If you ever travel out west you’ll get your kicks through Missouri, which is worth spelling out in big neon letters and singing about.
And that is exactly what Missourians have been doing, lighting up the night sky in the heart of the Show-Me state.
Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the historic Mother Road next year.
And it’ll be nearly 80 years too since one of the great standards of the American Song Book was penned.
When most of us who had never even heard of Saint Looey or Joplin first had our interests piqued.
To travel out west and find out for ourselves.
Sign of the times
Of course, the big draw of The Mother Road is the trip and meeting her offspring.
Such as the small city of Saint Robert, around 130 miles south-west of Saint Louis, in Pulaski County, Ozarks territory.
Where you’ll come across Route 66 Neon Park.
Which features nearly a dozen restored neon signs.
That once stood along the 300-plus-mile.
All of which pay tribute to the Missouri portion of Route 66 in its prime.
And the roadside stops that once lined America’s most famous highway.
The Route 66 story
All the signs have been collected and refurbished by private collectors.
Which we all know Americans do better than anyone as we discovered ourselves at Neon Vegas.
Under the guiding hand of one of Liberace’s Ladies.
Now where Vegas signs promoted the grandiose Missouri’s pointed us to homespun Middle America from St. Louis to Joplin.
Which you can learn for yourself from the storyboards which provide the signs’ backstories.
Since 1926, no other roadway in American history has evoked a sense of reverence, nostalgia, and wanderlust quite like Route 66.
Back to the start
Now as with much in my life’s travels my Route 66 journey is back to front.
Having set out from its terminus, Santa Monica pier a few years back.
And looking to complete the trip at its starting point some day in the Windy City.
That day is honing into view after a few false starts in the Windy City next month.
Where I’ll make for the starting point of the Great Road of America, Route 66.
That winds from Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles all the way.
