Conference Hopping

Last Sunday, we had our quarterly Board Meeting of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association where we said “Thank You” to Blaine Davis, who is stepping off of the board after more than seventeen years of service. That was in Vinita, Oklahoma; I raced back to Tulsa to board a flight to New Orleans, where I was attending the PastForward conference put on by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Three days later, I flew from the Big Easy to St. Louis so I could speak at this year’s Miles of Possibility conference in Edwardsville, Illinois. I’m still several days out from being back home, and I’m a bit tired…but what a wonderful week it’s been!

I arrived in New Orleans just after 9:00 PM on Sunday, October 27th. I quickly noticed an unusual vibe in the airport – some parts of it were mega busy and other parts felt nearly abandoned. It took a little while to get an Uber to my hotel and the driver alerted me that Taylor Swift was playing the Superdome for the third night. My entire time on the streets of New Orleans was supplemented by crowds of younger people in concert gear enjoying the unique culture of the city. But I spent most of my time in the Sheraton, where our conference took place.

It was great to finally meet so many coworkers in person after joining the Trust about two months ago. I also met people doing preservation work across the country in a variety of roles. It’s the 75th anniversary of the founding of the National Trust so there was a lot of positive energy around the venue.

Among other things, I attended a talk about “integrity vs condition” regarding historic structures, a q&a tied to a documentary about uranium mining on Navajo lands and the impact of those activities, and an overview of historic site management challenges and perspectives. I also sat in on a Preserve Route 66 talk led by my leader and I held an AMA (Ask Me Anything) about the program. Everyone that I talked to about my Route 66 role with the NTHP was really excited about our work and the road’s place in American culture.

I also got to attend a session inside the historic St. Louis Cathedral at Jackson Square! Our President and CEO Carol Quillen talked about the importance of the Trust, stressed how vital our mission is, and celebrated the robust community of like-minded organizations. When we departed the church for a social hour, a whole marching band greeted us out front! The conference as a whole was a terrific experience capped by a wonderful dinner at Pascale’s Manale, a turn-of-the-century grocery that, in 1913, converted into an Italian restaurant and has been serving its neighborhood ever since. What a treat!

Early on Wednesday, October 30th, I got on another plane and flew to St. Louis. The rental company decided I needed a BIG ASS TRUCK which has been a nightmare to park — considering my daily driver is MUCH smaller.

The conference didn’t start until Thursday, so I detoured north of Edwardsville to Litchfield, IL to have lunch at the Ariston Cafe. It’s one of my favorite eateries on all Route 66! After an excellent prime rib sandwich and a visit with Will, the owner, I walked across the street to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center. There I met Carol Sneed, President of the organization that runs the museum. We also had a nice visit and I got to share the work that the National Trust is doing and how we might be able to help their efforts.

Miles of Possibility, which has been going on for nearly a decade now, was another great few days of learning and camaraderie. I saw many old friends, like authors Jim Hinckley and Joe Sonderman or advocates like Kaisa Barthuli and Joel Baker. I also made new friends with folks like Benjamin Lowder of the Fuller Dome and Michael Taylor of When Dinosaurs Attack. I gave the first talk of the conference, providing a Cliff’s Notes version of Route 66’s history and providing information about what Oklahoma is doing to prepare for the Centennial and closing with details about the National Trust’s Preserve Route 66 Initiative. It was very well received and several attendees told me over the weekend how much they got out of my talk.

I had a great lunch with Steve Clem at a diner called Sgt. Peppers (featuring some terrific music, as you might expect) and took a detour to Girard, IL to see Doc’s Just Off 66, a legacy business that has received several grants from the NTHP with improvements underway. Doc’s is a SUPER COOL long-time pharmacy that became a soda fountain and restaurant in the 21st century. When my friend Casey Claypool bought the place, she also inherited a wealth of drugstore ephemera. Including lots of materials and ingredients that were NEVER OPENED! It’s a remarkable collection in a unique spot with good food to boot. Recommended!

The conference came to a close this evening and the roadies that remained had a farewell dinner together. It’s always a pleasure to spend time on Route 66 with the people that make the road so special. I’ll be spending a few more days on 66 as I drive back to Tulsa, checking in with various folks and connecting with others that may find value in the resources the National Trust has to offer. It’s an exciting time on the Mother Road…and the best is yet to come!