The Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum was dedicated on July 4, 2000 in the historic Casa del Desierto, Harvey House, in Barstow, California. The Museum displays a collection of historic photographs and artifacts related to Route 66 and the Mojave Desert Communities. Displays include development of the United States Route 66 from early pioneer trails, railroads, automotive history, businesses and sites.
On May 1, 2003 Hampton Inn Hotels designated the Harvey House Route 66 Mother Road Museum as a "Roadside Attraction" by officially posting a sign, one of "66" along the Route's 2,448 miles.
During the heyday of rail passenger service in the Western United States, Barstow boasted a splendid rail depot/restaurant/hotel complex called the "Casa del Desierto", House of the Desert. Completed in 1911, the Casa del Desierto was the fourth "Harvey House" built by the Atchinson, Topeka, and the Santa Fe Railway Company along its right-of-way and operated by the Fred Harvey Company. These Harvey Houses established an unparalleled standard of food service to the traveler, and entered the lore of American railroading and the West.
1964 1/2 Mustang. Steve thinks this was the first year they were made so this would be worth a few bucks if it was restored...
1915 Model T Touring, $490.00 back then...
Must have taken awhile to learn how to use a switch board...
Our grandsons would love these...
I'm paying for Steve's Route 66 T shirt. This poor old couple could hardly move...been working here for 17 years...
At the other end of the building is the Western American Railroad Museum...
The Western America Railroad Museum collects, preserves and shares the history of railroading in the Pacific Southwest for all who love railroads and railroading. W.A.R.M. provides educational forums with interpretive and historical displays that focuses on both Railroad History and the development of Railroad Technology. W.A.R.M. encompasses not only the past, but the present and future as well, realizing that such a broad scope is essential to understanding the role of western railroading in America.
The guy that donated this railroad display spent 5 years making it in his second story condo...
They had to remove a large window and slide it down a ladder to get it out...
Steve got to throw the switch so we could watch the train go around. There was even a button to blow the horn...
The Date Nail Room...
What's a date nail you ask?
That's a tiny firetruck!
This is still an active Amtrak Station...
There are a bunch of old train cars on display outside, so we took a look...
A bunch of bikers showed up as we were leaving...
Nice Harley!
After our tours of both museums, we decided a brewpub would be a perfect way to end our day...so I took a look on TripAdvisor to see if there happened to be any in Barstow. Oggi's Sports Brewhouse sounded like the spot...so off we went!
After tasting a few...we both decided on this Scottish Ale...
Okay...we've pretty much done everything there is to do...or we want to do...in the Barstow area. The only positive thing to come out of our breakdown is all of the neat things we got to see here...not a destination stop we would have ever picked. Our plan is to pick up the truck tomorrow...and hit the road Tuesday. Fingers crossed!!
1964 1/2 Mustang. Steve thinks this was the first year they were made so this would be worth a few bucks if it was restored...
The Western America Railroad Museum collects, preserves and shares the history of railroading in the Pacific Southwest for all who love railroads and railroading. W.A.R.M. provides educational forums with interpretive and historical displays that focuses on both Railroad History and the development of Railroad Technology. W.A.R.M. encompasses not only the past, but the present and future as well, realizing that such a broad scope is essential to understanding the role of western railroading in America.
Steve got to throw the switch so we could watch the train go around. There was even a button to blow the horn...
(Click on any photo to enlarge)
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