The very first Dairy Queen restaurant, located in Joliet, Illinois, is being resurrected as a Route 66 landmark. According to WGN-TV, the Joliet Area Historical Museum, which acquired the building in 2023, is leading the project along with the city. Dairy Queen is providing historical and archival documents for the project. J.C. McCullough and Sherb … Continue reading World’s first Dairy Queen in Joliet to be resurrected as a Route 66 landmark
Category: History
History Museum on the Square opens “Miles of Memories: Celebrating Route 66’s Centennial” exhibit
The History Museum on the Square in downtown Springfield, Missouri, recently opened the “Miles of Memories: Celebrating Route 66's Centennial” exhibit. The exhibit will remain up until Sept. 20. The Springfield News-Leader reported: The exhibit is a retrospective, combining highlights from the museum's five-year Route 66 series, which began in 2022. [...] The new exhibit … Continue reading History Museum on the Square opens “Miles of Memories: Celebrating Route 66’s Centennial” exhibit
Kickstarter campaign launched for “Neon Notes: Postmarked from the Road” project
Colorado-based artist and writer Colby Helzer has launched a Kickstarter campaign for her "Neon Notes: Postmarked from the Road," a Route 66 Centennial Certified Project. The campaign aims to raise $15,000 for the project. Here's what Helzer wrote about it: Neon Notes: Postmarked from the Road is an independent Route 66 archival storytelling project created … Continue reading Kickstarter campaign launched for “Neon Notes: Postmarked from the Road” project
Century-old 66 Motel in Needles is for sale for $249,000
The historic 66 Motel in Needles, California, has been listed for $249,000. The motel at 91 Desnok St., just off the main Route 66 alignment of Broadway in town, hasn't operated as a motel for at least 30 years and has been converted into apartments. River Sisters Realty in nearby Mohave Valley, Arizona, is the … Continue reading Century-old 66 Motel in Needles is for sale for $249,000
La Posada in Winslow is inducted into Historic Hotels of America
Historic Hotels of America last week announced its induction of La Posada, a Route 66 landmark in Winslow, Arizona. Historic Hotels of America is an official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that recognizes, celebrates and promotes the finest historic hotels in the country. To be inducted as a member into Historic Hotels … Continue reading La Posada in Winslow is inducted into Historic Hotels of America
Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge in St. Louis may be replaced
The 75-year-old Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge that links St. Louis to East St. Louis, Illinois, may be replaced at a cost of over $600 million due to its deteriorating condition. The bridge served as Route 66 from 1957 to 1969. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that area transportation officials imposed weight restrictions on the … Continue reading Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge in St. Louis may be replaced
Preservation Oklahoma includes original pavement of Route 66 on its Most Endangered Places list
Several stretches of original pavement of Route 66 were designated as among the Most Endangered Places in Preservation Oklahoma's annual list. The endangered Route 66 stretches mentioned by the organization were: Ribbon Road near Miami Canadian County east of Fort Reno Washita County southwest of Clinton Here's what Preservation Oklahoma stated about the original pavement: … Continue reading Preservation Oklahoma includes original pavement of Route 66 on its Most Endangered Places list
Route 66 author T. Lindsay Baker dies in accident during Route 66 Centennial Caravan
T. Lindsay Baker, a historian and author of two Route 66-themed books, died Thursday morning in an accident on Interstate 40 near Flagstaff, Arizona, while participating in the Route 66 Centennial Caravan as a Texas representative. He was 79. The Texas Old Route 66 Association stated in a Facebook post that Baker had been driving … Continue reading Route 66 author T. Lindsay Baker dies in accident during Route 66 Centennial Caravan
Cannabis dispensary re-creates “First / Last Stop in Texas” sign in Glenrio
A cannabis dispensary in Glenrio, New Mexico, recently recreated the "First/Last Stop in Texas" sign that had been deteriorating for years. The Instagram account for the Glenrio Smoke Stop recently posted images of the new sign near the New Mexico-Texas border. Glenrio Smoke Stop also stated it would hold a relighting event for the sign … Continue reading Cannabis dispensary re-creates “First / Last Stop in Texas” sign in Glenrio
Taylor’s Dairy Joy in Lebanon closes after more than 60 years
Taylor's Dairy Joy restaurant in Lebanon, Missouri, announced its closure in late May, a few weeks after the owners put the business up for sale. The Facebook account for the restaurant stated: Its been a long 60yrs and it it bittersweet, but after a great time in the Lebanon Community, Taylors Dairy Joy is closed. … Continue reading Taylor’s Dairy Joy in Lebanon closes after more than 60 years