Route 66

Emphasis on southern Missouri and points westward. These are arraigned geographically, as if traveling from NE to SW.

Munger Moss Motel sign on Route 66 near Lebanon, Missouri.
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Diner scene, Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri.
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Route 66 Travel Game based on the TV show featuring Buzz and Todd. Display at the Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri.
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Homotel display, Display, Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri.
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Salt and pepper shaker display, Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri.
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Part of the salt and pepper shaker collection displayed at the Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri.
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Salt and pepper shakers displayed at the Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri.
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Rita, looking at displays in the Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri.
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Display, Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri. Rita and I remember staying at the Coral Motel in St. Louis, Missouri many years ago.
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Display, Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri. Rita and I remember staying at the Coral Motel in St. Louis, Missouri many years ago.
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Service Station mockup, Route 66 Museum, Lebanon, Missouri.
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In case you were wondering, this is Freda's Uptown Cafe, on Jackson in Marshfield, Missouri - old Route 66.
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Wait staff, Freda's Uptown Cafe on old Route 66 in Marshfield, MO.

Except for the maître d, who I thought was a bit stiff - the colorful and friendly staff exceeded our expectations. Sadly, the pecan pie did not.

Now, can anyone tell me what day it is?
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Bud's Tire and Wheel on old Route 66 (College Street) just west of downtown, Springfield, Missouri.
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Car mural painted on the wall of Bud's Tire and Wheel on old Route 66 (College Street), just west of the square, Springfield, Missouri.
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Exit Springfield (Missouri) motoring west on The Mother Road - old Route 66, aka Chestnut Expressway in town, but now called U.S. 266 beyond the city limits.
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First stop - the Whitehall Mercantile in Halltown, Mo.

Built about 1900 and formerly housing a general store and post office on the ground floor, and above, a meeting hall for the I.O.O.F. Lodge. Presently functioning as an above-average flea market.

http://whitehallmercantile.com
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Rolling pins for sale. Whitehall Merchantile, Halltown, Missouri, on old Route 66.
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Indian kitch, Whitehall Merchantile, Halltown, Mo.

I weep for my people.
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Route 66. The Mother Road comes and goes, sometimes buried under the modern highway, sometimes running free for a few miles here and there.

West of Halltown 266 changes to U.S. 96, but you'll want to follow the blue signs to stay on the old route.
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Gay Parita Sinclair Station at Paris Springs, Missouri on old Route 66. Their website at:
http://garysgayparita.com/
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Lube job, hilbilly style. Gay Parita Sinclair Station at Paris Springs, Missouri on old Route 66.
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Lube job, hilbilly style. Gay Parita Sinclair Station at Paris Springs, Missouri on old Route 66.
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Inside the Gay Parita Sinclair Station at Paris Springs, Missouri. Propritor Gary Turner, telling Rita about old Route 66.

This is where you can pick up some local knowledge and reference material.
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Two handy references for Mother Road explorers are:
"Images of 66" by David Wickline, and
"EZ 66 Guide for Travelers" by Jerry McClanahan.

Both are available from Gary Turner's Gay Parita Sinclair station west of Halltown, Missouri.
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Gary and Lena Turner, inside the Gay Parita Sinclair Station on old Route 66 at Paris Springs, Missouri.
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This short video shows Gary Turner, owner of the Gay Parita Sinclair Station, giving directions to Rita to the Red Oak site.

When you're done viewing the video, look for the "X" link, top, right.
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The old filling station and garage at Spencer, Missouri, now under restoration.

Just up the road to the east, old Route 66 crosses Johnson Creek via a steel truss bridge.
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Restored Phillips 66 gas pump at Spencer, MO.
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Lowell Davis, the creator of this flying manure spreader calls it the Crapduster. Seen at a Conoco convenience store parking lot on Hwy 96 east of Carthage, Missouri.
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Wind Pump, Red Oak 2.

Red Oak 2 is a nostalgic village created by artist Lowell Davis. Well worth a visit!

Red Oak is a few miles north of 96, just east of Carthage, Missouri. For directions see:

http://www.redoakiimissouri.com/index/red-oak-ii-missoura/index.html
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Nash and Phillips 66 station, Red Oak 2.

For more photos of Red Oak, see my gallery at:
http://garywright.smugmug.com/Travel/Day-Trips-from-Springfield-MO/Red-Oak-2/16693699_dsxnWt#1259020481_FPjqsTd
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This Cadillac is about a 1950 or 1951 model. Red Oak, Missouri.

For more photos of Red Oak, see my gallery at:

http://garywright.smugmug.com/Travel/Day-Trips-from-Springfield-MO/Red-Oak-2/16693699_dsxnWt#1259020481_FPjqsTd
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"It ain't no wonder his wives left him." Here is another Lowell Davis creation on Central Avenue, Carthage, MO.
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El Cafecito Mexican and Central American restaurant in Carthage, Missouri. Our massive burritos were pretty good - with Rita's steak beating out my chicken. Interesting salsas, too - both red and green. "Coffee" was 2 styro cups of hot water, a large spoon, and a plastic jar of Taster's Choice "crystals".

You'll find this 3rd world treasure in Carthage just south of 96 (Central Avenue) at 115 S Main. Don't miss the equally exotic Panaderia El Quetzal bakery a few doors to the south (left, in this photo).
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Cemetery, near Carthage, MO
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Fluorescent mineral display.

If you have time, visit the Joplin Museum Complex in Schifferdecker Park at 7th Street (Old Route 66) and Schifferdecker Ave.

For more photos in the museum see:

http://garywright.smugmug.com/Travel/Day-Trips-from-Springfield-MO/Joplin-Museum-and-Neosho/16159442_svCNd#1213335572_VBGQE
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Old Route 66 crossed Brush Creek on this rainbow Arch Bridge west of Riverton, Kansas.
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Sign for Marsh Arch Bridge west of Riverton, Kansas.
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Concrete rainbow Arch Bridge over Brush Creek, west of Riverton, Kansas.
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Allen's Filling Station, Commerce, Oklahoma.
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Parts of old Route 66 were paved only 9 foot wide - called the "sidewalk highway". This section is somewhere between Miami (that's my-am-uh, stranger) and Afton, Oklahoma.
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Buffalo Ranch, Afton, Oklahoma.
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Bison detail. Buffalo Ranch, Afton, Oklahoma.
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Rita petting a bronze bison; Buffalo Ranch, Afton, Oklahoma.

The old Buffalo Ranch included a Trading Post, Western Wear Store, BBQ, and the Dairy Ranch, plus 30-40 bison (per "Images of Route 66" by David Wickline). The newer establishment keeps only a few live bison near the multifunction gas station/tourist trap.
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DX Station and Packard museum, Afton, Oklahoma. Sadly, not open on our weekday visit. Peeking through the windows, we saw a couple of nice Studebakers inside.
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DX Station, Afton, Oklahoma. Does the MINI like Ethyl?
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Clanton's Cafe, Vinita, Oklahoma, owned by the same family since 1927, and mentioned in Gourmet Magazine. Specialty de la maison is chicken fried steak.
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Route 66