Dustbowl Highway Staff

Latest stories

  • World’s Largest CONCRETE Totem Pole

    After serving in the U.S. Army in the early 1900s, Ed Galloway discovered a unique passion—carving massive sculptures from trees. His talent did not go unnoticed, and in 1914, philanthropist Charles Page recognized his skill, offering him a position as an arts teacher at the Children’s Home Orphanage in Sand Springs, Oklahoma. However, it wasn’t […] More

  • 66 in Chrome and Clay

    A newer addition to the Mother Road is the Route 66 Monument, known as “Roadside Attraction,” located in historic Tucumcari, New Mexico. Commissioned by the New Mexico Arts Commission and the New Mexico Highway Department, the monument was designed by artist Thomas Coffin and completed in 1997. The sculpture features a larger-than-life chrome tail fin […] More

  • “Do it in a Tee Pee” Village #7

    Of the original seven Wigwam Villages, only three still stand. Two of them—Village #6 in Holbrook, Arizona, and Village #7 in Rialto, California—are located on The Mother Road. Frank Redford, the creator of the Wigwam Villages, actually built the Rialto location himself (he also built Village #2 in Cave City, Kentucky). Construction began in 1947, […] More

  • One Shell of a Good Time: The Nut House

    The Nut House is a beloved Route 66 landmark with roots that run deep – quite literally. Found alongside the Mother Road in Claremore, Oklahoma, this destination started in the 1970’s as a humble pecan stand. Roger and Margie Peterson – without exaggeration – started their operation from the ground up. Their business began by […] More

  • Haunted: The Weatherford Hotel, Flagstaff Arizona

    The Weatherford Hotel was constructed in 1897 by John W. Weatherford, a local businessman. The hotel was strategically built along the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway line, and soon became a hub for travelers visiting the booming city. During the Prohibition era, the Weatherford operated a speakeasy in the basement, where patrons could gather […] More

  • History of Route 66

    In the early 20th century, American roadways were disjointed, unpaved, and difficult to navigate. With the rise of the automobile came the need for better quality transportation. That shift occurred in 1926 with the birth of Route 66, one of the first federal highways in the United States. Running from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, […] More

  • Lou Mitchell’s: “The First Stop on the Mother Road”

    A hearty breakfast, a friendly wait staff, and a hundred years of history are what earns Lou Mitchell’s its title as 66’s first stop. Oh and did we mention the donut holes? Since 1923 Lou Mitchell’s has been serving breakfast and lunch to everyone and anyone in the Chicago area. It’s location at 565 W. […] More