The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program on Thursday announced five cost-share grants totaling $77,000 for 2014, including one for an endangered bridge in Oklahoma. Here are the recipients: Rock Creek Bridge, Sapulpa, Oklahoma ($5,013 National Park Service grant, $5,013 match by recipient)– The bridge carried traffic on Route 66 from 1926 until 1952. The bridge, on the … Continue reading Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program announces 2014 grants
Category: History
Road to Our Lady of the Highways Shrine will close for repairs this fall
A badly deteriorated section of Interstate 55 west frontage road between Farmersville and Raymond in Illinois -- best known as a section of Route 66 that passes in front of the historic Our Lady of the Highways Shrine -- will be closed for repairs for several weeks starting in late September, according a story in The … Continue reading Road to Our Lady of the Highways Shrine will close for repairs this fall
2014 inductees to Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame announced
Three inductees -- including a previously announced historic bar in Edwardsville -- were announced to the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame during the Illinois Route 66 Association's Motor Tour last month. Detail on the inductees may be read here. Here's a brief overview of each: Hi-Way Cafe and Tavern, Edwardsville -- Sicilian immigrants Frank and … Continue reading 2014 inductees to Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame announced
Film footage of two Route 66 landmarks during the 1980s
The Facebook page of the Dutch Route 66 Association recently uncovered some footage from the 1980s of two Route 66 landmarks. One is John's Modern Cabins, which had been abandoned for about 15 years and was already declining when the footage was shot. It was located east of Arlington, Missouri. https://youtu.be/bMJjW8HdfaQ We'd managed to uncover … Continue reading Film footage of two Route 66 landmarks during the 1980s
A history of Cadillac Ranch
On Sunday, the Amarillo Globe-News published a well-researched story about the history of the Cadillac Ranch art installation just off Route 66. Cadillac Ranch marked its 40th anniversary June 21 -- four days after owner Stanley Marsh 3 died at age 76. The story provides behind-the-scenes details about how Cadillac Ranch came about. I urge … Continue reading A history of Cadillac Ranch
Replica of historic hotel lobby re-created in Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
As if you don't have enough good reasons to visit the marvelous Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Celina Hawkins of the Odessa American in Texas explains why there's another: On Thursday, relatives and many others gathered inside the Route 66 Museum as the newest exhibit – an exact replica of the lobby of the … Continue reading Replica of historic hotel lobby re-created in Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
A visit to the Midpoint Cafe
KVII-TV reporter Larry Lemmons, based in Amarillo, traveled west on Route 66 to check out what was happening at the historic Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas. This television segment was more in-depth than I anticipated, and it captures the atmosphere of the restaurant as well as anything. https://youtu.be/IkywbkeqiPo Dennis Purschwitz and his wife Donna bought … Continue reading A visit to the Midpoint Cafe
A history of Bama Pies
If you drive through Route 66 in Tulsa, you'll probably notice a big beige building on the north side of 11th Street with the name Bama Pies. It is part of The Bama Companies. This well-produced video by the company shows how it expanded from its mom-and-pop roots to becoming a multinational corporation. Even if … Continue reading A history of Bama Pies
Springfield tunnel once was part of a brewery
Last week, workers clearing land for the future site of a Route 66-themed park on College Street in Springfield, Missouri, found a series of underground rooms that probably were at least a century old. This week, media outlets -- including the Springfield News-Leader -- found the tunnel once was part of the Springfield Brewing Co. … Continue reading Springfield tunnel once was part of a brewery
New Mexico Route 66 Museum now has regular hours
The New Mexico Route 66 Museum in Tucumcari has been operating with regular hours for about two weeks. Hours on weekdays are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. And it plans to soon add Saturday hours as well. According to the museum's website: The New Mexico Route 66 Museum will offer a unique look into … Continue reading New Mexico Route 66 Museum now has regular hours