In the course of our daily reporting, we often uncover unusual projects, places, or connections that don't make the final cut. Instead of keeping it to ourselves, we're pleased to share our weekly Architrivia.
For those familiar with either The Eagles or Route 66, it may not come as a surprise to learn that there exists a tribute to both in Winslow, Arizona. Since 1999, Standin' on the Corner Park, featuring a statue, signage, mural, Flatbed Ford, and bald eagle, has created an elaborate tourist attraction and homage to the 1972 smash hit song, Take it Easy written by Jackson Browne and the late Glenn Frey of The Eagles. Accompanied by dozens of sidewalk stones, each one in commemoration of a separate donor, including their name and fondest memory of Winslow, Standin' on the Corner Park is the brainchild of local boosters, who decided to use their famous shout-out to its best advantage, in light of their town's fading fortunes following its bypass by the I-40 in the 1970s.
Located directly along Route 66, a highway that has been an icon of Americana from the Great Depression (The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck) through to the 1960s (Get Your Kicks on Route 66, by Bobby Troup), Standin' on the Corner Park has been a must-see tourist destination for anyone seeking the authentic Route 66 experience.
Built into the side of an old commercial building in downtown Winslow, the park and subsequent additions to the streetscape, such as the giant Route 66 signage that has been painted on the road, along with the 2016 unveiling of a statue of the late Glenn Frey in the adjacent green space, has added to the significance of the attraction. In 2004, a fire forced the demolition of all but the outer wall of the attraction, and the view above reveals the look of the park today. Open to the public year round, Standin' on the Corner Park is a must-see for anyone seeking a bit of classic Americana.
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