Books, Blogs, Websites, Magazines, etc.
There are oodles of fantastic books and websites about Route 66. We only scratch the surface on this page, but this should get you started down the Mother Road.
Route 66 Guidebook
Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition
In this 75th anniversary edition, Wallis hits the road again and motors his way from coast to coast. Equal parts text and beautiful color photos, you’re sure to learn something you didn’t know and see something you’ve never seen. Like all good Route 66 books, The Blue Swallow features prominently.
Get Your Pics on Route 66
Get your Pics on Route 66 – Postcards from America’s Mother Road by Joe Sonderman
This coffee table book has 80, full-color pages that detail the story of Route 66 through historic postcards. A must have for all old postcard collectors and Route 66 Enthusiasts. Copies are signed by the author, Joe Sonderman, and are available in the gift shop for $34.95
A Guide Book to Highway 66 by Jack D. Rittenhouse
A Guide Book to Highway 66
Originally published in 1946, this edition is an exact copy of the first guidebook of its kind that ran the full length of Route 66. If you want to follow the Mother Road instead of driving on the highways that have replaced it, this is the book for you! The book is a piece of intriguing Americana that recalls the days when franchise motels and restaurants were not the norm, and road trips held more surprises than they do today. Available in the gift shop.
- Route 66 Adventure Handbook
Route 66 Adventure Handbook by Drew Knowles
Note the picture of the Blue Swallow on the cover! This guide book details the architecture, old motels, restaurants, museums, odd-ball attractions, icons, natural wonders, and kitschy tourist traps along the Mother Road. Knowles covers the well-known places (The Blue Swallow, of course) to the more obscure destinations.
Roadside Americana
Roadside Americana – Gas, Food, Lodging by Michael Karl Witzel and Tim Steil
Another delightful book about Route 66 in which the Blue Swallow is included. Although the book is now out of print, plenty of used copies are available.
Home Away From Home
Home Away From Home – Motels in American by John Marogolies
Although the Blue Swallow is not featured in this book (Shame on the author!), the story of the birth of the motel is told in text and over 200 photos, most in color. The book is jam-packed with fascinating trivia and motel ephemera.
Coast to Coast The Best of Travel Decal Art
Coast to Coast – The Best of Travel Decal Art by Rod Dyer and Brad Benedict, text by David Lee, from the collection of David Willardoson
No Route 66 library is complete without a book about those famous old waterslide decals that people put on their car bumpers and rear windows. What this book doesn’t have is the Tucumcari decal. So We’ll show you the original Emblem Manufacturing Co., Inc. decal right here!
Tucumcari, New Mexico Decal
Websites and Blogs
Route 66 News – One of the best website/blogs about Route 66 with video, pictures, and all things Route 66. Search for “Blue Swallow” and read the May 12 post about Kevin and Nancy.
The Roadside Peek not only has gobs and gobs of neon sign photos but is also a comprehensive website for road trippers.
The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program – The National Park Service’s website with more information than you can shake a stick at, including history, maps, publications, current news, photos, links, archives and more.
RoadsideAmericana.com is another site devoted to helping travelers find interesting things do to and fun places to stay, including the Blue Swallow.
Jim Luning’s blog discusses the making of his film project “Route 66 – Ten Years Later.” His podcasts (Route 66 part 3 and part 6) feature the Blue Swallow. Part 6 is a still photo/video montage, while part 3 is narrated. Former Blue Swallow owner Bill Kinder talks about how he and and his wife, Teri, came came to own the Blue Swallow.
Magazines
The April 2011 Issue of New Mexico Magazine featured “Stories Our Mother (Road) told us” by Larry Behrens with photos by Julien McRoberts. Take the photo tour here.
Video
For the neon sign lover, this video shows many along Route 66, including (of course) the Blue Swallow.
Billy Connolly travels from coast to coast on Route 66. Six episodes are available on YouTube. Very entertaining with great music, and of course Connolly’s wonderful Scottish accent.