Route 66's fame and glory

(Norman-AP) -- Route 66's fame and glory is alive and well with non-Americans. <br><br>An assistant professor at University of Oklahoma says to non-Americans Route 66 still represents the nation's

Monday, September 15th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Norman-AP) -- Route 66's fame and glory is alive and well with non-Americans.

An assistant professor at University of Oklahoma says to non-Americans Route 66 still represents the nation's sense of fantasy and progress.

Assistant Professor Hans Butzer says Americans regard the mother road as something of the past and think of it with nostalgia.

Butzer says when Europeans think of Route 66 they think of taking a vacation, renting a car and experiencing what the road is today.

Butzer is designing a Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler and hopes to capture that vitality.

The Chandler Armory will be renovated into an interactive museum of the historic highway that linked Los Angeles and Chicago.

The armory was built in 1937 as a federal W-P-A project and has been vacant since 1971.

Butzer will begin designing the project later this month, and it should be completed within two years.

Butzer is part owner of the Butzer Partnership Design, which co-designed the Oklahoma City National Memorial.