Author Stew Magnuson, whose nonfiction work The Death of Raymond Yellow Thunder was named 2009 Nebraska Book of the Year, will be back in Texas in August during the Wild and Free on 83 Festival, with his latest book series, The Last American Highway: A Journey Through Time Down U.S. Route 83.

The author will make a stop in Canadian from 7-8:30 pm Thursday, Aug. 1, at the iconic Palace Theatre for a presentation and book signing.

Magnuson, a Nebraska native who now resides in the Washington, D.C., area, spent summers along the 1,885-mile-long route that stretches from the Canadian border in the north to Brownsville in south Texas. When he returned as an adult to drive the highway, he discovered what set it apart from other transcontinental routes. He determined that the north-south 83 was the longest remaining U.S. highway that had not been largely paved over by interstate, or swallowed up by urban sprawl. He has spent the last decade encouraging travelers to explore Highway 83 and spend some of their dollars in the small towns along the way.

His compelling stories and images from multiple journeys along the highway are represented in three volumes: The Dakotas; Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma; and Texas. With the longest stretch of mileage along the route, Texas rates a book all its own.

Magnuson will give a narrated travelogue accompanied by his photographs, and sign books, at several locations during a book tour sponsored by the Texas Plains Trail Region. The events are part of the “Wild and Free on 83” promotion by Childress, Wellington, Shamrock, Wheeler, and Canadian, all situated along U.S. 83 in the eastern Panhandle of Texas. Most events take place in historic locations along U.S. 83; admission to all events is free. All three books in the series will be available for sale and signing.

Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019

The Last American Highway presentation and signing with Stew Magnuson, Ritz Theatre, 902 East Ave., Wellington, 3–4:30 pm. The restored 1928 Ritz was the first in the area to show talking pictures.

Thursday, Aug. 1

The Last American Highway presentation and signing with Stew Magnuson, Palace Theatre, 210 Main St., Canadian, 7–8:30 pm. The restored 1909 Palace Theatre is the first THX-equipped movie theatre in the Texas Panhandle.

Saturday, Aug. 3

The Last American Highway presentation and signing with Stew Magnuson, Childress County Heritage Museum, 210 3rd St.NW, Childress, 11 am–12:30 pm. The museum also houses exhibits related to World War II, railroad heritage, and other aspects of local history.

Saturday, Aug. 3

The Last American Highway presentation and signing with Stew Magnuson, Wheeler Historical Museum, 105 N. Alan L. Bean Blvd., Wheeler, 3–4:30 pm. Also at the museum, view the personal collection of memorabilia from NASA’s Alan L. Bean, plus Custer on the Sweetwater, Red River War, and Wheeler County exhibits.

Saturday, Aug. 3

The Last American Highway signing with Stew Magnuson, U-Drop Inn, 111 Route 66, Shamrock, 5–8 pm. The landmark U-Drop Inn, where US 83 crosses Route 66, is on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also the inspiration for the art deco garage in the Disney/Pixar Cars movies.