A few days ago, a 100-foot-wide Centennial Arch was raised along Front Street (aka old Route 66) in Galena, Kansas, though it's not completely finished. Former Galena mayor Dale Oglesby came up with the idea for Route 66's centennial in 2026 almost 15 years ago, reported KSNF-TV in nearby Joplin, Missouri. In fact, some of … Continue reading Route 66 Centennial Arch erected in Galena
Category: Attractions
County commissioner pledges $250,000 to operations of Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque
Bernalillo County Commissioner Frank Baca recently pledged $250,000 from his District Directed Funding account towards operations of the yet-to-open Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque. The county operated the $13 million facility until April 2024, then donated it to the City of Albuquerque. The city formed a Route 66 Visitor Center Commission to determine how … Continue reading County commissioner pledges $250,000 to operations of Route 66 Visitor Center in Albuquerque
New Route 66 Memorial dedicated at Buehler Park in Rolla
The Rolla Chamber of Commerce presided last week over the ribbon-cutting and dedication of a new Route 66 Memorial at Buehler Park in Rolla, Missouri. According to the chamber, the memorial was paid for with a grant from the Missouri Route 66 Centennial Commission. Aimee Campbell, the city's tourism director, shepherded the project. According to … Continue reading New Route 66 Memorial dedicated at Buehler Park in Rolla
35-foot-tall neon boot that pays tribute to “Route 66” song proposed in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City chose a public art design that features a huge neon boot, paying tribute to the iconic song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66." As OKCTalk reported recently, the city will set aside $875,000 in voter-approved MAPS 4 sales-tax funds for the project. More details: The central element of Kicks 66 is a 35-foot-tall … Continue reading 35-foot-tall neon boot that pays tribute to “Route 66” song proposed in Oklahoma City
“Flat Will” lets travelers take Will Rogers with them on their next road trip
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association recently announced its launch of Flat Will, an interactive way for people to honor the Sooner State's favorite son, Will Rogers, and take him on new adventures, just in time for the Route 66 centennial in 2026. Take selfies with Flat Will -- a cutout likeness of Rogers about 11 … Continue reading “Flat Will” lets travelers take Will Rogers with them on their next road trip
New Muffler Man named Cowboy Bob added to Buck’s Vintage on 66 in Tulsa
Tulsa's Route 66 corridor boasts yet another Muffler Man -- this time, it's Cowboy Bob, erected on Wednesday in front of Buck's Vintage on 66. A celebration of the arrival of the 21-foot-tall fiberglass giant was set for Thursday, but owner Mary Beth Babcock touted its installation the day before. Babcock’s first Muffler Man, named Buck … Continue reading New Muffler Man named Cowboy Bob added to Buck’s Vintage on 66 in Tulsa
New Mexico Tourism awards $1.3 million in grants to Route 66 communities
The New Mexico Tourism Department announced this week that it will distribute a total of $1.3 million in grants to Route 66 communities in fiscal year 2026 for marketing and promotion, special events and infrastructure, including a Route 66 musical road in Santa Rosa and restoration of a vintage gas station in Milan. The agency … Continue reading New Mexico Tourism awards $1.3 million in grants to Route 66 communities
Giant spaceman erected along Route 66 in Weatherford
A giant fiberglass astronaut was erected on Monday along Route 66 in Weatherford, Oklahoma, as a way to highlight the town's substantial space heritage. Wichita Mountains Life posted this video of the spaceman being assembled: The Weatherford Area Chamber of Commerce also posted photos of the installation: The big astronaut serves as a salute to … Continue reading Giant spaceman erected along Route 66 in Weatherford
Cars of the Mother Road features 13-foot-tall likeness of Williams mayor
Cars of the Mother Road in Williams, Arizona, recently paid tribute to former mayor John C. Moore by fashioning a 13-foot-tall, cowboy-hat-wearing likeness of him. The Williams Independent reported that Marshall Noriega wanted to spruce up his business with eye-catching elements before Route 66's centennial next year. He initially envisioned a tall cowboy, a saguaro … Continue reading Cars of the Mother Road features 13-foot-tall likeness of Williams mayor
Ground broken on project to move Chrysler Plymouth neon sign in Bristow to Route 66
Local officials, including the Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell, presided Friday over a groundbreaking ceremony to move the historic but long-abandoned Chrysler Plymouth tower sign in Bristow, Oklahoma, to Route 66 in town and restore the neon. KJRH-TV in nearby Tulsa reported that a state Route 66 revitalization grant is covering $700,000 of the $1 million … Continue reading Ground broken on project to move Chrysler Plymouth neon sign in Bristow to Route 66