On this episode Big Blend Radio’s “Historic Jefferson Highway” Show we journey to Franklin, Southeast Kansas, to spotlight the Miners Hall Museum, located right on the historic Jefferson Highway. Our featured guest is Phyllis Bitner, Chair of the Miners Hall Museum Foundation, who shares powerful insights into the region’s coal mining legacy, rich immigrant history, and the iconic Amazon Army March led by women fighting for miners' rights.

Explore must-see local attractions like the Coal Camp, Arma-Franklin Sidewalk (the longest sidewalk connecting two communities), and Franklin Community Park. Phyllis also unveils exciting news about Dragline Park, a upcoming new free public tourist attraction that will feature the largest walking dragline preserved for display in the U.S., coming soon to Highway 69 & 47 on the Jefferson Highway.

We also dive into the museum’s role as a Jefferson Highway Tourist Center, and discuss the 2025 Jefferson Highway Association Conference, happening June 4-7 in McAlester, Oklahoma – another historic coal mining town – along with the Sociability Caravan, June 2-4.

🚗 The Jefferson Highway, known as the “Pines to Palms Highway”, stretches from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana, weaving through communities with deep historical roots and cultural pride.

🔗 Learn more: - Miners Hall Museum: https://www.minershallmuseum.com/ - Jefferson Highway Association: https://jeffersonhighway.org/

📅 Tune in every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST (except holidays) to the "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show focuses on the upcoming Annual Jefferson Highway Conference 2025 happening June 4-7 in McAlester, Oklahoma, with the Sociability Caravan running June 2-4. Plus, hear about the formation of the Jefferson Highway, as well as some of the McAlester's fascinating history.

FEATURED GUESTS: - ROGER BELL - Co-Host & President of the Jefferson Highway Association - BILLY SUMNER - Tourism Manager of City of McAlester. Visit: https://travelmcalester.com/ - ADELINE WHISENHUNT - Conference Organizer and Oklahoma Chapter of the Jefferson Highway Association.

The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more at https://jeffersonhighway.org/

Learn more about the upcoming Jefferson Highway Travel Guide project and be part of the effort, here: https://jeffersonhighwaytravelguide.com/

This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST (except on holidays). Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/

Celebrate National Retro Day with this episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show takes focuses on unique lodgings, historic sites and exciting projects in Kansas and Iowa.

FEATURED GUESTS: - ROGER BELL: Co-Host & President of the Jefferson Highway Association.

- AARON PERRY & CASSANDRA RINGEL- Gearhead Curios (home to the first Jefferson Highway Information Center), and Petrol Motor Quart in Galena, Kansas. Follow them on Facebook: * https://www.facebook.com/GearheadCurios * https://www.facebook.com/PetrolMotorQuart

- JULIE VERRY, STEVE HANSON & MARY REYERSON LOW - The Historic Winifred Hotel (circa 1913) in Northwood, Iowa. Visit https://hotelwinifred.com/

The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more at https://jeffersonhighway.org/

Learn more about the upcoming Jefferson Highway Travel Guide project and be part of the effort, here: https://jeffersonhighwaytravelguide.com/

This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST (except on holidays). Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show features Roger Bell, President of the Jefferson Highway Association, who shares some of his favorite experiences on the Jefferson Highway.

The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more at https://jeffersonhighway.org/

Learn more about the upcoming Jefferson Highway Travel Guide project and be part of the effort, here: https://jeffersonhighwaytravelguide.com/

This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST (except on holidays). Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show focuses on the new digital Jefferson Highway Travel Guide being produced in partnership between Big Blend Magazines and the Jefferson Highway Association.

Featured guests are Roger Bell - President of the Jefferson Highway Association, and Nancy Reid & Lisa Smith, the mother-daughter travel team who have owned and run Big Blend Magazines since 1997. Learn more about this exciting project and be part of the effort, here: https://jeffersonhighwaytravelguide.com/

The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more at https://jeffersonhighway.org/

This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST (except on holidays). Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show focuses on the Military Vehicle Preservation Association's recent convoy on the historic Jefferson Highway. Held October 1-31, 2024, the convoy will traveled from Minnesota to Louisiana. Learn more: https://www.mvpa.org/convoys

Featured guests are Roger Bell - President of the Jefferson Highway Association, MVPA Convoy Commander Dan McCluske, and Oklahoma organizer Adeline Whisenhunt.

The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more at https://jeffersonhighway.org/

This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST (except on holidays). Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show begs you to answer, "What is Your Historic Jefferson Highway Experience?"

After all, so many people live in and travel through this historic corridor from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, USA, but don't realize they are experiencing it! So many memories have been made and now a new era of travel emerges on the highway. Join us in the Revival and Remembrance of this "Pine to Palm" Vacation Highway originally founded by the Jefferson Highway Association in 1915. Learn more at https://jeffersonhighway.org/

FEATURED GUESTS - ROGER BELL, President of the Jefferson Highway Association, shares an announcement about the new digital Jefferson Highway Travel Guide, and talks about the October Military Vehicle Preservation Association's historic convoy on the highway from Minnesota to Louisiana.

* VICTORIA CHICK & KATHLEEN WALLS share their travel memories on the historic highway that span music and public art to historic lodgings, iconic swimming pools, and noteworthy sites. - See Victoria's art article about Thomas Benton Hart https://blendradioandtv.com/listing/exploring-thomas-hart-benton-country/ - Keep up with Kathleen's books at https://katywalls.com/

This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST. Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/

This episode of Big Blend Radio's "Historic Jefferson Highway" Show focuses on Fall Events and Activities including the October Military Vehicle Preservation Association's Convoy.

FEATURED GUESTS: * Roger Bell - President of the Jefferson Highway Association * Allison Zacharias of Travel Manitoba discusses Fall in Winnipeg, Canada. More: https://www.travelmanitoba.com/ * Billy Sumner of McAlester Tourism discusses Fall in McAlester, Oklahoma. More: http://www.travelmcalester.com/ * Derek Ricke of Park Rapids Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism talks about Fall in Park Rapids, Minnesota. More: https://parkrapids.com/ * Glenda Smith of at Visit Owatonna discusses Fall in Owatonna, Minnesota. More: https://visitowatonna.org/

PODCAST LINKS MENTION IN THE SHOW: * Natchitoches, Louisiana Fall Podcast: https://youtu.be/GHXEiv2--jA?feature=shared * MVPA Convoy: https://youtu.be/_bz_UIsqEso?feature=shared

The Jefferson Highway Association originally founded the Jefferson Highway in 1915. This international highway is also known as "The Pines to the Palms Highway," that runs from Winnipeg, Canada to New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more at https://jeffersonhighway.org/

This Big Blend Radio "Historic Jefferson Highway" Podcast airs every 4th Thursday at 6pm CST. Follow the show here: https://jefferson-highway.podbean.com/