoes the journey of America toward itsown ideals.

The first portion, Philadelphia 1787, provides an

evocative introduction to the people, ideas, and times ofthe Constitutional Convention. Wisps of conversationsare overheard against the backdropof what was

t h e nAmerica’s largest city. Artifact

cases punctuating the space hold a fraction of themore than one million pieces recovered from archaeo-logical excavations undertaken on the site of theConstitution 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 con-temporary dress who walks into the middle of the the-ater and asks: “What makes us Americans?” As the storyprogresses, the media elements change. Filmed elementsare first projected on the floor, next on a 360-degreescreen around the perimeter, then on a scrim that fillsthe center of the space, and at key points on the audi-ence themselves. The show ends, as it began, with aquestion: “What will we do with freedom?”

The visitor exits the theater on the Center’s secondfloor, into The American Experience, the main exhibitspace.

Unusual for a museum, the gallery is circular. Alsounusual, the gallery’s design does not highlight artifacts-- collections of things in display cases. Rather, it high-lights people and ideas. The gallery itself is wrapped by a

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What’s Happening

What’s Happening

Unique Visitor Experience Offered ByPhiladelphia!s National Constitution Center

glass wall, the length of two full city blocks, onwhich is written and illuminated the text oftoday’s Constitution: a design statement that it isthe words and ideas of the Constitution thatdefine and embrace us, both as a nation and asindividuals.

There are three concentric rings to the exhib-it. The outermost ring is the chronological story,13 sections telling the constitutional story from1765 until today. These stories come as a surpriseto most visitors. Expecting to learn only of asacred text handed down by a few, they find thatour Constitution has also been a work in progressby the many: from the Anti-federalists who suc-cessfully demanded a bill of rights, to the 620,000soldiers killed in the Civil War, to the marchersof the civil rights movement.

The unfolding narrative reveals that it has been mil-lions of individual actions that have upheld and shapedour constitutional practices and freedoms. Exhibit tech-niques reflect that idea. Wherever possible, human sto-ries have been chosen as entry points into the content.Stories are told using a reporter’s voice, rather than anhistorian’s: datelined, and in the present tense.

The Chronology exhibits use multiple techniques tobring the story alive: a short and general video introduc-tion to each section; more detailed text-and-graphicbased “story panels” (for the primary stories) and “read-ing rails” (for secondary stories and more nuanced

points); maps and images; game-like computer interac-tives; video and audio segments (such as a reading ofSojourner Truth’s speech to the Ohio Women’s RightsConvention of 1851 or a mini-documentary of theKennedy assassination and the 25th Amendment);selected artifacts; and walk-in “immersive environ-ments” that render key ideas, moments, and stories inthree dimensions. For instance, visitors can enter arecreation of the floor of the Senate during the impeach-ment trial of Andrew Johnson and listen to the debate,or they can step into a 1940s living room and hear oneof Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats” play-ing on the radio.

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Signers! Hall, which contains 42 lifesize, lifelikestatues of our founding fathers.

Visitors gaze at exact replicas of the CapitolBuilding, the White House, and the Supreme Court.

The central ring of the gallery treats the subject differ-ently. It is not a chronological journey, but a thematicone, organized by the words of the Preamble itself. If theChronology is largely “then,” the Preamble is largely“now.” Exhibits here are even more interactive, moreoriented 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 vis-itor might try on a judge’s robe. A third can follow theprogress of a sample case through the legal system to theSupreme Court. Another exhibit is designed to give par-ents an engaging way to introduce children to – and talkwith them about – voting, as visitors cast their ballots fortheir all-time favorite president. At another exhibit inthis section, visitors can watch themselves be sworn inas president. And at yet another, the American NationalTree, they can delve into the stories of 100 Americans,whose actions have helped to write the story of theConstitution.

The recurring theme of the Preamble exhibits is therights – and responsibilities – of citizenship. Anotherexhibit in this section, for instance, immerses visitors inthe experience of serving on a jury. Another – a movingvideo representation of a solider marching through his-tory -- honors the men and women who have defendedthe Constitution through their military service.

The innermost ring of the gallery provides a thirdapproach to the content. A maple bench ringing thetheater provides seating. “Talk-back” photo essays askvisitors to consider the sort of broad questions theFounders considered: What makes us Americans? Havewe established equal justice? What makes us feel free?And a unique and groundbreaking computer program,the Interactive Constitution, lets visitors search the textthat surrounds them by word or concept, providing thedeepest level of content.

As the gallery ends, these three paths all converge

under the penultimate phrase of the Preamble, “for our-selves and our posterity.” Here the visitor enters a quietcontemplative passageway, animated by voices, span-ning more than 200 years of commentary on theConstitution, pro and con. The visitor walks into thisstream of history as preparation for his or her next stop.

Signers’ Hall is the final component of the permanentexhibit. The room is a stylized evocation of theAssembly Room where the signers of the originalConstitution met, and a rare first public printing of thatdocument is on display in a side alcove. Signers’ Hall ispeopled with life-sized bronze statues of 42 men: the 39delegates who signed as well as the three who refused.Visitors are encouraged to walk among them, and toconsider them as humans, making choices that stillinfluence their lives. More importantly, visitors areasked to make the same choice the Framers faced: tosign, or not, today’s Constitution. Visitors who elect tosign metaphorically place their signatures next to thoseof the Framers. Visitors who elect to dissent are invitedto state their reasons, and join an equally honorableAmerican tradition.

From Signers’ Hall, the visitor emerges into the “pre-sent” of the Center’s Grand Hall Overlook, where largescreens and a news ticker display today’s constitutionalnews, connecting the exhibit with our lives at thismoment.

Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors ages 65and up, $8 for children ages 4-12, and $7.50 for groupsof 20 or more. Active military personnel and childrenages 3 and under are free.

The National Constitution Center, located at 525Arch St. on Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall,brings the story of the Constitution to life through morethan 100 interactive and multimedia exhibits, film, text,photographs, sculpture and artifacts.

For more information, please call 215-409-6700 or vis-it www.constitutioncenter.org.

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“Freedom Rising” is a 17-minute multimedia theater experiencedesigned to connect visitors with the story of the U.S. Constitution.This theater-in-the-round production incorporates an actor, 360° pro-jection, surprise scenic elements, theatrical lighting, and a dynamicsurround soundtrack.

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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. Subscriptionsare complimentary.

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