Gribblenation

An old alignment of Route 66 is preserved at Missouri's Route 66 State Park. Since its decommissioning, preserving the history and culture of Route 66 has been a mission for many businesses and communities along its former route.  In Missouri, an entire state park is dedicated to the Mother Road. Route 66 State Park is located on both sides of the Meramec River, where relics of the highway both physically and culturally remain. The former Bridgehead Inn Roadhouse is now home to the Route 66 State Park Visitor's Center. The park's visitors center sits on the east side of the Meramec inside the former Bridgehead Inn.  The Bridgehead Inn Roadhouse first opened in 1936 and included a bar, restaurant, dance floor, and overnight lodging.  The establishment changed hands a few times in the 20th Century and was later known as Steiny's Inn and Galley West.  The restored Keys Twin Bridge Cafe neon sign. The visitor's center (closed when visited in February 2024) has plenty o...

  Located near the town of Caruthersville, MO, the Caruthersville Bridge spans the Mississippi River as part of Interstate 155 and US Highway 412 between the Missouri Bootheel and northwest Tennessee near Dyersburg. Officially, it’s the northernmost bridge on the lower Mississippi River, which is defined to begin at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers at Fort Defiance near Cairo, IL. It's also the lone crossing of the river connecting the states of Missouri and Tennessee. In the years following World War II, the states of the Mississippi Valley region sought to improve connectivity between them across the Mississippi River. Numerous outdated ferry crossings existed in those days, however these connections were tenuous and oftentimes dependent of river and weather conditions for their reliability. The states of Missouri and Tennessee approved a study for a new bridge in the vicinity of Caruthersville in 1949, with a site being chosen and approved by the U.S. Army Cor...

  In a city known for its statues, fountains and excellent barbecue, The Scout (also known as the Kansas City Scout) is the most famous of the statues that keeps watch over Kansas City, Missouri . From the vantage point up high at Penn Valley Park , there are excellent views of nearby I-35 and the Kansas City skyline. The statue is placed in a historic area of Kansas City once known as the Penn Street Ravine, where pioneers once traversed as part of the Santa Fe Trail. So it was appropriate to place The Scout in an area that has historical significance. The Scout is a 10 foot tall statue cast in bronze of a Sioux Indian on horseback, surveying the landscape. The statue was originally cast by renowned sculptor Cyrus Dallin in 1915 for the Panama Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. Dallin had a deep respect for America's indigenous peoples and some of his best known works were made in tribute to Native Americans. The statue won the gold medal and as the statue traveled toward the E...

In September, when my wife told me that I could use my extra week of vacation to go on a road trip, I at first was surprised.  But then, I started trying to figure out where to go and what to see.  It was too late to plan something for October, and I really wanted to go west.  I decided on Wyoming - specifically Cheyenne.  From Cheyenne, I would visit Rocky Mountain National Park, Wind Cave National Park and Mount Rushmore, and also Devils Tower.  I invited my friend Joe to go along with me. Day 1: Charlotte, NC to Mt. Juliet, Tennessee: Route: I-485, NC 16, I-40 Photo Set on Flickr - Wyoming Road Trip Day 1 We traveled just over six hours on this day - this allowed us to break up the trip out over three days but also to see more on the way out.  While Day One was not big on sightseeing - there was some great fall scenery in Eastern Tennessee and the North Carolina mountains. The color was great!  And it was an easy drive to the hotel for the night jus...