Route 66: Galena, Kansas

The hubby and I just returned from a road trip down Route 66, visiting three states along the The Mother Road. The state of Kansas boasts 13 miles of Route 66 at the far southeastern tip of the state. First stop:  Galena, Kansas.  (Click on images to see larger version of photos)

FOUR WOMEN ON THE ROUTE

The highlight of our stop in this old mining town was at a renovated service station on the north end of Main Street (Route 66). There were two beautifully restored gas pumps out front. The Kan-O-Tex name represents three states where the gasoline was once sold – Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Now called “Four Women on the Route”, this old service station had a retro facelift that transformed it to a gift shop and café. The name is the clue that it was renovated and now run by four women from Galena. Inside the store we met Melba “The Mouth” Rigg, a woman that my hubby, Monty, declared talked faster than he could hear. She was very friendly and happily shared a wealth of information about her town and this new venture that she and the three other ladies hope will revitalize their hometown of Galena.

Inside the gift shop are vintage relics of days gone by. On one wall was one of the first televisions purchased in Galena, on another sat an old cigarette machine that Mabel plans to sell post cards out of. There was an old top-loaded Coca Cola chest, vintage gas cans, an old wooden cash register, route 66 neon signs, and much more.

The café serves hamburgers or hot dogs, Frito Chili Pie, Ruebens, Phillies and other sandwiches. For the sweet tooth, the menu boasts funnel cakes, snow cones, and smoothies. The café is so spotless that it is hard to imagine that it is located in what was once the mechanic/garage area of the old service station.

GALENA'S FAMOUS HOMETOWN BOY

There is a big, rusty 1951 International tow truck parked out front that has obviously seen more than his fair share of towing.

The unlikely star of Galena is none other than the original old mining boom truck that inspired the animated character from Radiator Springs - "Tow Mater" - in the Disney/Pixar movie, Cars.  Once stardom hit, Tow Tater began spending leisurely days greeting Route 66 enthusiasts or starring in parades and other special events in the area.


After the movie came out, Disney contacted the Four Women and for copyright/trademark reasons asked them to rename their truck. The ladies held a contest and the winning name was “Tow Tater”.  Needless to say, Tow Tater is leading the good life now.


VIADUCT

Another stop in Galena is the old Viaduct just east of Four Women on Route 66. Built before Route 66 was commissioned, the old bridge now is in a state of disrepair and you can no longer drive over it. We went around the detour signs for a short distance and then walked up the road bed, which still has Route 66 emblems emblazoned on asphalt. The detour signs will take you onto a gravel road where can drive beside the Viaduct and enter Galena. The town is trying to accumulate enough donations to save the bridge from destruction and begin restoration. Drop your donation in the plastic jug inside Four Women.

HISTORICAL MINING MUSEUM

Further west on Route 66, be sure to stop at the Howard Litch Historical Mining Museum. This is an old train depot that houses many vintage items related to the town’s history. There are mineral samples, including galena which is a mineral composed mainly of lead. Inside the museum are old mining artifacts and equipment, vintage photographs, antiques, an old horse-drawn hearse, retro television station equipment, and more. Outside you will find a lovely park with restored train cars and a separate area for vintage military equipment.

On the day we were there, there was an old Ford Model T parked out front. Two of the volunteers working at the museum were nice enough to share some information about the old Ford and it proved to be a great photo opportunity.

NEXT BLOG STOP: Baxter Springs, Kansas

Seeing Dots. Green Dots.

I've been asked many times, "How do you and Monty decide where to go on your road trips?"   We first ask ourselves two simple but important questions.

How much time do we have?

How much money will it cost?

Green Dots

If there are time constraints and we only have from a few hours to a couple of days, I usually will get out the trusty Rand McNally Atlas and start searching for nearby green-dot roads. That is almost always my first tactic in looking for nearby destinations.

Whoa, wait a minute. I can almost hear voices in unison crying out, "What in the heck are green-dot roads?"

Green-dot roads are scenic roads. Most all atlas maps will mark the scenic byways with little green dots. I have been a fan of love green-dot roads for more than 20 years!

In the days before digital cameras, my mother used to travel with us. I would pull out the Atlas and announce that I was looking for a green-dot road. Mama would moan because she knew it meant a long day with a lot of stops so that I could jump out of the car to photograph the scenery. On one of our trips, she groaned and told me that every one of those green dots stood for another roll of film that I would be shooting. An exaggeration, of course. But only slightly.

If you are looking for a adventure on a scenic road, travel down a green-dot road!

In my next blog, I'll talk about planning a trip by spotting red ink.

Dunlap Coke Ovens

The Getaway

It was a Tuesday and we found ourselves free for the day from all family and farm responsibilities. And we had no where to go. We had to fix that problem FAST!

Tennessee Bound!

We put the top down on the little red Miata, otherwise known to us as Ruby, and headed to Chattanooga. From there we headed northeast to Signal Mountain where we picked up Highway 127 North. It is a two-lane highway through the rural countryside, dotted with hills and farms. The weather was perfect, too. Cloudy so not too hot and not too cold. A perfect day to be out on a date together with Ruby!

As we drove through the tiny town of Dunlap in the heart of Sequatchie County I saw a sign for “Coke Ovens”. Coke ovens? Was this about Coca Cola? No.  The Monty remembered his Dad telling him about coke ovens being used to convert coal into coke for the iron industries. We had already passed the sign and the turn, so Monty did what he does best. He turned around!

What a great place the historic Dunlap Coke Ovens Park turned out to be. First, there was not a soul around. The museum was closed and the park was deserted. We had the park all to ourselves!

History of the Coke Ovens

Located on 62 wooded acres the park is open daily for self-guided tours. There are remains of 268 beehive coke ovens on the property. The first ovens were constructed in 1902 at the base of Fredonia Mountain. More ovens were built over the course of the next 20 years and were used to convert mountain coal into “coke” and sold to the iron and steel foundries in nearby Chattanooga. These industries used the coke to smelt the iron and steel. By 1927 the onset of the Great Depression had taken it toll and the mining operations were shut down.

The coke ovens lay dormant for more than 50 years, exposed to the ravages of nature, garbage dumpers and rock thieves who dismantled stone from the ovens. In the mid 1980's local citizens formed a historical group and began efforts to clean up the site. Today the ruins of the coke ovens is now a beautiful, wooded park that is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Park is maintained by the Coke Ovens Museum Association and The Sequatchie Valley Historical Association volunteers.

WHAT ELSE?

Museum – The museum building is an exact full-size replica of the original coal company store known as the "Commissary".  It was constructed in 1902 by the Douglas Coal and Coke Company. The museum currently does not have regular hours. The museum currently houses the largest collection of regional historic coal mining photographs in the state of Tennessee. Hundreds of donated mining artifacts are on display inside the museum. If you know ahead that you are going to visit, call to arrange a personal tour.

Incline Hike - There is a beautiful incline hike to the bluffs on Fredonia Mountain. We made it part way up the incline but had to turn back when the rain made us run for shelter. The full hike climbs 3900 feet to the top of the bluffs where you can explore the area where the coal was once mined.

Mine Replica – There is a authentic replica of a coal mine next to the museum. The beautifully landscaped property is dotted with original mine equipment.

RR Caboose – There is an authentic NW railroad caboose located on the property.

Bluegrass Musicians Memorial – A memorial dedicated to Sequatchie Valley region mountain music performers.  

Picnics – There is a shady picnic area across the street from the Museum property near a pretty little babbling brook.

What we liked about the park
Scenic road trip in a day if you live close enough
Free admission
Quiet times with nature
Interesting to adults and kids alike
Educational and historical
Picnic tables and pavilions; hiking trails; photo opportunities

View more images of the historic Dunlap Coke Ovens Park
More Coke Ovens Images

WHERE
The Coke Ovens Park is located in Dunlap, Tennessee in Sequatchie County. (30 miles north of Chattanooga, 50 miles from Crossville, 115 miles from Nashville and 120 miles from Knoxville.)

If driving on U.S. 127 North, turn left on Cherry Street at the traffic light. Cross over the railroad tracks. There is very good signage, so just follow the signs to the Coke Ovens.

HOURS
Open daily for self-guided tours Museum Hours: Call for hours Tours by appointment 423-949-3483

CONTACT INFO
Call 423-949-3483
Coke Ovens Web Site

OTHER ATTRACTIONS NEARBY

Dunlap also proclaims itself as “The Hang Gliding Capital of the East”. The town is the site of the East Coast Hang Gliding Championships and home of the “The Tennessee Tree Toppers”, a hang gliding community of pilots and friends in southeast Tennessee. The Sequatchie Valley boasts some of the best soaring conditions in the United States. Top pilots from all over the world come to Dunlap to fly the winds and marvel at the beautiful valley.

First weekend in June - Annual Coke Ovens Bluegrass Festival
First Saturday in October - Annual Coke Ovens Fall Festival
August 5-8, 2010 – The World’s Longest Yard Sale on Highway 127

Visit Today's Getaway again soon. 

Watch for upcoming details on a new giveaway!

I ♥ to Travel!

Welcome to this new Getaway blog! I invite you to follow two Travel Bugs on their adventures.


I have been traveling with The Monty for more than 20 years. Happily! The Monty is my hubby. He loves to see new places through his blue eyes which I think are the beautiful color of a cloudless sky. As for me, well, I love to see new places through the viewfinder of a camera.


The Monty loves to tell people that if he slows the car down, the passenger door flies open. And it’s not much of an exaggeration. He will stop the car on a dime, turn around, pull off road, hike for miles, tote camera equipment, and best of all heap praise upon all of my images. As this blog progresses you will find that I adore Monty, and for many more reasons than just his being this photographer’s perfect road companion.


My plan is to post a travel blog about once a week. It could be the remembrance of one of our trips to places like the rugged coastlines of Nova Scotia or the majestic mountains of Colorado or or just an old crumbling mill found on a day trip.


It might not be practical for you to visit the exact same locations where we have been. You might live too far away or perhaps finances are a factor. But maybe one of our adventures will inspire you to take a trek and create an adventure of your very own!


Happy Travels are the Best Travels!


Patricia

Return to Today's Getaway again soon!
Watch for upcoming details about a new giveaway!