Bussey Building

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2025

1. Bussey Building Marker

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Panhandle.

Plains,

Plains,

Plains.

America,

state,

Hemisphere,

World,

Anglosphere.

Spain,

Comanchería,

Bowl,

Texas,

America.

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by Lueise Tyson and Bruce Jensen, 8/1993:
The US Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District is a section of the old Route 66 that runs through the San Jacinto Heights neighborhood of Amarillo, Texas. The 13-block strip contains an intact collection of commercial buildings with significant associations with Route 66 and its development through Amarillo and Texas from the mid-1920s to the post-World War II era. Route 66 was one of the earliest transcontinental highways in the United States. The Texas portion ran through the State's panhandle and measured 177 miles. Amarillo was the only major urban community the route traversed in the State.

As Route 66 developed, facilities to cater to tourists increased. Many of these services can be interpreted through the US Route 66-Sixth

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2025

2. Bussey Building Marker

The marker is mounted above eye level on the right side of the front/north entrance.

Street Historic District property. When initiated in the mid-1920s, Route 66 was developed to facilitate transcontinental travel and tourism. It flourished during that decade as Amarillo benefitted from an oil and gas boom. During the hardships of the 1930s, the highway provided a major route of exodus for those who fled agricultural losses. In the following decade Route 66 assisted with war-related travel. In the post-World War II era, the route was realigned, widened, and repaired. In 1953, Route 66 was realigned to the north to avoid passage through Amarillo's downtown area. From that date, this property increasingly catered to local traffic.

The first concentration of commercial establishments arose at Fifth (now Sixth) and Florida with construction in 1924 of the Bussey Building. Contractor Albert Randall built this half-block section of modest strip commercial buildings for L.W. Bussey for $10,000. Featuring dark brown brick with limestone details, this row of four storefronts consists of a series of single doors flanked by glass display windows capped by fixed transoms. Constructed before the renumbering of San Jacinto in 1928, the buildings housed a series of shops in various configurations. As businesses prospered or declined, the amount of space they occupied affected addresses over the years. On 8 September 1924 the Amarillo Globe pronounced the building complete,

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2025

3. Bussey Building

Looking south across historic U.S. Route 66. Today the century-old building is home to Whispering Pine Antiques, Amarillo Route 66 Shop, Lile Art Gallery, and 6th Street Antique Mall.

although Lineville Drug in the corner shop was the sole occupant. A series of grocery stores, cafes, cleaners and drug stores subsequently occupied the space. Holders of Beauty License No. 1 for the State of Texas, the San Jacinto Beauty School was the most famous occupant from 1941 until 1964.

Excerpt:  6th Street was the first paved (with gravel) highway through Amarillo. Besides being part of the Route 66 Highway, it was also part of the Ozark Trail Highway. 6th Street was widened twice in its history, the 1st time in 1926 and the 2nd time in 1942. In the widening of 1942 several of the buildings, mainly on the north side of the Street, had parts removed and new fronts added. That is why many of the buildings look “newer” and are so close to the sidewalk. In the 1950’s Route 66 was re-routed to the newly opened 8th Street (now Amarillo Blvd.) which caused many of the businesses that catered to travelers to move or close. In the 1960’s, I-40 replaced both as the main highway. In the 1980’s, antique dealers, bars, and restaurants took an interest in the district and began the revitalization that we see today on 6th Street. In the 1990’s, the district and a number of the buildings were listed on

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2025

4. Texas Route 66 Sign

In front of the Bussey Building.

the National Historic Register.

Excerpt:  Welcome to the Old Route 66 Association of Texas. Our small but mighty stretch of the Mother Road runs 178 miles across the Texas Panhandle, packed with history, hidden gems, and plenty of stories worth telling. We take a lot of pride in protecting this piece of America’s highway — preserving landmarks, celebrating our towns, and keeping that Route 66 spirit alive for generations to come.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2025

5. Route 66 mural spanning east side of Bussey Building