Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee

The Route 66 Centennial Commission Act bill advanced Wednesday out of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works and will head to the full Senate floor. The bill, introduced as S1014 by Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) on April 3, was given a letter of support by the Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 centennial bill advances out of Senate committee

New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena

A new, huge and vintage-style Coca-Cola mural, complete with a Route 66 shield, recently was painted onto a prominent building in downtown Galena, Kansas, where two Route 66 alignments meet. The century-old building sits at Kansas Route 66 (the newer alignment) and Main Street (aka old Route 66). A local television station recently reported about … Continue reading New Coca-Cola mural added to prominent building in Galena

Markley Shovel, a predecessor to Big Brutus, is dedicated

A century-old coal-mining shovel that served as a much-smaller predecessor of the Big Brutus shovel was dedicated Saturday at the Big Brutus Visitors Center in West Mineral, Kansas. According to an Associated Press article, Perry Markley designed and built by hand the smaller shovel in the early 1900s using junkyard parts. The machine was one … Continue reading Markley Shovel, a predecessor to Big Brutus, is dedicated

A new video about Amboy Crater

A couple that runs the Oddity Odysseys channel on YouTube recently explored Amboy Crater, the dormant volcano just off Route 66 near Amboy, California. They lucked out in one way: They climbed into the cinder cone during a semi-cloudy day, which blunted the Mojave Desert's brutal sun considerably. It helps they also carried with plenty … Continue reading A new video about Amboy Crater

Afton Station will be auctioned June 29

Afton Station, a closed landmark along Route 66 in Afton, Oklahoma, and its remaining contents will be auctioned June 29 after its co-owners died within a period of less than two years. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association on Thursday announced the auction on Facebook. The auction will begin that day at 10 a.m. at the station … Continue reading Afton Station will be auctioned June 29

Big jackrabbit restored at Jack Rabbit Trading Post

The big jackrabbit at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post near Joseph City, Arizona, recently was reinstalled after about a one-week restoration effort. Here's a "before" photo of the fiberglass giant: And here's an "after" image of the giant animal: Co-owner Cindy Jaquez said the 34-year-old jackrabbit needed a new coat of paint and badly needed … Continue reading Big jackrabbit restored at Jack Rabbit Trading Post

Restoration complete on Muffler Man lumberjack in Albuquerque

Restoration on a Muffler Man lumberjack on the premises of a Vietnamese restaurant in Albuquerque finished a few days ago, including the statue's severed arms and his ax. Repair work on the fiberglass statue at the May Cafe at Central Avenue (aka Route 66) and Louisiana Boulevard began a couple of weeks ago. Strong winds … Continue reading Restoration complete on Muffler Man lumberjack in Albuquerque

Mother Road Route 66 Passport now available along the highway

The Mother Road Route 66 Passport, created by the folks who developed the Route 66 Navigation app, now is available at locations along Route 66. Marian Pavel, CEO of Touch Media, put out this news release over the weekend. It states, in part: Passport holders collect unique stamps at 28 carefully selected locations on their … Continue reading Mother Road Route 66 Passport now available along the highway

Restoration of Gemini Giant completed

The restoration of the Gemini Giant, the famous fiberglass mascot of the Launching Pad Drive-In restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois, was finished a few days ago. Here is a before-and-after photo the restaurant posted on Facebook: Tully Garrett and Holly Barker stated Sunday on the restaurant's Facebook page: Success! The Gemini Giant’s paint is finally complete! His … Continue reading Restoration of Gemini Giant completed

State awards $2 million for Route 66 Visitors Center in Albuquerque

The New Mexico Legislature's capital-outlays package includes $2 million for Albuquerque's proposed Route 66 Visitors Center and another $50,000 for Route 66 signage in the city. KRQE-TV in Albuquerque listed more than 100 projects approved by the Legislature and governor, including the two Route 66 items. The Route 66 Visitors Center on Nine Mile Hill … Continue reading State awards $2 million for Route 66 Visitors Center in Albuquerque