Stamp collectors along with Route 66 aficionados will be on the lookout for the new Route 66 Forever Stamp collection, featuring the famous U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, released Wednesday, May 6.
Not only is the green U-Drop Inn Cafe an iconic establishment known well along Route 66, but it also serves up some classic American favorites including breakfast specials and signature dishes such as pulled pork and brisket dinners along with Mom’s Meatloaf.
Richard Ware, Texas Commissioner for Route 66 Centennial, recognized the release of the United States Postal Service’s Route 66 Forever Stamp featuring the iconic UDrop Inn in Shamrock, Wednesday morning at Amarillo National Bank’s Plaza One location in a small ceremony involving the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce and others.
The U-Drop Inn is an unmistakable Art Deco landmark and beloved stop along Route 66, according to a news release sent by ANB. It pays tribute to the spirit of the Texas Panhandle and the communities that have welcomed travelers for generations.
Shamrock City Manager Troy Potts stated, “This is an incredible honor not only for the U-Drop Inn, but for the entire community of Shamrock. The U-Drop Inn has long stood as a symbol of the spirit of Route 66, welcoming travelers from across the country and around the world. To see it recognized on a national postage stamp during the Route 66 Centennial is a proud moment for our town and a celebration of the history and heritage we continue to preserve.”
Amarillo Texas Postmaster Landon Thorton added, “With these stamps, the Postal Service celebrates the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the legendary highway established in 1926 that originally stretched about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Dubbed ‘The Mother Road,’ Route 66 forever changed how Americans traveled and became a symbol of freedom and adventure.”
“The pane of 16 stamps includes eight different photographs, featured twice on the stamp pane, showing a site from each state that Route 66 runs through,” Thorton said. “Greg Breeding, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps and stamp pane using existing photographs by David J. Schwartz. It is exciting to see a local historic landmark represented on these stamps, especially while our nation and the USPS celebrate 250 years.”
Ware talked about the importance of Route 66 to the Amarillo area, along with the nation and the 100th anniversary of the Mother Road.
“The U-Drop Inn is recognized around the country,” said Ware. “Seeing it honored in this way reinforces the significance of our local history and the lasting impact Route 66 has had on our communities.”
“We’re so excited to see the U-Drop Inn and Conoco Tower Station recognized in the Route 66 Centennial stamp collection,” said Kashion Smith, Executive Director of Visit Amarillo. “It’s a big moment for our Route 66 partners and a reminder of how strong the legacy of the Mother Road still is today. We’re proud to be part of it and can’t wait to see that legacy carry forward for the next 100 years.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Shamrock’s U-Drop Inn immortalized in USPS Route 66 Forever Stamp
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
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