Route 66 Podcast
Route 66 Stories as told by people living and working along The Mother Road
Episodes
In 1903 a Horatio Nelson Jackson, an eccentric doctor from Vermont, makes a $50 bet that he can be the first person to drive an automobile coast to coast in under 90 days. Despite not even owning a car, having no driving experience, and no road maps to plan the route Jackson heads out within five days of making the wager. The story was first written in the book, Horatio's Drive: America's first road trip, by Dayton Duncan, who...
The Chain of Rocks Bridge was an active Route 66 passage over the Mississippi River between 1936 - 1966. Although no longer open to vehicular traffic, the Chain of Rocks Bridge allows visitors to walk a 1 mile authentic stretch of Route 66 across the Mississippi.
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks tih Elizabeth Simmons, from the Great Rivers Greenway about the popularity and almost complete demise of the Chai...
Remembering Connie Echols
The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Connie Echols, who passed away on May 2, 2026, at the age of 76 years old. The Wagon Wheel Motel is the longest, continuously operated motel along Route 66.
The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Connie Echols, who passed away on May 2, 2026, at the age of 76 years old.
This episode was originally released in 2018 as Connie was nearing her ...
The Cadillac Ranch is one of the most popular stops along Route 66, and on this very special episode, host Anthony Arno speaks with the only surviving who created the art installation. At 81 years old, Chip not only talks about establishing Ant Farm, the creative group behind the Cadillac Ranch, but two other "unimaginable" projects that honor the automobile.
Join Anthony as he talks with Chip about
- Pivoting away from a...
It's our 66th episode, and that's a major milestone in the world of podcasting! In fact, less than 7% of all podcasts ever launched ever make it to thier 66th episode.
Join Route 66 host Anthony Arno as he is joined by his wife sharing his thoughts on the podcast along with some other things that listeners never knew about.
To celebrate the centennial of Route 66 in 2026, the very first episode of the year features the life of the Father of Route 66- Cyrus Stevens Avery.
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Susan Croce Kelly, author of Father of Route 66: Cy Avery. More than establishing Route 66, Avery was a proponent of the Good Roads Movement and advocated for paved roads at the introduction of the automobile in America.
H...
At the age of 81 years old, Gene Waylan is operating the lask known Ku Ku Burger from what was one of 200 locations. How does a Kansas boy pivot from wanting to be a farmer to successfully operating an iconic Route 66 burger joint fo over 50 years?
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks wth Gene about his 51 year career of flipping burgers along historic Route 66. Highlights from the show include:
- Tra...
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with probably two of the most popular authors of Route 66: Jim Ross and Shellee Graham. Together, Ross and Graham have written over ten different books featuring The Mother Road. Their latest book, Route 66:The first 100 Years, covers the complete history of the road- before, during, and after the popularity of America's Main Street.
Highlights from the show inc...
Despite being just a few miles from the end of the route, the Fair Oaks Pharmacy in South Pasadena, CA Read more
There are many Route 66 museums, but probably one of the most comprehensive and largest museums is the Route 66 Oklahoma Museum. Route 66 Podcast talks with Pat Smith, curator of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. The displays are all professionally laid out and are part of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Pat Smith about the following:
- Intr...
THE ARISTON CAFE
The Ariston Cafe located in Litchfield, IL, is the longest continously operated family restaraunt along Route 66. Established by Pete Adam, a Greek immigrant who arrived here in America in 1905 at the age of 15.
Hear the whole history of The Ariston Cafe by the founders son, Nick Adam. At 85 years old, Nick tells about how his father ...
The Cajon Pass is probably one of the most important sites along Route 66 in southern California. Long before Route 66. was established, the pass was an important route for early settlers, who often had to disassemble thier wagons to cross over the San Gabriel Mountains.
Join host Anthony Arno as he talks wtih local hsitorian, Mark Landis about the evolution of the pass from The Spanish Trail, The John Brown Toll Road, The Ol...
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with Joseph Baxter , a dedicated preservationist and volunteer at the Round Barn. It's the only Round Barn along Route 66, but even more impressive is the history of the barn and its builder, William Oder.
- Early history of Round Barns
- Needed skill and architectural...
Join Route 66 Podcast host, Anthony Arno, as he talks with Emma Wheeler, the latest winner of a $1000 Route 66 College Scholarship Award.
Emma is currenlty a sophmore at Maryville University, studying secondard education.
Highlights from the show include:
- Hometown: Augusta and Washington, Missouri
- Corn Pipe Capitol of the World
- Notable residents - Jack Wagner
- Closest point to Route 66 (Cuba, MO...
Phil Gordon has a unique hobby related to Route 66. As an engineer, he's very careful not to let even his closest acquaintances know that he is passionate about collecting historic Route 66 matchcovers. With a collection beyond 5000 matchcovers, Phil has painstakingly scanned and uploaded his collection online to share with the world and Route 66 fans.
Join The Route 66 Podcast host...
The Devil's Rope (Barbed Wire) Museum along Route 66 in Mclean, TX, is probably one of the most unusual museums along The Mother Road.
Join host Anthony Arno, as he talks with 90 year old curator Delbert Trew all about his museum and collection of over 800 different types of barbed wire. Cited as one of the most important inventions during the Industrial Revolution, the museum features anything and everything related to barbe...
The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Ramona Lehman, who passed away on August 2, 2023, at the age of 85 years old.
This episode was originally released in 2021 as Ramona celebrated her 50th year operating the Munger Moss Motel.
Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Ramona about
- How does an Iowa farm girl wind up on Route 66?
- Honeymooning along Route 66
- Early history of The Munger Moss Motel
- Origin of the Mun...
The Rancho Cucamonga Service Station in California opened for business in 1915, eleven years before the birth of Route 66. The station itself was established prior to the westward migration of travelers and automobiles, but did play an important role in supporting the citrus growers in the region with much needed fuel to support heaters throughout the orchids.
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Ar...
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Sam Murray, the person behind Gilligan's Route 66 Tours. Gilligan's specializes in providing international tourists a first-class 23 day experience along Route 66, including driving in convertible Ford Mustang's and stays at some of the most iconic Route 66 motels.
Features include Sam Murray talking about
- Growing up in New Zealand and his earliest road trips
- First...
The Joliet Prison, in Joliet IL, is one of the oldest prisons in the United States that housed both criminals and enemies from the Civil War. Popularized by the popular movie, The Blues Brothers, the Joliet Prison permanently closed in 2002 and began drawing national attention about the possibility of being operated as a tourist destination along Route 66.
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Greg Peerbol...
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