Meet the Authors: Beth Bacon and Thomas Eyssell

Share memories of Route 66 with authors Beth Bacon and Thomas Eyssell as they present their books, Route 66: Faces and Places Along America's Most Famous Road and The Automobile in St. Louis: An Illustrated Timeline. Check out "Missouri's Main Street: 100 Years on Route 66," a traveling exhibit on display at the Spencer Road Branch during the month of November. About Route 66: Route 66 might be the most famous highway in the world. Not just because of where it goes but because of the unforgettable people along the way. Hop in and meet a boy who dreamed of a road stretching across America, a songwriter who turned a road trip into a hit tune, and a man who built a giant blue whale as a surprise gift. Hit the road with the artist who gave Route 66 its folksy style, the cartoonist who was inspired by the desert sands, everyday heroes who welcomed weary travelers, and even a rusty tow truck that became a Hollywood star. Around every bend, from Chicago to LA, there’s something new to discover: quirky roadside attractions, delicious treats, ghost towns, inventions, neon signs, national parks, and more. Full of fun facts and larger-than-life, real-world characters, this story celebrates the faces and places that changed Route 66 from an ordinary road to an extraordinary part of American history. About The Automobile in St. Louis: Long before European immigrants settled its lands and along its rivers, the area that would become St. Louis was a hub of the movement of people and goods. By modern times, those movements happened via modes of transport ranging from horseback and horse-drawn vehicles and river canoes to steamboats, railroad equipment, bicycles, aircraft, and even spaceships. But no mode of transportation tied more directly to the heart of St. Louis than the automobile. From the earliest horseless carriages to innovative luxury vehicles designed and built as well or better than any in the world to America's first sports car, the Gateway City gave birth to vehicles that made this country fall in love with traveling on the road. Though St. Louis fell just short of its goal to be the nation's leading automotive city, St. Louisans still revered going by car and the restaurants, drive-in movie theaters, and motels that punctuated the area's historic roads. Fasten your seat belt and enjoy life behind the wheel driving through the automotive history of St. Louis. Thank you to Main Street Books for partnering with us on this event! To find more books by Beth Bacon at the Library, search the Library Catalog! To find more books by Thomas Eyssell at the Library, search the Library Catalog!