Galena’s Gearhead Curios works to keep Route 66 history alive

GALENA, Kansas (KFDA) - As Ruben on the Road continues his journey on Route 66, he stops in Galena, Kansas.

That’s where he visits Gearhead Curios and learns about why the route is so important in Kansas.

Gearhead Curios is a souvenir shop with artwork, an information center and home of the most photographed restroom on Route 66.

“Well I’m a road tripper. Been a road tripper my whole life. Been traveling Route 66 since I was pretty much in diapers because I grew up in California. And Route 66 is how we would leave California to go to Pennsylvania to visit family,” said Aaron Perry, curator at Gearhead Curios. “Roy Zamboi was a scheduled gas stop and potty break as a child. So it’s kind of in my system, Route 66 and the American road trip. So I wanted something on Route 66.”

Perry was heading to the Springfield Birthplace Festival when he stopped in Galena on the way. That’s when he saw the building that would become Gearhead Curios

“And I was getting pictures of a dilapidated old building. And in the window was a for sale by owner sign. So that’s how I ended up in Galena, Kansas. When I got it, I bought imagination. Because I had to take the roof off. I took it down to the walls and brought it back. When I brought electricity in 2019, it was the first time in over 15 years electricity was in the building,” said Perry.

He says a lot of people were surprised at his decision to create a roadside attraction.

“So the same thing most people said is like, ‘You’re really doing this.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I’m really doing this. I’m making a roadside attraction. I’m passionate about this, and I want this,” said Perry. “So I think a lot of people just were kind off in disbelief that I’m taking something which was basically walls and turning it into a destination on Route 66.”

Perry says it’s important to preserve the history of Route 66.

“But you have to understand where you’ve been to understand where you’re going. You’ve got to understand what this road was. I mean, if you go back in time, you had the Dust Bowl. It was the freedom to the land of milk and honey. World War II, it carried troops. It carried service members, hitchhiking service members, family members, seeing service members before they shipped off. Some of those people never came back. After World War II, America’s heyday, post-war America, the road trip, the station wagon, Kool-Aid, you know, roadside picnics,” he said. “You’ve got to understand all facets of it to understand it. And that’s why it’s important to keep that history.”

Perry says if you bulldoze the historic, unique attractions, there’s no reason to travel the entire Route 66.

“What kept it alive, what makes it what it is, is the individuality, each cafe being different, each motel having its own theme. When it’s all the same, well, you don’t need to hit all eight states. You hit the first 10 miles, you’ve seen everything, because it’s a repeat. That’s not what we want,” he said. “Well, it’s part of Route 66’s history, is going through Kansas. You can’t cherry pick what you want out of history and put it back together to fit your narrative. So if you’re traveling 66, you have to stop at our 13.2 miles.”

Perry says if you’re a purist and passionate about the history of the Mother Road, you have to travel through Kansas.