Coffee With Jim

Pete Oprisko isn't old enough for a drivers license. But family vacation road trips and books have instilled in him an infectious curiosity as well as a passion for the American story, historic preservation, road trips, and legendary Route 66. So, if you are curious about how we ensure Route 66 and the great American road trip remain relevant in decades to come, and what will inspire a new generation to preserve Route 66 landmarks,...

Tom Saluzzo, today’s guest, is a man on a mission. His vision of a museum that preserves artifacs from WWI to the Vietnam War will soon be a reality. But what makes this museum unique is the focus that is being placed on the exhibits and educational programs that tells the stories of men and women who served. 

Tom's road to pawnshop manager and museum organizer has been a long and twisted one. Along the way there was a stint as an ...

Our visit with Mayor Janet Jernigan in Needles, California will surely inspire a road trip or two! A discussion about the upcoming Route 66 Info fair at the historic El Garces Harvey House Hotel scheduled for February 14, 2026 kicked things off. Then we talked about upcoming events including the annual rodeo, new motels in Needles, restaurants, and the town's surprising connection with some Hollywood classics. And we discussed why ...

The Route 66 centennial as a catalyst for historic preservation. Building a sense of community and community purpose through historic preservation. The importance of and challenges associated with preserving mid century homes and commercial architecture. The dollars and cents of historic preservation. Our discussion on this episode of Coffee With Jim with Mary-Frances O'Dea, a writer, editor, historic preservation consultant, and t...

Prepare to be inspired! After a few minutes of technical difficulties Roger Naylor and Jim Hinckley resorted to a phone call for a wide ranging conversation about legendary Route 66 and adventures in the Grand Canyon State. Aside from Roger's latest book, Arizona Route 66 Road Trip, these two stoytellers discussed hiking trails, great hole in the wall diners, the infectious magic of Route 66, the challenges and benefits of AI, self...

If you are a fan of adventures on dusty backroads, the roads less traveled, ghost towns, and desert discoveries this program is for you! Our guest on this episode of Coffee With Jim is Steve of the amazing Sidetrack Adventures YouTube channel. 

Steve has taken his audience on rides along the only road that provides access to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, along Route 66 to Budville with its dark history, and to ghost towns long bu...

The new season of Coffee With Jim kicked off with a healthy dose of inspiration and conversation about the wonders of Kingman and western, Arizona, the life of an artist, public art, and building a sense of community. Our first guest for the 2026 season was J.C. Amberlyn, an artist, journalist, author, photographer, and animator that is passionate about art, animals, and adventure in the Arizona outback. She was honored by the Ariz...

It's an organized hoarders dream shared with the world. And it is a collection of time capsules without equal along US 6, forgotten cousin of Route 66. The amazing Harold Warp's Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska was the focus of today's conversation with Dustin Southworth.

Where else will you find a 1930s Crosley refrigerator with radio built into the door, the world's oldest Buick, an operational mid 19th century carousel, a tea...

Big things will be happening along Route 66 in the Texas Panhandle next year! Gary Daggett, President, and Brady Wilson of the Old Route 66 Association of Texas joined us on today's program and provided a Texas sized helping of road trip inspiration. In between our conversation about steakhouses, Brenda at the Midpoint Cafe, and Brady's recent trip to South Africa as an ag student, we discussed the Texas Old Route 66 Association Mo...

Our guest this morning is Steve Purdy, a master juggler that often has projects in print, broadcasting, photography, public relations and consulting all going at the same time! His new book, Mascots in Motion, is described as ”An art book celebrating 40 years of photographing the details of special cars and of telling their stories.” But it is much more than that as Purdy masterfully captures the details that once transformed mere ...

The past, present, and the future of Route 66 in Tulsa is our focus on this episode when we are joined by Steve Clem, author of Route 66 in Tulsa from Arcadia Publishing. Clem, a passionate Route 66 enthusiast and a trustee at Sand Springs Cultural and Historical Museum, co wrote this book with Becky Hatchett is president of the Southwest Tulsa Historical Society and volunteers at the Route 66 Historical Village. To order signed co...

Mid century style, retro road trips, and the importance of websites in historic preservation and small business marketing were just a few of the subjects discussed in today's  wide ranging, occasionally smile inducing conversation with Mary-Frances O’Dea. Lustron homes (quirky prefabricated post WWII houses made of steel with porcelain enameled finish), time capsule motels, road trips, neon signs, muffler men, Schitt’s Creek, and t...

Our guest on today's episode is Dal Smilie, Tin Can Tourists ambassador at large and co host of Tin Can Tourist Route 66 Centennial Caravan. We talked about the history of Tin Can Tourists, Curtis Wright and Airstream trailers, the Route 66 centennial, Studebaker trucks and the history of Studebaker in this wide ranging, road trip inspiring, smile inducing conversation.

Tin Can Tourists The Original Vintage Trailer and Camper Club ...

Needles, California Mayor Janet Jernigan joined us this morning to discuss community revitalization, the Route 66 centennial, cultural and heritage tourism, and the importance of building cooperative partnerships. We also discussed the upcoming Route 66 Info Fair scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026. 

With presentations, authors, a car show, live music, El Garces tours and other programs, this event is an excellent opportunity...

On today's program it's a wide ranging conversation with Laura Misajet, Director of Museum Operations & Public Outreach at Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association in Goffs, California. The link between a 19th century camel caravan and Route 66. Edsel Ford's epic odyssey in the summer of 1915. The story of a pre Columbian trade route from the coast of California to New Mexico. A Harvest Host camp ground, an opportunity a...

It's fittingly promoted as a dessert museum, an interesting blend of old fashioned ice parlor and local hangout, and a huge collection of Superman memorabilia. But this is not the only thing that makes Supertam On 66 in Carterville, Missouri popular with locals, and a destination for the Route 66 enthusiast.

There is also the infectious enthusiasm of owners Chris and Andrea Briley, and their passion for providing the folks in Carte...

Cyrus Stevens Avery is known today as the Father of Route 66. But he was more, much more. Visionary highway commissioner, businessman, pioneering rangleand conservationist, and innovator. The legacy of the U.S. Highway 66 Association, a manifestation of Avery's genius and ability to build a network of cooperative partnerships,  lives on as the Route 66 renaissance.

On today's episode we visit with Joey Madia that is bringing the Cy...

Lots of inspiration and thought provoking discussion in today's conversation. Our guest taught art at Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey. And he spent ten years as an Emmy winning television graphics producer in New York City. That diversity is refelected in sculptor Donald Gialanella's  work.

He is an artist with unique vision, and a passion for using public art as a catalyst for community development. His ability to transform a...