Route 66: The Mother Road - A photo Essay from Kansas through Oklahoma - D&D Travel, May, 2024

From the Kansas/Missouri border through Oklahoma to the Texas border at Texola, much of Old Highway 66 still exists. First dedicated December 7, 1926 and officially decommissioned April 1, 1985, the road ran from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, through mainstream America. From its approximately 12 mile stretch in Kansas at the Missouri border into Oklahoma at Quapaw, the historic alignment in Oklahoma ran for just over 415 miles, to the Texas border. Though many portions are long gone, some overlaid by the Interstate, many segments of original and newer pavement remain and are even driveable! The next 3 pages represent our journey along the Mother Road, documenting as much of what remains (ruins and all) as possible. Hopefully, these images will inspire you to check out all or a part of Old Route 66 in one or more of the 8 states it passes through...Americana at its best!  - Dennis and Donna

images © 2024 Dennis A. Hubbs

The short stretch of Route 66 in Kansas begins at the Missouri border west of Joplin and runs just under 12 miles to the Oklahoma line at Quapaw.

This abandoned railcar was found directly aside 66, once riding the rails as Texas SouthEastern Railroad, which initially began in 1900, hauling mostly timber in eastern Texas...Not sure how it ended up just outside of Galena, Kansas though!

Luigi's Pit Stop in Galena features replicas of vehicles from the Disney/Pixar motion picture "Cars."

Donna's maiden name at Luigi's Pit Stop in Galena, Kansas!

Entering downtown Galena, Kansas...Cars on the Route is a restored Kan-o-Tex service station. From Kansastravel.org: "Cars on the Route sells sandwiches, snacks, antiques, Route 66 and Car's items, including several made by local craftspeople and artists. Outside the building there [are] several vehicles, including the mining boom truck that inspired the character "Tow Mater" in Radiator Springs, from the movie Cars... "Tow Mater" still runs and can be hired to appear at special events."

Gearhead Curios

The train depot in Galena - The Depot was built in 1900 for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad

Baxter Springs, Kansas - founded 1858...

This is a restored Phillips 66 Service Station that was built in 1930 by Independent Oil and Gas. The station was purchased by the Baxter Springs Historical Society in 2006 and restored in 2008 through a grant from National Park Service.

The Ritz opened in 1926 and is currently for sale