The Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Illinois, next month will install a 40-foot-long mural that honors that historic venue and Route 66, both of which will be marking their centennial in 2026. The Herald-News reports the Route 66 Rialto Twin Centennial Mural will be placed on the left side of the theater's entrance. Artist Dante … Continue reading 40-foot mural on Rialto Square Theatre will honor the historic venue and Route 66
Category: History
Rod’s Grill in Arcadia will close tomorrow as it undergoes a change in ownership
The historic Rod's Grill along Route 66 in Arcadia, California, is closing its doors Sunday before it undergoes a change in ownership, though plans for the restaurant remain unclear. The Romero family announced the closing and changes in a social media post on Wednesday: The Pasadena Star-News also reported on the restaurant's closing: According to … Continue reading Rod’s Grill in Arcadia will close tomorrow as it undergoes a change in ownership
Illinois Holocaust Museum near Chicago hosts Negro Motorist Green Book exhibition
The Illinois Holocaust Museum is hosting an exhibition about the "Negro Motorist Green Book" published during America's Jim Crow era from the 1930s to the 1960s. The Green Book, published by Victor Hugo Green, was an annual guidebook for African American travelers looking for nondiscriminating gas stations, restaurants, lodging establishments and other accommodations during the … Continue reading Illinois Holocaust Museum near Chicago hosts Negro Motorist Green Book exhibition
NAU offers program to develop educational curriculum focusing on Route 66 history
Northern Arizona University is offering teachers across the United States a professional development opportunity called “Racialized Spaces on Route 66” which uses the historic road as a foundation to develop curriculum materials embedded in social justice to foster critical thinking in kindergarten through 12th-grade students. The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s Research and Education Working Group partnered … Continue reading NAU offers program to develop educational curriculum focusing on Route 66 history
About $15 million in improvements slated for Old State Capitol in Springfield
The Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois, is due for $15.1 million in improvements under the state's Rebuild Illinois capital plan. According to the State Journal-Register in Springfield: The money will go towards a variety of improvements according to an announcement from the governor's office Friday including replacement of the roof and wooden flooring, … Continue reading About $15 million in improvements slated for Old State Capitol in Springfield
Roubidoux Bridge in Waynesville to celebrate its centennial on April 1
The landmark Roubidoux Bridge in Waynesville, Missouri, will mark its 100th year with a celebration on April 1 at nearby Roy Laughlin Memorial Park. The party will be from 1 to 3 p.m. that day, a Saturday. The park is easily accessed via Spring Road on the east side of Roubidoux Creek. According to the … Continue reading Roubidoux Bridge in Waynesville to celebrate its centennial on April 1
Afton Station is for sale for the second time in less than four years
Afton Station in Afton, Oklahoma, has been put on the market for a second time since 2019, when it was auctioned after the owners' deaths. The former D-X gas station on Route 66 in the village's downtown is being listed by Solid Rock Realtors for $200,000. Here's a description of the property: OWN A PIECE … Continue reading Afton Station is for sale for the second time in less than four years
Route 66 organization urging historic churches to apply for Sacred Places grants
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership last week put out a news release, recommending historic churches along the Mother Road apply for grants from the National Fund for Sacred Places. The grant helps with training, planning grants, technical assistance, capacity-building support and capital grants of up to $250,000 to congregations of all faiths for rehabilitation … Continue reading Route 66 organization urging historic churches to apply for Sacred Places grants
Arizona Route 66 Association announces four more grants
The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona recently announced its latest round of grant awards, including to two historic motels. Roger Naylor provided some of the details in the association's quarterly newsletter in January: -- $11,500 to the Route 66 Motel in Kingman to restore its neon sign, including its wiring. The Valmonte family has … Continue reading Arizona Route 66 Association announces four more grants
Toy enthusiasts fuel the McLean Depot Train Shop in the town’s former depot
It's a business, but the McLean Depot Train Shop, housed in the former rail depot in McLean, Illinois, also serves as a passion for model train enthusiasts. The Pantagraph newspaper in nearby Bloomington recently published a feature about the train shop and the people who keep it going. Tom Ludlam owns the shop along Route … Continue reading Toy enthusiasts fuel the McLean Depot Train Shop in the town’s former depot