Ryan Abella, a reporter for the Kingman Daily Miner in Kingman, Arizona, dug into the newspaper's archives for a story on the very first Arizona Route 66 Fun Run in 1988. The 28th edition of the Fun Run finishes today. Abella found some fascinating tidbits about the inaugural event: --- The Fun Run started not … Continue reading The story behind the first Fun Run
Category: Events
Another museum opens in Pontiac tomorrow
The long-planned Museum of Gilding Arts in downtown Pontiac, Illinois, opens to the public for the first time at 9 a.m. Saturday, according to a news release from Pontiac Tourism. The museum is at 217 N. Mill St. (map here) and will be near four other museums in Pontiac, including the Illinois Route 66 Hall of … Continue reading Another museum opens in Pontiac tomorrow
Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center opens
The Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center, a prominent new part of the McLean County Museum of History in downtown Bloomington, Illinois, opened to more than 300 guests in just three hours during its debut Saturday, according to the Bloomington Pantagraph. Spurred by the success of Pontiac, Illinois, playing up Route 66 tourism, Bloomington embarked on a major renovation … Continue reading Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center opens
Woman eats three 72-ounce steak dinners in 20 minutes
Molly Schuyler, the 120-pound Nebraska woman who ate two 72-ounce steak dinners in one 15-minute sitting at Amarillo's Big Texan Steak Ranch a year ago, devoured three 72-ounce steak dinners in a mere 20 minutes Sunday afternoon and broke a record, according to the Amarillo Globe-News. The crowd cheered as Schuyler, a Nebraska native who … Continue reading Woman eats three 72-ounce steak dinners in 20 minutes
Route 66 Alliance getting out of the festival business
A news release a few days ago reported the Route 66 Alliance and the National Historic Route 66 Federation had formalized their affiliation with each other and bring them under the umbrella of the fledgling U.S. 66 Highway Association. The merger between the two organizations was announced months ago, as was the revival of the … Continue reading Route 66 Alliance getting out of the festival business
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to play at Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, along with special guest Pure Prairie League, will perform Aug. 14 at the historic Gillioz Theatre during the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, according to the Springfield News-Leader. The country-rock band, which has been around for almost 50 years, is best-known for its cover of "Mr. Bojangles" … Continue reading Nitty Gritty Dirt Band to play at Birthplace of Route 66 Festival
Michael Wallis appears on C-SPAN
"Route 66: The Mother Road" author Michael Wallis talks about Cyrus Avery, Tulsa, and the history of Route 66 during a 14-minute segment on the C-SPAN cable channel. This segment was filmed just a few weeks ago in Tulsa. The video cannot be linked, so go to the link here so you can watch it … Continue reading Michael Wallis appears on C-SPAN
Route 66 advocate named to Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame
Sally Bourne Ferrell of Chandler, Oklahoma, an early leader in the creation of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association and one of the champions in restoring a historic armory that became the Route 66 Interpretive Center, was announced as an inductee to the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame, according to a report in The Oklahoman newspaper. The induction … Continue reading Route 66 advocate named to Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame
Romeoville art fair will include Bob Waldmire tribute
The inaugural Route 66 Kiwanis Art Fair in Romeoville, Illinois, on Aug. 22 will include a tribute to late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center at 55 Phelps Ave. in Romeoville (map here), less than a … Continue reading Romeoville art fair will include Bob Waldmire tribute
Route 66 festival planned in Europe in 2016
Route 66 aficionados across the pond in the past week have organized a European Route 66 Festival in 2016 that already includes firm dates, activities and the logo you see above. Longtime Route 66 enthusiast Dries Bessels of the Netherlands created the European Route66 Festival page on Facebook -- which is a closed group, but … Continue reading Route 66 festival planned in Europe in 2016