Welcome to Missouri!

The old Chain of Rocks Bridge with its 22 degree dogleg is a Route 66 icon near Venice MO enroute St Louis.

A small collection of old neon signs adds a tpuch of nostalgia at the old Chain of Rocks Bridge Old near Venice MO.

This pumping station in the Mississippi next to the old Chain of Rocks Bridge forms a nice foreground with St Louis in the background.

The Gateway Arch is probably one of the best known tourist sites in St Louis and is something you must visit.

Looking up at the famous Gateway Arch in St Louis, over 600 feet up.

Inside the viewing area at the top of the St Louis Gateway Arch. You access it by an internal "tram" - exciting!

Looking south onto the Mississippi River from the Gateway Arch in St Louis MO.

Looking down to Busch Stadium from the Gateway Arch in St Louis MO.

Looking down on the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and downtown St Louis from the Gateway Arch.

The art deco Bell Telephone Company building graces the St Louis MO skyline.

St Louis MO is very well served with impressive church buildings. This is the Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St Louis.

The old Catholic Basilica of St Louis is near the Gateway Arch.

The St Louis MO Centenary Church (United Methodist).

I was lucky to be in St Louis for Easter Sunday and was able to attend a very swish mass at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral.

Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral Rear Windows & Organ, St Louis MO.

St Louis city hall.

St Louis Civil Courts.

St Louis Municipal Courts.

St Louis main Library.

St Louis War Memorial.

Looking back to the Gateway Arch with fountain and courthouse as a foreground.

A downtown street scene in St Louis MO.

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard is a Route 66 icon in St Louis MO....

...as is it's neon sign.

The Eat-Rite Diner is a St Louis and Route 66 icon.

This closed and abandoned on-ramp just across from the Eat Rite Diner in St Louis leads to an abandoned "freeway" style section of closed old route 66 - almost like a small version of an interstate. 2 lanes each way stretching to some old bridges a few hundred yards away, all closed and abandoned - I would love to have had time to explore it but alas the Route was calling me on!

A nice display of tulips in St Louis Forest Park.

One of the Missouri "giants" is the Giant Farmer & Son in Marlborough MO.

Crossing the Meramec River in Route 66 State Park MO.

Interesting grasslands were a feature in Route 66 State Park MO.

Still tracking on Route 66 through Gray Summit MO.

The much photographed Diamonds Restaurant & Gardenway Motel Signs, Gray Summit MO.

The Gardenway Motel still seems to be thriving in Gray Summit MO, however see below for the fate of Diamonds Restaurant in nearby Villa Ridge.....

Originally Diamonds and later the Tri County Restaurant; this was a substantial art deco building in Villa Ridge MO - alas it appears to have been boarded up for quite some time.

The entrance to Shaw Nature Reserve in Villa Ridge MO.

An abandoned motel in St Clair MO.

The highlight of our visit to St Clair was lunch at the iconic Lewis Cafe.

THIS is the USA Lewis Cafe roast beef lunch in St Clair MO.

The Riverside Reptile Wildlife Center graces the road leading to the Meramec Caverns near Stanton MO.

The entrance to the famous Meramec Caverns, near Stanton MO.

Watch out for the desperados at Meramec Caverns MO.

One of many interesting formations and sights during the tour of Meramec Caverns MO.

The iconic "Bourbon" water tower.

The Circle Inn in Bourbon MO is another Route 66 landmark.

Happy anniversary, Cuba MO!

Another Route 66 mainstay bites the dust - the closed Route 66 Cafe, Cuba MO.

Luckily the equally famous Cuba MO landmark the Missouri Hick(ory) Bar-B-Q WAS still open!

MEAT! The Cuba MO Missouri Hick(ory) Bar-B-Q Mixed BBQ Meat Meal!

Cuba MO is famous for its murals so here are some of them...

The restored Jims Motors graces the main intersection in Cuba MO.

The classic Wagon Wheel Motel neon sign, Cuba MO.

We were very warmly welcomed by Dan Sanazaro at the Fanning Outpost General Store, Fanning MO, home of the......

.....Worlds Largest Rocker! Dan made us very welcome there so please visit if you're passing through on Route 66. His website is here. A big Gidday from Australia, Dan!

Route 66 Motors, St James MO.

Abandoned Derby Station, St James MO.

Street scene, St James MO.

A cut-off, bypassed and nearly forgotten piece of old Route 66, Rolla MO.

Rolla MO is home to a minitaure Stonehenge!

The Uptown Theatre in downtown Rolla MO!

Inventive mailbox, Rolla MO.

The Totem Pole Trading Post - claims to be Missouri's oldest business, Rolla MO.

Filling up with Route 66 juice, Rolla MO.

Mule Trading Post, Rolla MO.

The famous and VERY well photographed abandoned Johns Modern Cabins Sign, near Doolittle MO.

One of the better preserved "modern cabins"!

Vernelles Motel still running, near Doolittle MO.

Pingas abandoned Mexican Restaurant, near Doolittle MO.

Route 66 widened out into a four lane divided road at the Hooker Cut, and after an unpromising beginning....

.... widened out into this very pretty original concrete Route 66 section.

Elbow Inn Bar & BBQ Pit, Devils Elbow MO.....

,,, and its unusual ceiling decorations!

1923 Bridge over the Big Piney River, Devils Elbow MO.

Sheldons (was Allmans) Market, Devils Elbow MO.

The George M Reed Roadside Park guardian, St Robert MO.

A giant frog sculpture guards the way into Waynesville MO.

1923 Rubidoux Creek Bridge, Waynesville MO.

The famous Munger Moss Motel, Lebanon MO.

The Starlite Lanes opposite the Munger Moss Motel, Lebanon MO. Ay carumba!

Another cut off Route 66 Section, Lebanon MO.

This marker marks where land was donated at some time for use as a park - however it seems to be part of someones front yard now?!

This scale model of the Hubble Space Telescope commemorates the fact that Dr Edwin Hubble was born here in town.

A strange rotunda in Marshfield MO.

Marshfield MO city square historic building.

Marshfield MO City Square Shops.

First Home Savings Bank Building, Marshfield MO.

Town Square, Springfield MO.

Springfield MO - Town Square flags proudly flying.

Historic Building in downtown Springfield MO.

The classic neon sign for the Rest Haven Court, Springfield MO.

Abandoned Hotel Stirling, Springfield MO.

Gillioz Theatre, Springfield MO.

Main Street, Halltown MO.

Whitehall Mercantile, Halltown MO.

Yes we really were at Whitehall Mercantile in Halltown MO! town.

What the hell's a Choctaw?

The Gay Parita Restored Sinclair Station at Paris Springs owned by Gary Turner. Gary is another of those Mother Road charmers! He welcomed us very warmly, plied us with refreshments and regaled us with stories about the history of the old station and the restoration. One of nature's gentlemen is Gary. Plenty of other people drop in to visit him daily - while we there a Scottish couple passed by and also Jeff Meyer "The Original Roadologist". Gidday from Australia, Gary!

Gary has the full regalia - old telephones, cash registers and even an original Sinclair hat!

Gay Parita Restored Sinclair Station Gas Pumps, Paris Springs MO.

Gay Parita Restored Sinclair Station Inside Workshop, Paris Springs MO.

The "filling area" of the Gay Parita Restored Sinclair Station, Paris Springs MO.

Gay Parita Restored Sinclair Station Gas Pumps, Paris Springs MO.

Posing with Gary Turner's Route 66 flag, Gay Parita Restored Sinclair Station, Paris Springs MO.

Former Post Office, Paris Springs MO.

Long-abandoned old Phillips 66 Station Complex under Refurbishment, Spencer MO.

1926 Thru-Truss Bridge over Johnson Creek, Spencer MO.

Bernies Bar, Avilla MO.

LONG Abandoned Building, Avilla MO.

Abandoned Stone Building, Avilla MO.

Maxville MO is the home of Red Oak II. The owner has moved in all kinds of old buildings, vehicles, implements etc to create a whole small vintage town. It wasn't quite open when we passed by but will be soon so do drop by.

We were confronted with this "savage" guard dog at Red Oak II, near Maxville MO.

Red Oak II Streetcar to Diner Conversion uderway, Maxville MO.

An original Phillips 66 station now restored at Red Oak II, Maxville MO.

An old Highway Patrol car, Red Oak II, Maxville MO.

Red Oak II Town Hall, Maxville MO.

Carthage MO 66 Drive-In - great selection of movies showing!

Old shops, Main Street, Carthage MO.

Jasper County Courthouse, Carthage MO, very impressive.

City Hall, Carthage MO.

The old Boots Motel now serving as apartments, Carthage MO.

Old sign fading away, Carthage MO.

The Star Lanes Bowling Alley has seen better days, Carthage MO.

A nice section of old 66 Road between Carthage and Carterville MO.

The Peggy Sue Drive-In is a Route 66 icon, Carterville MO.

We dined in style at the Peggy Sue Drive-In, Carterville MO.

The Bradbury Bishop Deli is another Route 66 icon in Webb City MO but alas we arrived 5 minutes before closing and got refused entry,

An interesting Route 66 mural, Webb City MO.