Really, Who Does This?
Written by Vicky Hansen
When Mary and I turned 66, we kept our childhood promise to take Route 66 together—our 66@66 adventure from Chicago to Santa Monica. The classic icons of the Mother Road—old gas stations, diners, murals, and weathered cars—were a thrill, but it was the people and quirky artistry that made the trip unforgettable.
Route 66 is full of eccentric roadside wonders, often built by anonymous dreamers with more imagination than reason. At Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Cadillacs rise nose-down from the dirt, waiting for visitors to add fresh layers of spray paint. In Winslow, Arizona, fans flock to “Standin’ on the Corner Park” to live out an Eagles lyric. And in California’s desert, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch dazzles with “trees” of colorful glass bottles, topped with road signs, wheels, and even typewriters. Each stop had us laughing, marveling, and asking, “Who does this?”
Along the way, we met remarkable people: Tim at the Totem Pole, sharing White Oak basket weaving; Jim, former mayor of Carthage, Missouri, who welcomed us into his Red Oak II home (thank you to artist Lowell Davis for re-imagining the town); and Hazel at Shamrock’s U Drop Inn, who shared stories of life in the Panhandle. And a special thanks to those who have preserved the Burma Shave signs along the highway—simple, witty reminders of a bygone era that still bring a smile. “Who does this?”
Most of all, I’m grateful to Mary—for a lifetime of friendship and for sharing the adventure of turning 66 with me on America’s most unforgettable road.
Do You Have a Route 66 Story?
Whether you traveled it yourself or heard tales from your parents or grandparents, we’d love to hear them! Share your memories—and a photo if you have one—with the Monrovia Historical Museum. Help us preserve the spirit of the Mother Road as we prepare for the Route 66 Centennial in 2026.
Written by Vicky Hansen
When Mary and I turned 66, we kept our childhood promise to take Route 66 together—our 66@66 adventure from Chicago to Santa Monica. The classic icons of the Mother Road—old gas stations, diners, murals, and weathered cars—were a thrill, but it was the people and quirky artistry that made the trip unforgettable.
Route 66 is full of eccentric roadside wonders, often built by anonymous dreamers with more imagination than reason. At Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Cadillacs rise nose-down from the dirt, waiting for visitors to add fresh layers of spray paint. In Winslow, Arizona, fans flock to “Standin’ on the Corner Park” to live out an Eagles lyric. And in California’s desert, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch dazzles with “trees” of colorful glass bottles, topped with road signs, wheels, and even typewriters. Each stop had us laughing, marveling, and asking, “Who does this?”
Along the way, we met remarkable people: Tim at the Totem Pole, sharing White Oak basket weaving; Jim, former mayor of Carthage, Missouri, who welcomed us into his Red Oak II home (thank you to artist Lowell Davis for re-imagining the town); and Hazel at Shamrock’s U Drop Inn, who shared stories of life in the Panhandle. And a special thanks to those who have preserved the Burma Shave signs along the highway—simple, witty reminders of a bygone era that still bring a smile. “Who does this?”
Most of all, I’m grateful to Mary—for a lifetime of friendship and for sharing the adventure of turning 66 with me on America’s most unforgettable road.
Do You Have a Route 66 Story?
Whether you traveled it yourself or heard tales from your parents or grandparents, we’d love to hear them! Share your memories—and a photo if you have one—with the Monrovia Historical Museum. Help us preserve the spirit of the Mother Road as we prepare for the Route 66 Centennial in 2026.
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