The more than century-old Crystal Cave north of Springfield, Missouri, will reopen Wednesday for the first time nearly in a decade after landing a new owner who made improvements to the property. The cave, with its 72 acres and an 1892 house, had been for sale since 2016, the Springfield News-Leader reports. Now, the cave … Continue reading Historic Crystal Cave near Springfield reopens this week in the first time in nearly a decade
Category: History
Bank of Avilla building in Avilla, Missouri, added to National Register of Historic Places
The century-old Bank of Avilla building, now a post office, in the Route 66 hamlet of Avilla, Missouri, recently was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The designation became effective March 7, according to an email Friday from the National Park Service, which administers the National Register program. The Joplin Globe had some … Continue reading Bank of Avilla building in Avilla, Missouri, added to National Register of Historic Places
MoneyInc.com ranks White Dog Hill in Clinton as the best restaurant in Oklahoma
MoneyInc.com recently ranked the White Dog Hill restaurant east of Clinton, Oklahoma, as the best restaurant in the state. The Clinton Daily News ran a story about the honor during a recent edition. Several other Route 66 restaurants also made the publication's top 20. MoneyInc said this about the restaurant, which is just off Route … Continue reading MoneyInc.com ranks White Dog Hill in Clinton as the best restaurant in Oklahoma
More than 70 episodes of “Ozark Jubilee” music TV show now are online
More than 70 episodes of the influential "Ozark Jubilee" music television show that aired on ABC-TV from Springfield, Missouri, during the late 1950s and early '60s now can be viewed on YouTube. Getting those nearly 70-year-old episodes online was part of Missouri State University Libraries' years-long Ozark Jubilee Digitization Project that finished in early February, … Continue reading More than 70 episodes of “Ozark Jubilee” music TV show now are online
Week-long grand reopening of Church Studio in Tulsa begins today
The week-long grand opening of the historic and renovated Church Studio in Tulsa begins today, which is exactly 50 years after music legend Leon Russell bought the property. Tours of Church Studio are available from March 1 to March 5 for a $5 donation, with tours costing $25 after that. The studio sits at 304 … Continue reading Week-long grand reopening of Church Studio in Tulsa begins today
Florence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City is state’s first James Beard Award winner
The 70-year-old Florence's Restaurant just east of the state capitol in Oklahoma City last week was named the first James Beard Award winner in Oklahoma history. According to The Oklahoman newspaper, Florence's was among six winners of the Beard foundation’s 2022 America’s Classics Award, given to locally-owned restaurants with “timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for … Continue reading Florence’s Restaurant in Oklahoma City is state’s first James Beard Award winner
Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
The Bristow (Oklahoma) Historical Society has compiled a wish list of landmarks along or near Route 66 it wants to beautify and restore, including the Chrysler Plymouth tower. According to the Sapulpa Times, the society has placed these landmarks on the renovation list before Route 66's centennial in 2026: The 100-foot-tall Chrysler Plymouth tower just … Continue reading Bristow wants to restore four Route 66 landmarks, including Chrysler Plymouth tower
New video gives a good overview of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville
If you have about 45 minutes to kill, I encourage you to watch this new video about the known history of the massive Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville, Illinois. https://youtu.be/iciOvaIm51M The Ancient Americas channel on YouTube produced the video, which was uploaded just a few weeks ago. It's as good of an encapsulation … Continue reading New video gives a good overview of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site near Collinsville
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup undergoing $6 million in renovations
El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico, is getting a $6 million makeover where the establishment's owner is carefully considering how well the face-lift work matches the hotel's historic character. Details of the work being done on the historic Route 66 hotel are in the current print issue of New Mexico Magazine. (The story should … Continue reading El Rancho Hotel in Gallup undergoing $6 million in renovations
Fire reported at abandoned Morning Star Motel, aka Ranchotel, in Amarillo
Firefighters put out a blaze at the abandoned Morning Star Motel in Amarillo, Texas, that was believed to have been started by homeless people. The motel also is known as the Ranchotel or Ranch-O-Tel. According to several local media outlets, including the Amarillo Globe-News, fire from one of the rooms of the motel at 2501 … Continue reading Fire reported at abandoned Morning Star Motel, aka Ranchotel, in Amarillo