Day 18 - Amarillo TX to El Reno OK

Table of Contents

	Google Map Track Log
	YouTube Video
	YouTube Video
	The intersection of the last scene in Castaway with Tom Hanks
	Washita Battlefield National Historic Site
	Lucille's, Hydro OK
	Elevation Changes During the Day
	Comments
	Other Blogs About This Trip

Google Map Track Log

YouTube Video

YouTube Video

The intersection of the last scene in Castaway with Tom Hanks

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site protects the site of the Cheyenne village of Peace Chief Black Kettle, who was attacked by the 7th U.S. Cavalry.

Attacked by the 7th U.S. Cavalry under Lt. Col. George A. Custer just before dawn on November 27, 1868, The controversial strike was hailed at the time by the military and many civilians as a significant victory aimed at reducing Native American raids on frontier settlements. Washita remains controversial because many Cheyenne and whites labeled Custer's attack a massacre. Black Kettle is still honored as a prominent leader who never ceased striving for peace even though it cost him his life.

Lots of info can be found on the nps.gov

Lucille's, Hydro OK

The stretch of Route 66 from the Camelback bridge to Hydro is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is one of the longest intact segments of Route 66 in western Oklahoma and is 19.5 miles long. It was paved in Portland Concrete in 1931, 33 and 34. Some patches of asphalt have resurfaced it west of the Canadian River, but the rest is unaltered. It has the original integral curbs and drains to help discharge rain water.

It remained operational until 1962 when I-40 replaced it.

This service station is officially named the Provine Service Station but is commonly known as Lucille's Place. This station was built in 1929 and other stations like it were springing up across the country. This style of rural station was convenient for the traveler to get gasoline, pay the attendant, and be on his way. Like other rural, mom and pop-built stations of the time, this one was built with the owner's living quarters located on the second story.

In 1941, the Hamons family took over its operation. Lucille Hamons ran the business and lived there for nearly 60 years. She quickly became one of the highway's legendary characters. Her self-reliance and generous assistance to motorists earned her the nickname "Mother of the Mother Road."

In 1971, the completed section of Interstate 40 a few miles to the south cut the station off from direct access to the new highway, but Lucille found a way to survive. She kept the station open until the day she died, August 18, 2000.

Elevation Changes During the Day