RonnieAdventure #0724 - Route 66 - Galena, Kansas

Cars on the Route in Galena (population 2,761), Kansas, is a restored Kan-O-Tex service station where Pixar's movie crew, traveling across Route 66 looking for ideas for their Cars movie, discovered a rusty old 1951 International mining boom truck that inspired the "Tow Mater" character. The truck had been used to lower equipment into the zinc mines in the 1950s and 1960s, but after the mines closed in 1970, the truck just became a roadside fixture. 

Tow Mater is often called just "Mater" because in the movie, Mater introduces himself to Lightning McQueen as "Name's Mater...like tuh-mater, but without the tuh."  Supposedly, there is a real person in NASCAR with the nickname "Mater," who originally made the above statement about it. It has been reported that he also did some character voice work in the Cars movies. In the movies, Mater is voiced by Larry the Cable Guy. 

While the Pixar staff was making their movie research trip along Old Route 66, they met Dean Walker, nicknamed "Crazy Legs," who could twist his feet 180 degrees backward and walk in reverse. Walker was the president of the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association and was known for promoting Route 66 and his storytelling. The Pixar crew liked his personality and mannerisms, and elements of him influenced Mater's character. This is where they came up with the idea that Mater could drive backward, and he taught Lightning McQueen to drive in reverse using rearview mirrors.             

Walker also told the Pixar Crew a story about a "Spooklight" that appeared in the fields some nights. The Pixar crew liked Walker's storytelling, and the light appeared as a "Ghostlight" in the movie. 

To help the artist while working on the film, the studio built a full-size working model makeup truck of "Tow Mater" using an old Chevrolet pickup. After the Cars movie was released, the Pixar working model was donated to Galena and parked next to the original boom truck that inspired Mater. The only stipulation was that the make-up truck and the International boom truck could not be called "Tow Mater" because of trademark laws. A contest was held to select a name for the makeup truck, and the winning name was "Tow Tater." The International boom truck has never had a name. Tow Tater now sits between the original 1951 International boom truck that inspired Mater and a fire truck that represents "Red" in the movie. 

Gearhead Curios is located in a restored 1939 Texaco filling station on Main Street and is famous for its automotive-related items. 

On the side of the building is a large Muffler Man dressed in a Texaco uniform that Texaco employees along Route 66 wore when cars drove up, and they ran out to fill the car with gas, wash the windows, check the oil, and set the tire pressure. 

On the wall behind the Muffler Man is a "Tag Flag" made from 169 Kansas license plates, which is a popular tourist photo op.

Just around the corner, in front of the building, is a Bob's Big Boy and Betty Boop, both dressed in Texaco Green, rather than their traditional red colors. Joining them is "Topper," a friendly green mouse used as DX Oil Company's mascot in the 1950s and 1960s.

On the far side of the building is a vehicle that looks like Doc Hudson, the Radiator Springs doctor who was once known as the "Hudson Hornet" and won three Piston Cup championships. He was considered one of the greatest racers of his time until a serious crash ended his racing career. 

The station owner invited me inside and showed me the many souvenirs on display. He liked to talk about Route 66, and we had a good visit reminiscing about old times. 

Everyone who stops by the station has to use the famous "over-the-top restroom," considered a Route 66 attraction in its own right. Everything in the restroom is functional and made with recycled automotive-related parts. For a historic gas station, the restroom is larger than was typical for its day, and apparently, one couple was so enthralled with it that they held their wedding ceremony there. 

Luigis Pit Stop is the last eastbound Route 66 Attraction in Kansas, located right at the border before crossing into Missouri. A car that looks like Luigi is emerging from the building, and around it are murals and interactive photo spots featuring replicas of various characters from the Cars movie. On the side of the building, a vehicle that is painted to look like Lightning McQueen is involved in tractor tippin' while a 1949 Mercury that looks like Sheriff is on a pole watching over the area.

Located on the state line is an arch under which cars can be parked for a photo op when entering Kansas from the east.  

RonnieAdventure #0723 - Route 66 - Baxter Springs to Galena, Kansas

Baxter Springs (population 3,333), Kansas, is a well-known Route 66 stop because of several attractions in and around town. 

The Kansas Route 66 Visitors Center is housed in a restored Phillips 66 gas station on Main Street. This Tudor Revival-style gas station was built in 1930 as an Independent Oil & Gas Company station, but was sold to Phillips 66 Petroleum Company the same year. Gas was sold, and vehicles were serviced at the station through the 1970s. Before the gas station was built, this was the site of the Bischosberger Livery and Feed business

Directly across the street is the Julius Bischosberger Hotel, where travelers could get a warm meal and rest while their horses were fed and cared for at the Bischosberger Livery. In 1900, the original hotel was razed, and the present brick building was constructed the same year. When it opened, the Baxter Springs Post Office was located on the first floor, and the International Order of Odd Fellows Lodge held its meetings upstairs.  

Fort Blair, also known as Fort Baxter, is the site of a 1863 Civil War battle that occurred when 400 Confederate guerrillas, led by William Quantrill, attacked the fort and a nearby wagon train of 100 men under the command of General James Blunt. The battle became known as the Baxter Springs Massacre.

Quantrill and his men approached the area wearing captured Union uniforms, which allowed them to get close to the fort and the wagon train without raising suspicion. The Union troops in the fort were able to successfully repel the attack, but the wagon train was overrun, and almost all of the Union troops were killed, even those who tried to surrender.

Fort Blair was built along the Black Dog Trail, which was the earliest improved road in southeast Kansas. The trail was named for Osage leader Black Dog, whose village in the early 1800s was located near the trail, where there were a number of springs. Parts of the trail alignment were later incorporated into Route 66. The small metal bridge crossing the creek is the last of its kind in Cherokee County, Kansas.

One of the best-known landmarks on historic Route 66 is the Brush Creek Bridge, better known as the "Rainbow Bridge," located near Riverton (population 771). The bridge was constructed in 1923 and is the only remaining Marsh Rainbow Arch Bridge on historic Route 66. It was scheduled for demolition in the 1990s, but preservationists saved it. It is now one of the most photographed structures in Kansas. The bridge has been bypassed by the main highway, but travelers are still allowed to cross it via a side road. 

In 2000, musician Brad Paisley performed the song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" at the bridge for the TLC special "Route 66: Main Street America."

Located about a mile east of the bridge is the 20-foot-tall Riverton FFA Route 66 Sign/Sculpture, created by students from the Riverton FFA Chapter. The "66" is made from old, rusty car rims donated by the Kansas Department of Transportation.  

Galena (population 2,761) is named after the lead ore "Galena," which was discovered in the area in 1877. The mineral Galena is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver. It is insoluble in water, so it is almost non-toxic. However, as lead sulfide, it can be highly toxic. As a result of mining and smelting practices used for years, 115 square miles around the area are now considered to be one of the worst Superfund Sites in the United States. 

Galena was part of the tri-state mining district, and during the mining peak, Galena consisted of two towns, Empire City (north of Sort Creek) and Galena (south of the creek), which were operated by rival mining companies. There were over thirty mining companies, and over 30,000 people lived in the two towns. 

The Galena Mining and Historical Museum is located in the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT or "Katy") Railroad Depot, which has been enlarged twice. It features mining equipment, ore displays, railroad memorabilia from the "Katy" Line, Route 66 history, vintage vehicles, and other historic items.  

A WW II German flag was on display that was flying over The Eagle's Nest in Austria when the 3rd Army captured it shortly after Hitler had escaped. The flag was removed by Sgt. Bayer of Galena, who then replaced it with an American flag, and the German flag was sent home. 

Located in Pappy Litch Park is a small Route 66-themed park in downtown Galena, on the site of Howard "Pappy" Litch's former DX Service Station and Garage. A welcome sign states: "Welcome to Galena. Cars, parks, and nature ensure you get your kicks in Galena." It then goes on to reference various activities in the area. There are also informational signs explaining how historic mining impacted the area and how Galena has grown and changed over the years. An old historic outdoor jail is on display along with a Will Rogers marker describing "The Mother Road" that passed this point.  

Gravy's Place is a popular local bar/restaurant just up the street, easily recognized by its large 8-ball, pool cue, and cube of cue chalk in front of the building. This is considered another quirky photo stop along Route 66.