The Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Illinois, recently held a private unveiling of the "Twin Centennial" mural that will be installed later this month outside of the historic theater. Dante DiBartolo's mural honors both the theater and Route 66, both of which will mark their 100th year in 2026. The theater showed what the mural … Continue reading New, Route 66-themed mural unveiled for Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet
Category: Art
40-foot mural on Rialto Square Theatre will honor the historic venue and Route 66
The Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Illinois, next month will install a 40-foot-long mural that honors that historic venue and Route 66, both of which will be marking their centennial in 2026. The Herald-News reports the Route 66 Rialto Twin Centennial Mural will be placed on the left side of the theater's entrance. Artist Dante … Continue reading 40-foot mural on Rialto Square Theatre will honor the historic venue and Route 66
Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces $6,000 worth of grants
The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway this week announced the latest round of the Byway Project Funds program to provide financial assistance to byway members. Byway Project Funds are meant to support events, marketing and advertising efforts, and projects that help preserve the heritage of Illinois Route 66 and promote travel to Illinois Route 66 … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway announces $6,000 worth of grants
New Mexico Route 66 Association to honor Hotel Zazz in Albuquerque
The New Mexico Route 66 Association on Saturday will give its Heritage Award to Hotel Zazz in Albuquerque at noon Saturday. According to a news release from the association, it is recognizing the "revitalization of this classic Route 66 motel into a whimsical, memorable experience with piZAZZ." Originally opened as Albuquerque TraveLodge East in 1966, … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Association to honor Hotel Zazz in Albuquerque
City of Amarillo begins repainting water tower that will sport a Route 66 emblem
The City of Amarillo recently began repainting a water tower that will include a special Route 66 emblem, probably by early spring. KFDA-TV reported about the project last week: “You really don’t know if you’re on Route 66, unless you’re seeing those brown Route 66 signs that are pretty spread out. Having these markers will … Continue reading City of Amarillo begins repainting water tower that will sport a Route 66 emblem
New music video shows dozens of Tulsa attractions, including those on Route 66
Tulsa-based musician Charlie Redd recently released an animated music video, "Tulsa Hills," described as "a love letter to Tulsa." The video contains images of nearly 150 sites in Tulsa, including quite a few along the city's stretch of Route 66. https://youtu.be/IIhZlo4ZDbA Mort Johnson, a Tulsa native, did the animation. In an article in the Tulsa … Continue reading New music video shows dozens of Tulsa attractions, including those on Route 66
Largest handmade guitar sculpture coming to Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet
A 24-foot-tall handmade guitar sculpture proclaimed as the world's largest will be coming to the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 in downtown Joliet, Illinois. The work, called Gigantar, will begin a nearly one-week road trip to the museum with a launch party at the legendary Stone Pony nightclub in Asbury Park, New … Continue reading Largest handmade guitar sculpture coming to Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 in Joliet
The man behind the scrap-metal elephant sculpture in Lexington
Along the side of Route 66 in Lexington, Illinois, is an 11-foot-tall elephant sculpture made of scrap metal, titled "American Standard." It's become a photo-op, as it's listed on the Roadside America website and the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway site. According to a recent profile by NPR affiliate WGLT Radio, the artist behind the … Continue reading The man behind the scrap-metal elephant sculpture in Lexington
Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau honored for Route 66 mural trail
The Illinois Governor’s Conference on Travel & Tourism recently honored the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau with a Cooperative Partnership award for The Last 100 Miles of Route 66 Postcard Mural Trail. More about the honor from The Alton Telegraph newspaper: Working with 12 different Route 66 communities to create a vivid Route 66 … Continue reading Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau honored for Route 66 mural trail
Memorial dedicated to Joplin tornado victims of 2011
A 17-foot-tall sculpture was dedicated Wednesday to the people who died in the 2011 tornado that ravaged Joplin, Missouri. The Joplin Memorial Run sculpture bears the names of the 161 dead from the EF5 twister. It is located at the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex at Joplin Avenue and Seventh Street (aka Route … Continue reading Memorial dedicated to Joplin tornado victims of 2011