I do not currently own a Jaguar, although I’ve had three of them over time — two mid-60s sedans plus a Series I E-Type. I generally love them and would own another. So it wasn’t much of a stretch when my posse mate Jeff asked me to join him and his JOC region for a day’s drive in his big Jag Portfolio sedan to the California High Desert town of Victorville. More than handsome, lotsa fast, and and uber comfy is his car.
What would be a museum without a gift and goody shop. This one is more than decent, fully stuffed with Route 66iana
I’m a pretty big Route 66 fan having lived on or near it much of my life, and buildings full of well collected and curated old stuff interests me. Victorville is a generally sleepy little desert town, but not without history. The Route 66 Museum is a very homespun, totally volunteer effort from a dedicated group of locals who work hard, love what they do, and have done a lot with what little sponsorship budget they have. I admire them for it and compliment their efforts.
Don’t expect the Guggenheim, the Louvre or The Petersen here, but stuff is clean, accessible, and well displayed. And the little trailer is particularly charming.
The property is an old commercial building of some sort, with plenty of parking next door, and costs nothing to visit short of any much appreciated donations. It’s full of a varied collection of old stuff, from road signs, petroliana, and dinerana to maps to cameras and all kinds of ephemera dedicated to, or taken from, The Mother Road. It’s not a car museum, but of course strikes many automotive themes. There are only a couple cars there; a cut up VW hippie van cab that you can sit in and mug for your selfie. Plus a Model T truck that’s also kinda cool. The vintage sleeper and kitchen trailer is nicely restored and charmingly well presented with lots of period travel stuff.
Pretty cars, all in a row…
7 or 8 Jaguars, full of very nice people, participated in the event, although disappointingly the former were all newer cars, but nothing vintage which I certainly would have enjoyed, some cars back from the Route 66 days perhaps. But not this time.
This tall buxom hula girl sign has a somewhat storied past…you can read all about her when you visit…
This is one of those museums that you can see in an hour if you wish, or take two to linger over details if you want to and have the time. There’s a world map full of pushpins from the places people have visited from; you wouldn’t travel half way around the world to go there, but a suprising number of folks have — remember that Route 66 reunions are very popular with many travelers.
Model T stake truck particularly appropriate to the great deal of farming along Route 66.
Nice day, nice ride, and my compliments to the hard working volunteers who assembled and run this charming little place.
All the information, and more photos, just click to open below.
This old vendor booth migrated from the Santa Monica Pier, Route 66’s official West Coast termination — go too far, and you’re in the Pacific Ocean
Among the many things that made Route 66 special back in the day are the many neon signs that lighted the way to motels, diners and car dealerships.
Some poor Route 66 diner is clearly missing one of its booths
Speaking of diners, check out this five station malt machine, the peak of diner efficiency for the day
Got Route 66? Of course, a great place to get mugged
Kids of all ages had fun putting on the supplied costume stuff and going 60s for their selfies
Hey I remember this place!
Here’s an idea for your next family holiday card
#filmisnotdead as my photo happy daughters will remind you. Nice gathering of old cameras here
Lots of cool old photos on display, my late father had a ’46 Ford Tudor just like the fat fendered black coupe on the right of this shot.
Fine — but who cares? The high desert heat can often bring out the strange in people