The city of Joplin, Missouri, has embarked on a multi-pronged project to rebrand its historic East Town neighborhood, including adding new Route 66 signs along an original alignment there. The Joplin Globe reports new "Dreams - East Town" banners have gone up on light poles along the Langston Hughes-Broadway corridor (aka Route 66), which is … Continue reading Rebranding of Joplin’s East Town includes more Route 66 signs
Category: Attractions
Trail of Tears Memorial in Missouri reopens
The Trail of Tears Memorial and Herbal Gardens near Jerome, Missouri, reopened Earth Day to the public after months of extensive restoration work by new owner Marie Ryberg, nearby artist Chris Richardson and other volunteers. About 75 people braved rainy weather to attend the ribbon-cutting with Waynesville Chamber of Commerce officials at the entrance. Jax … Continue reading Trail of Tears Memorial in Missouri reopens
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival comes to an end
The annual World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival Birthday Party & Car Show in Collinsville, Illinois, is ending after the longtime co-organizers said they "were just done" and wanted to "move on to do other things." In a Facebook message Sunday night, co-organizer Mike Gassman posted: The Catsup Bottle Executive Committee is announcing that the annual World’s … Continue reading World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Festival comes to an end
Hundreds of volunteers help clean up Joliet prison
Hundreds of volunteer labor-union members descended on the historic Joliet Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois, last weekend to help clean up the long-neglected property. The Joliet Patch estimated 200 to 300 skilled tradesmen were at the 160-year-old prison over the two days, along with volunteer labor from Homer Tree Care to remove trees and brush. … Continue reading Hundreds of volunteers help clean up Joliet prison
Route 66 sculpture created by students erected in Riverton
A steel Route 66 shield sculpture created by high-school students went up Thursday along Route 66 on the west side of Riverton, Kansas. KSNF-TV filed this story about it: The sculpture is 20 feet tall and required about two years of work from Riverton FFA students, with guidance from FFA adviser Jacob Larison. Cherokee County contributed … Continue reading Route 66 sculpture created by students erected in Riverton
Water project may endanger Bonanza Springs in Mojave Desert
For years, Cadiz Inc. has sought to pump tens of billions of gallons of underground water from the Mojave Desert and pipe it to thirsty Southern Californians. Given the desert's arid landscape, people may shrug and say "So what?" to that piece of news. But experts now have told The Desert Sun in Palm Springs … Continue reading Water project may endanger Bonanza Springs in Mojave Desert
FFA students create Route 66 sculpture for Riverton
FFA students in Riverton, Kansas, recently finished a 20-foot-tall steel sculpture of a Route 66 shield that will go up on the Mother Road this year. According to the Joplin Globe: FFA adviser Jacob Larison said that his students came up with the idea about two years ago with the aim of bolstering the community. … Continue reading FFA students create Route 66 sculpture for Riverton
Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post
A new group that calls itself the Route 66 Co-op has purchased the long-abandoned ruins of the Painted Desert Trading Post and its accompanying 94 acres in eastern Arizona to preserve it, according to a news release Sunday afternoon. "Roamin'" Rich Dinkela, one of the co-op's members, stated in the release: It was brought to … Continue reading Route 66 group buys Painted Desert Trading Post
Windstorm flattens Route 66 mural in Lexington
An apparent windstorm knocked down a Route 66 mural in Lexington, Illinois, that was created by a local teenager barely six months ago. Karen Wingo, owner of the Thrift Avenue store along Route 66 in downtown Lexington, told the Pontiac Daily Leader she discovered the damage over Easter weekend. Wingo was first alerted to the … Continue reading Windstorm flattens Route 66 mural in Lexington
Old Joliet prison may reopen to the public by August
Supporters of reopening the 160-year-old Joliet Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois, as a tourism attraction now are thinking of a grand reopening for August after cleanup efforts at the site accelerated in recent weeks. The Herald-News reported Homer Tree Service was busy last week removing brush inside the prison, which has been closed and neglected … Continue reading Old Joliet prison may reopen to the public by August