A history museum in Vega, Texas, that sits a half-block off Route 66 recently placed what it calls the "world's largest branding iron" on its grounds. The Milburn-Price Culture Museum at 1005 Coke St. (map here) announced Monday in a Facebook post it placed a 22-foot-long, 3,000-pound branding iron with the XIT ranch logo. The … Continue reading ‘World’s largest branding iron’ placed at Vega museum
Category: Attractions
Owners, caretaker of Blue Whale named to Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
The deceased former owners and a longtime caretaker of the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma, were inducted into the 2018 Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. The inductees were the Hugh and Zelta Davis, who owned the Route 66 landmark for years, and their son, Blaine Davis, a caretaker for the whale. The Oklahoma Route … Continue reading Owners, caretaker of Blue Whale named to Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
Joliet may use $50,000 for old prison, reopen this month
The city of Joliet, Illinois, proposed an allocation of $50,000 to the Joliet Area Historical Museum to help cover expenses in reopening the historic Joliet prison. If funding goes through as expected, Greg Peerbolte, the museum's executive director, said it could start tours inside the old Joliet Correctional Center later this month. The Herald-News reported: The … Continue reading Joliet may use $50,000 for old prison, reopen this month
Renovated Gateway Arch museum in St. Louis reopens to public
The Gateway Arch Museum and Visitor Center in St. Louis reopened to the public Tuesday after a $380 million renovation of the grounds using public and private funding. The 630-foot-tall, stainless steel monument, completed in 1965, remains essentially unchanged. But the grounds surrounding it underwent a makeover in a four-year period -- namely to make the … Continue reading Renovated Gateway Arch museum in St. Louis reopens to public
Route 66 neon sign park in Tulsa planned for late 2019
The Route 66 Commission in Tulsa announced Wednesday a small neon-sign park is planned on the southwest side of Avery Centennial Plaza, also known as the historic 11th Street Bridge that once carried Route 66. In a Facebook post late Wednesday, the commission stated it would install three re-created neon signs in Tulsa that were … Continue reading Route 66 neon sign park in Tulsa planned for late 2019
The man behind many of Tucumcari’s murals
The Route 66 town of Tucumcari, New Mexico, boasts so much public artwork, it's proclaimed itself the "City of Murals" in one of its \brochures. What many don't realize is one man -- Doug Quarles -- was responsible for creating about 85 percent of those murals. And he will create more murals in Tucumcari in … Continue reading The man behind many of Tucumcari’s murals
Los Lunas tourism plan includes possible Route 66 museum
The village council of Los Lunas, New Mexico, recently approved a strategic tourism plan that includes a possible Route 66 museum. The News-Bulletin reported the village wants to collaborate with other municipalities in Valencia County to boost tourism to the region. The newspaper reported: The objectives of the plan include creating a road map brochure … Continue reading Los Lunas tourism plan includes possible Route 66 museum
New welcome arch installed in Kingman
A new "Welcome to Kingman, Arizona" arch -- featuring a Route 66 shield prominently in its design -- was installed Tuesday over Beale Street between Locomotive Park and Lee Williams High School to help escort travelers to the city's historic downtown. The arch cost the city an estimated $170,000 for the final product from Young … Continue reading New welcome arch installed in Kingman
Inspector general’s report criticizes ART project
Albuquerque's inspector general on Thursday issued a scathing report about the troubled Albuquerque Rapid Transit project along nine miles of the city's Route 66 corridor. The report, in effect, repudiates former mayor Richard Berry, who championed the project and shepherded ART through a divided city council. Berry said ART, which caused 18 months of construction … Continue reading Inspector general’s report criticizes ART project
U.S. House passes Route 66 National Historic Trail bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday evening approved by a voice vote the Route 66 National Historic Trail Act. The bill advances to the U.S. Senate for consideration. According to reports by the U.S. House clerk, lawmakers quickly suspended rules for debate and proceeded to vote on the bill, called HR 801, without objection. … Continue reading U.S. House passes Route 66 National Historic Trail bill