The Chelsea (Oklahoma) Area Historical Society recently announced it would hold a ribbon-cutting for its Chelsea Area Historical Museum in a century-old corner building on July 31. The ribbon cutting will be at 10:30 a.m. that day, with a short program afterward. Cake and drinks will be offered. The museum is at 200 W. Sixth … Continue reading Ribbon-cutting for Chelsea Area Historical Museum set for July 31
Category: History
“The Changing Faces of Hualapai and Route 66” will be a part of this month’s Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series
Ka-Voka Jackson will make a presentation titled "The Changing Faces of Hualapai and Route 66" during this month's Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series. The presentation will be livestreamed on July 14 at 2 p.m. Eastern or 11 a.m. Pacific. Register for the free livestream here. Jackson's presentation will explore the history of the Hualapai Tribe … Continue reading “The Changing Faces of Hualapai and Route 66” will be a part of this month’s Route 66 Centennial Speaker Series
Cruise Route 66 from El Reno to Tulsa during the mid-1960s
Bruce Clark recently posted this six-minute home video (with no sound) from the mid-1960s of a Route 66 trip from El Reno, Oklahoma, to Tulsa. In it, you'll see a lot of cool neon signs and plenty of Space Age architecture. Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association, in the comment thread, narrowed … Continue reading Cruise Route 66 from El Reno to Tulsa during the mid-1960s
Al-Pac Motel in Pacific was recently torn down
This post is a few weeks late, but the Al-Pac Motel along Route 66 in Pacific, Missouri, met the wrecking ball. Matthew Lowrey reported on the motel's destruction in a post on the Historic Route 66 page. I have to admit the Al-Pac had escaped my notice for many years. But Route 66 Times, as … Continue reading Al-Pac Motel in Pacific was recently torn down
CBS Sunday Morning produces a short feature on Route 66
On Sunday, the "CBS Sunday Morning" program produced a 6 1/2-minute feature about Route 66 during its centennial year. The segment includes archived footage from CBS, including Charles Kuralt at Cadillac Ranch during the 1970s, Blue Swallow Motel owner Lillian Redman in 1993 and Angel Delgadillo in 1989. It has new footage, too, of "Route … Continue reading CBS Sunday Morning produces a short feature on Route 66
World’s first Dairy Queen in Joliet to be resurrected as a Route 66 landmark
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
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