End of the Trail
By Jim Conkle
How did this sign come to be on the Santa Monica Pier and who made it happen?
The story begins when Dan Rice, who was in the process of opening up the first store on the pier that was 100% Route 66 themed, saw an old photo of this sign. It was located in the park area where Santa Monica Blvd and Ocean Blvd, which is where Route 66 ended. He had visions of having a sign like this on the pier, so this one fit his requirements.
This is when his relationship with Jim Conkle was just getting started. Between the two of them, along with support from the folks that ran the pier, wheels were set into motion. One of the folks involved is Jim Harris, whose article on the Santa Monica pier is elsewhere in this newsletter. The Santa Monica Pier Corporation works alongside the Santa Monica Travel & Tourism folks.
Moving forward all parties were in agreement that a sign, this one in fact, could and should be on the pier.
Dan had a sign company make it up. A date was selected, November 11, 2009, to unveil it to the media and public.
The partners had their public relations people promote the idea of the sign and the unveiling date, which led to this event getting major media coverage. One TV station reporter and crew were on the pier at 5 am. Of course, Dan and Jim were there at 3 am.
The date picked was to also honor Veterans Day. Being it was a Wednesday (middle of the week) a light crowd was expected. Boy, were we wrong! Once all the local TV morning shows covered it, folks came out from all over Southern California. The folks at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville put together a car caravan to come to the pier, where they held a car show.
This sign has now become one of the major attractions on the road and a top location for a photo opportunity (see our slideshow of “selfies” below). If anyone goes on a trip accompanying the entire length of Route 66, along with its beginning in Chicago, the Santa Monica Pier and the End of the Trail sign are on everyone’s list of “must-stops”.
Selfies at the End of the Trail
